Ige assess North Shore flood, landslide damage
PRINCEVILLE — As work continues to repair Kuhio Highway after the landslide last week above the Hanalei Bridge, officials gathered for a blessing of the site early Thursday morning.
Council moves forward on Ag land use bill
LIHU‘E — A bill making its way through the Kaua‘i County Council to allow produce stands on adjacent agricultural lands is moving to a final reading next week.
State seeks to end Lawa‘i Stream diversion
LAWA‘I — After more than a century, baseflow, or fair-weather flow, of the Lawa‘i Stream will now be able to pass continuously without obstruction.
Council talks path erosion
LIHU‘E — Coastal erosion has already gone beneath the multi-purpose Ke Ala Hele Makalae coastal path at Wailua Beach, and the county knew that might happen.
Kawakami gives State of the County address
LIHU‘E — Mayor Derek Kawakami, reflecting on over a year of the pandemic, highlighted the county’s efforts to embrace adversity, Monday, in his third State of the County address.
Raybuck issues apology statement
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck acknowledged and apologized for instances in which he made disparaging comments, violating county discrimination policies.
North Shore residents band together for ferry system
HANALEI — Volunteers wait near Nourish Hanalei in Princeville under a tent as a light rain falls Saturday, helping to coordinate UTVs and supplies, directing people where to go.
Boats shuttling supplies to Hanalei after landslide
LIHU‘E — Normally, Joell Edwards gets shipments of supplies and fresh produce to her Wainiha County Market on Tuesdays and Fridays.
SHOPO calls for Raybuck resignation
LIHU‘E — The State of Hawai‘i Organization of Police Officers is calling for the immediate resignation of Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck following The Garden Island’s report citing an investigation led by the Kaua‘i Police Commission sustaining allegations of violating policies against discrimination and creating a hostile work environment for an officer based on race.
County setting up mobile labs funded by Chan-Zuckerberg fund
LIHU‘E — With over $300,000 in funds derived from a Hawai‘i Community Foundation fund seeded by Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, the county will be getting three mobile labs capable of expanding the county’s COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs.
KPD quiet on allegations against Chief
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department and the Kaua‘i Police Commission remained mum Wednesday after sustained allegations of Chief Todd Raybuck violating the county’s discrimination codes from a commission-led investigation were made public.
KPD Chief Raybuck faces discrimination charges
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck violated policies against discrimination and created a hostile work environment for an officer based on race, as found by a Kaua‘i Police Commission investigation.
Outreach at ‘Anini; community faces ouster
‘ANINI — Thinking about where to go once the ‘Anini Beach Park closes to the houseless community in less than a month has been stressful for Ceci Lindsey.
Adolescent center on next council agenda
LIHU‘E — Last March, the state Department of Health took over the Adolescent Treatment and Healing Center as a COVID-19 isolation facility, then the county canceled a service-provider’s contract, and the focus of the building’s use shifted.
Houseless outreach at ‘Anini Monday
LIHU‘E — As the county shuts down its shelter-in-place beach encampments that have been used for the past year by the houseless community, several nonprofits are partnering with the county to provide social, housing and medical services.
Isle rejoins Safe Travels in April
Travel restrictions to Kaua‘i for out-of-state travelers will soon mirror those of the state’s.
Mayor Kawakami asks to rejoin Safe Travels
LIHU‘E — If approved, by the first week of April travelers coming to Kaua‘i may utilize the state’s single-pre-travel-test option to bypass a state-mandated quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test.
Proposed DOTAX Kaua‘i reorganization
LIHU‘E — The state’s Department of Taxation plans to reduce staff and reorganize the Kaua‘i District Tax Office, eliminating some on-island services by the end of the year.
Council passes debated school-reopening resolution
LIHU‘E — For much of the discussion regarding a resolution urging the state to reopen in-person education, county councilmembers went back and forth.
County has spent 95% of federal funds
LIHU‘E — As the county continues to work through its federal allotment of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act money, unused funds originally committed are being put toward contingency plans.