Felicia Cowden

Kauai County Mayor

Position Running For

Kauai County Mayor

What area(s) of the Island do you call home?

Kilauea

What is your vision for a thriving agricultural sector on Kauai and how can the County support that vision?

My county vision includes returning Kauai to being a Garden Island capable of basic food provision. The ability to grow island-adapted food on Kauai is very feasible. Food insecurity is increasing as a result of inflation and national pressures.

A thriving agricultural sector would include

increased value-added exported products such as Kauai Coffee, Pacific Biodiesel, Koloa Rum and Makaweli Poi
Expansion of commercial food crops and livestock for Kauai consumption encouraged on leased private lands and ADC lands with localized control to facilitate medium-sized farming.

Regenerative agriculture includes neighborhood food production, subsistence farming, regional food foresting, community gardens and ag parks on public lands.

Family compound/farm worker collective housing with shared kitchen, laundry, and group living space to be allowed on ag land based on number of plumbing fixtures and regulated impacts no greater than allowed for luxury homes. Collective housing has historical precedent and is needed to affordably manage diversified farms.

Wastewater reuse network to assist wetland restoration where feasible.

Place appropriate edible landscaping in public places.

If elected, how would you engage with the business community prior to your decision-making?

As mayor, I will engage with the business community on multiple levels.

A business interface position in our Office of Economic Development
Transparent government structure in which quarterly department progress report meetings are held open to partnering layers of our policy development, representatives of non-profits, ag, business, sports, State, Federal, press, followed with reports
Active involvement and routine attendance with Chamber, HLTA, HVCB, Hawaiian Council, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Lihue Business Association, Kapaa Business Association, Royal Coconut Coast, Kauai Board of Realtors, non-profits, sports leadership and more

My background of two decades in small business supports my view of locally-owned businesses as the backbone of the economic health of the island. I have experienced the challenge of what can be an overwhelming list of regulations. My administration, as well as myself, will have an open door and an open mind to building win-win-win solutions for business, the island community and the environment, coupled together. I support responsible development that strengthens the ability of our residents to thrive.

How would you help ensure that working middle class residents can afford to buy or rent a home on Kauaʻi?

The four county subdivision housing efforts underway of Mayor Kawakami’s administration will continue. These deed-restricted home sales, located in Waimea, Eleele, Puhi and Kilauea, are designed to target access to our residents on the county home-buyer program in perpetuity. The State is developing a similar project in north Kapaa.

There are roughly 2000 affordable living units planned, under development or recently finished. All of these properties include a range of rental opportunities.

There are two larger private subdivisions in planning and permitting to address this gap market without deed restrictions.

Locally manufactured simple houses with pre-approved permits are another path for affordable primary residents, ADU’s and tiny homes.

The over-arching challenge of escalating national and global inflation is larger than the county government has control. Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on earth, so local home sales are competing with global interest.

How would you effectively manage budget and operations compared to the past?

My administration will begin with analyses for efficiency and effectiveness of operations by department.

Budgetary improvements would include catching up to present requirements in our audited county financial reports to fully analyze our performance.

Real Property Tax reform considerations may include a tier structure for owner-occupant tax class with a high second tier such as $4M, separating resort from hotel into two tiers, and consideration for more gently taxing long-term market rate rentals.

Our CIP budget would strongly prioritize infrastructure improvements for the first few years.

The most profound change our team would analyze, in partnership with our Finance department, would be a county charter amendment to possibly shift to a bi-annual budget on the even years, with audits and any mid-cycle supplementary reports required every year. Most Capital Improvement Projects stretch more than a year. The budgetary process requires roughly four months of focus across the departments every year. Streamlining to a bi-annual budget would allow for more time to focus on completing projects and the work-at-hand that backlogs during budget season.

What specific ideas do you have about economic diversification and how would you develop these areas?

Greater workforce development is essential for a thriving economy on Kauai.

Imported workforce amplifies business costs, causes economic outflow, and consumes residential housing.

Amplify vocational training and incentivize Kauai-based workforce in the trades, building and road construction through working with KCC, KCCC, high schools, employers and unions, such that large projects are able to hire locally,
Continue supporting the Kauai Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy through business Incubation efforts with funding to equip small, local businesses with affordable resources and grant access through local programs—like those provided through the Kauai Federal Credit Union Kalukalu Katalyst, Small Business Development Center and more

-Flexibility to support the emerging markets with AI, remote work, and the “gig” economy

Regenerative agriculture, arts, culture, film and also tourism as supported through the Destination Management Action Plan.
Promote sustainable technology & ocean sciences: capitalizing on the abundance of local resources which create green workforce training opportunities to grow initiatives like soil enrichments, and sea farming.

What are your priorities for infrastructure investment? How would you ensure that planned infrastructure projects (roads, wastewater, facilities, bridges, etc.) on Kauai move forward in a timely manner?

Upgrading Kauai’s infrastructure is long overdue and will be a first priority.

Solid Waste – Public Works is in a selection process for new Solid Waste technology where the majority (85%) of the waste stream can be diverted to renewable natural gas, biofuels, soil additives and products that will not be placed in the ground. Preliminary plans to move the landfill to Hanaam`ulu’s Kalepa Ridge area are in process, most probably removing the landfill burden from the Kekaha area.

Wastewater- We are exploring partnership with DHHL to place an economically feasible modular wastewater plant above our Lydgate sewage treatment plant that outflows R1 treated and PFAS-free water for multiple reuse possibilities, including wetland restoration . This can serve as a pilot project for more regional scalable systems that can integrate cesspool conversions .

Water – KDOW needs collaboration with County to upgrade and add water capacity. Reopen Moloaa Well with KDOW and DHHL for Hawaiian Homes and Moloaa farms

Roads and Bridges – ensure continuance of GET funding for road repairs. Work with private landowners for converting cane haul roads into needed evacuation and alternative routes.

What is your vision for effective management of the visitor industry so that economic goals are met while ensuring community and environmental concerns are addressed?

The Destination Management Action Plan is moving Kauai tourism in a responsible direction that places the culture and identity of the residents first, educating and including visitors as guests of the true culture of the islands. This coordination of HTA, HLTA, HCVB, KVB, and Hawaiian Council is continuing to amplify authentic arts with programs like the Mokihana Festival, Halau Ho`ike, surfing, paddling and various activities that are for residents and visitors, alike. Pilot projects, such as the Hanalei Initiative with managed access to areas helps to conserve, rather than exhaust the natural environment. Supporting small businesses, churches and micro economies that are strengthened by the visitors are as valuable as the larger providers. This industry assists the economy and subsidizes the residents in many ways, including Real Property Taxes. The visitor industry is a partner in the health of our island through regenerative tourism in such a manner that the sense of true aloha is able to be reinvigorated. Vacation Rentals are best as small businesses that support the local economy without further replacement of housing stock or overwhelming the Visitor Designated Areas.

What is your solution to best manage solid waste on Kauaʻi? Please include your views on recycling, landfill site, source reduction, and other strategies.

The new technology proposals under County consideration for solid waste management are soon to be announced. There are strategies with the ability to receive the bulk of the municipal solid waste to be converted to energy and separate the unusable portions such as metals and glass. Recycling happens on those diverted products. The pathways of waste-to-energy can utilize papers and plastics effectively to convert to energy in a range of forms; this is not trash-to-ash. An estimated 85% would not end up in a landfill, and existing waste up to 10 years can be consumed with fresh waste, though more expensive..

There are land owners and an operator interested in managing construction and demolition. That is an estimated 24% more diversion from present. Reduced consumption and local foods reduce source-waste.

The present and future host communities deserve a seat at the table as the County navigates the changing regulations and opportunities as they evolve on this challenging infrastructure need, along with host-benefit compensation. Ma`alo, Kekaha, Puhi and possibly an industrial location east of Waimea River have potential to assist the range of needed waste management.

As an elected official, what steps would you take to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Kauaʻi?

Improving active partnership with the State and large landowners is essential:

with DLNR for management of our waterways being choked by rapidly growing hau, albizia and various invasive plants and potential need for shoreline retreat, including access easements. Better land and water management will reduce our flooding hazards.
with Dept. of Transportation highway division for needed evacuation routes and permanent alternative roads utilizing improved former cane haul roads.
continued support of the Kauai Watershed Alliance to capture rainfall for watershed and aquifer recharge
increased agriculture for erosion control, fire-fuel reduction and water retention
stakeholder partnerships – such as our Wildlands Stakeholder groups for fire mitigation and readiness which can translate to other climate disaster challenges
encourage locally sourced food, materials, trades, hunting, fishing, ranching to best manage lands and reduce outside dependence.
encourage complete communities with work, school, housing, and business thus requiring less commuting away from home.

What else would you like to share with the business community?

My background includes county council, now in my fourth term. My education and early work experience was in software engineering with Intel. My strongest economic history was as a partner, with a central operations role, at Hanalei Surf Company stores for 18 years. My decades of experience in the private sector also includes eight years as an educator on Kauai, commercial sub-prime lending, media with KKCR and Ho`ike, multiple boards primarily focused on business, education, youth-at-risk, and food security. I have been blessed with decades of close exposure to Hawaiian culture. My past sports history has been primarily in ocean sports with windsurfing and nine years as a paddler with Hanalei Canoe Club. My childhood had significant housing insecurity, so I have a strong motivation to help our unhoused population back into stability with Safety Zones. That will assist our parks, streets and walkways be more available for the intended purpose.

I will offer a people-first leadership style with a fair, honest and transparent government. We will partner with the people to overcome challenges with regulations, permits, etc.

My door is always open.