July 31, 2012 Update As the wrangling continues it appears inevitable that the site of the new Kauai landfill or recycle center will be Ma'alo. But it comes at quite a price. A recent study... yes one more please, details the pros and cons of Ma'alo which is located 2.5 miles north of Lihue. The plus is that it is centrally located on the island, has a low nuisance factor, it is situated at a distance from any communities. Additionally there is no active agricultural pursuits on this site. This was a contentious point in 4 other sites selected by an independent study in 2010 and a major sticking point with … [Read more...]

On a rain soaked evening at the Koloa Community Center our Mayor and staff shared their vision of a future for this island that embraces an enlightened approach to challenges that face our community. Admittedly, living on an island ones problems can seem more acute. Our issues are in our face and we sometimes trip over them. Perhaps that's a good thing. Like a leaky faucet that reminds you, I am not going away and you had better deal with it. I have highlighted a few topics discussed that will bring a better quality of life to the residents, and a better experience for visitors to Kauai Hawaii. Increase … [Read more...]

Sustainability is a hot issue here on Kauai Hawaii, focusing our attention on everything from alternative energy to food quality. Weaning our dependence upon less nutritious corporate food and supporting healthy alternatives that are grown locally. It's good for residents and visitors alike. Equally important to the island and the Kauai vacation rental industry is affordable sustainable housing. With home and land prices being out of reach for a significant segment of our population it is necessary for us to support both legislation and private enterprise trying to ease this burden. Our Poipu vacation rentals … [Read more...]

Dealing with solid waste on Kauai is not something I want to tackle weekly, nor is it a topic that people are going to have an interest when they are searching for best things to do in Hawaii. However, it is an important fact of life, and one that is more acute when living on a mound of slowly degrading volcanic soil in the middle of the blue Pacific. This week our local officials informed us that our current landfill, located in Kekaha, may not have the 10 years remaining for our solid waste, as was previously thought, but in fact much less. This announcement has motivated the current administration to propose a … [Read more...]