Kauai County - Official website for the government of the County of Kauai, Hawaii

7/2/2009 11:45:43 AM - Fire department holds special ceremony - LĪHU'E – A special ceremony was held Tuesday morning in the Mo‘ikeha Building courtyard marking several milestones for the Kaua'i Fire Department (KFD). The ceremony started with a presentation of certificates to those who recently completed the rescue craft operator training, including KFD and state Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel (DLNR). The fire fighters and lifeguards who received certificates include: Aaron Habermann; Adam Hussey; Gavin Kennelly; Kaleo-O-Kalani Lopez; Andrew Watt; and Jeffrey Weiss. DLNR personnel include: Kalani Addington; Brad Akana; Christopher Gandeza; and Lionel Gonsalves. The next group to be recognized was the newly hired lifeguards including: Tyler Hale; Tyson Hawelu; Dustin Koga; Marvin Kainoa Lum; and Aaron Tokuda.

7/2/2009 9:49:57 AM - Open Space Commission extends deadline for annual survey - LIHU‘E – The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission (Open Space Commission) has extended the deadline for its annual survey to Wednesday, July 15. The public is encouraged to participate in the survey and make suggestions as to what lands or property entitlements, e.g. accessways, the County should consider purchasing or otherwise acquiring. “We want and need to hear from more people,” said Open Space Commission Chairperson Roger Caires. “The survey is the main way that the County learns about people’s hopes and concerns about accessways to the mountains, beaches and other places they would like to see remain undeveloped because of their natural and cultural importance.”

7/1/2009 11:56:32 AM - Partial closure of Haleko Rd. scheduled next week - LĪHU'E – A portion of Haleko Rd., between Pua Loke Rd. and Rice St., will be closed July 7 to 10, from 8 am to 1 pm. The temporary road closure has been scheduled so road maintenance and tree trimming can be done along the roadway. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes to get to their destinations.

6/30/2009 11:58:36 AM - County announces holiday closures - LĪHU‘E – In observance of Independence Day, County of Kaua‘i offices will be closed on Friday, July 3. All refuse transfer stations, the Kekaha Landfill, Puhi Metals Recycling Center, Kaua‘i Resource Center, as well as all HI-5 bottle redemption centers will be closed on Saturday, July 4. Residential refuse pick-up will continue as scheduled. The Kaua‘i Bus will be operating on a modified schedule.

6/30/2009 9:57:46 AM - ‘Ōpaeka‘a Bridge repair work completed - WAILUA – County officials announced that the ‘Ōpaeka‘a Bridge rehabilitation project in Wailua was completed ahead of schedule and the bridge is now open for vehicular traffic. The bridge was closed for about 10 days, allowing for the installation of additional metal beams under the bridge for structural reinforcement.

6/28/2009 - Boat capsizes off Kekaha beach - KEKAHA – A Kekaha fisherman checked in with police this morning after a report of a capsized boat had alerted several first responder agencies and a rescue mission had begun. The man told police that he and a friend from Waimea had sailed from Kikiaola Boat Harbor in a 12- to 14-ft. Livingston boat yesterday at around 4 pm and were going fishing. They were headed back when the boat flipped over at around 4 this morning, forcing the men to swim to shore in Kekaha. The Waimea man drove home, and the Kekaha man returned to Kikiaola Boat Harbor. The Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and Air-1 were all contacted at 7:09 this morning after a caller notified Police Dispatch about a boat that was stuck in the or reef about 350 yards offshore from a popular surfing spot known as Davidson’s in Kekaha.

6/28/2009 - Two hikers airlifted from Nonou Mountain - WAILUA – Two 18-year-old Wailua men were rescued this afternoon on Nonou Mountain, also known as the Sleeping Giant. The men had been hiking on the mountain when they slipped and fell off an unmarked trail and became disoriented. Neither required medical assistance. They contacted Police Dispatch on a cell phone at around 3:55 pm, and Engine 2, Truck 2, Rescue 3 and Air-1 responded to the call. When Rescue 3 arrived on scene, Dispatch provided them with the map coordinates of the hikers using the e911 system, which enabled the rescue specialists to use their cell phone to plot the coordinates and zero in on the general location of the hikers.

6/26/2009 5:27:51 PM - Bus fares to increase starting July 1 - LĪHU'E – For the first time in eight years, fares for The Kaua'i Bus are going up. Effective July 1, it’ll cost $2 per mainline trip for adults. For seniors and youth, ages seven to 18, the mainline fare will be $1 per trip, and a monthly bus pass will increase from $15 to $20. Shuttle fares will remain unchanged, 50 cents per trip for adults and 25 cents for seniors and youth. Also starting July 1, discounted bus passes, along with monthly passes will be available at The Kaua'i Bus office located on Ho‘olako St. across from police headquarters. For a six-month bus pass, the cost will be $90, and an annual bus pass will be $180. Monthly bus passes can also be purchased at the Līhu'e Civic Center at the Motor Vehicle Registration window.

6/26/2009 4:27:02 PM - County of Kaua‘i Hosts 2009 Hawai‘i State Association of Counties Annual Conference - Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i – Nearly 100 government officials and Association members attended the 2009 Hawai‘i State Association of Counties (HSAC) Annual Conference, that was hosted by the County of Kaua‘i at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort on June 18-19, 2009. The theme for this year’s conference, “Holo I Mua – Moving Forward”, highlighted key community issues for each individual County and the State, including affordable housing, solid waste and the visitor industry. Kaua‘i County Councilmember Derek S. K. Kawakami, who is currently serving as HSAC vice president and will become president on July 1, 2009, moderated the conference and urged HSAC members to work together during a challenging period for Hawai‘i.

6/26/2009 4:06:09 PM - County files complaint against Lady Ann Cruises, Inc. - LIHU‘E – The County recently filed a complaint in Fifth Circuit Court against Lady Ann Cruises, Inc. dba Na Pali Explorer. The complaint alleges that Lady Ann Cruises is not properly permitted to operate commercial boat tours out of the Hanalei River boatyard, and is in violation of the boatyard’s special management area (SMA) permit that was issued by the Planning Commission. In order to operate legally from the Hanalei River boatyard, Lady Ann Cruises would need permission from the Planning Commission, and no such application has been made nor has such permission been granted. The complaint also states that loading and unloading of passengers from the Hanalei River boatyard “significantly impacts coastal waters and related coastal resources” and that such activity requires a SMA permit from the Planning Commission. The County is asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and/or a permanent injunction preventing the loading and unloading of passengers at Black Pot Beach.

6/26/2009 4:00:46 PM - Kapa‘a transfer station resumes normal operations - KAPA‘A – County officials announced that the repair work to the trash chute at the Kapa‘a transfer station has been completed, and normal operations have resumed at the facility. The facility is open daily from 7:15 am to 5:15 pm.

6/26/2009 1:18:02 PM - Blessing held for Kaua'i Tropical Fruit Disinfestation Facility - LĪHU'E – A coalition of partners who have been working diligently to re-energize the agricultural industry on Kaua'i celebrated a milestone yesterday. The coalition includes: the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC); County of Kaua‘i; Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity (KEO) Inc.; Kaua‘i Farmers’ Development Corporation (KFDC); and the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). Due to their efforts, a blessing was held yesterday afternoon at the Kaua'i Tropical Fruit Disinfestation Facility near the airport to mark the next phase of the refurbishment of the facility. If everything goes smoothly, the project is expected to be completed in about six months, with operations at the plant slated to start early next year. “We are absolutely thrilled that the disinfestation facility is being restored, making it possible for our farmers to expand their businesses off-island,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. “I want to thank the coalition for their perseverance and moving this project forward.”