Latest news with #DerekKawakami
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii celebrate 40 years
HONOLULU (KHON2) – Deeply roots in the Celtic tradition are the sights and sounds of bagpipes. What's next for Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami's political future? For this Saint Patrick's Day, we explore this musical tradition with a local community right here on Oahu — the Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii.'We're 40 years old this year. And we started out as the Shamrock Pipes and Drums and over the years it evolved into the Celtic Pipes and Drums. We represent the Honolulu Police and Fire Department, and City and County on occasion,' said Pipe Major Tina Yap. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'We're bit of a white elephant here in Hawaii. Even though Hawaii has a rich Scottish history, we're not a halau, we're bagpipes in Hawaii. So it's a bit unusual. But it's been wonderful. We're very much like an ohana, like family.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's next for Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami's political future?
KAUAI COUNTY, Hawaii (KHON2) — Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami gave his seventh State of the County Address on Thursday, March 13. Kaua'i Mayor Derek Kawakami delivers 2025 State of County Address KHON2 caught up with him to touch more on key issues and share what's next in his political future as he nears the end of his eight-year term. 10 facts about Obama's $18M Hawaiʻi beachfront mansion With Phase 1 of the master-planned community in Eleele almost complete, Mayor Kawakami mentioned more development partners are needed to start more projects to add to the affordable housing inventory. We asked the Mayor how he plans to get those partnerships. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'Our whole business model around affordable housing was to make it profitable and less risky for developers, because the previous model of letting private property owners develop left us with a backlog and a lack of inventory. So what we've been doing is land-banking, getting all the infrastructure in, having our team securing all the entitlements, and so we're actually coming to the table to lower the cost of goods sold. And in that business model, we're already attracting developers to come and help us build more affordable housing for families that work, live, and play right here on Kauai. And so as we proceed and wrap up our final year, we're just going to be working quicker. And we're just putting the development community on notice to be ready with bids when we send them out because we're thinking outside of the box,' said Mayor Kawakami. After his term as mayor ends, Kawakami said he wants to continue to serve his community. 'There's no real, clear big picture. In the political world, it is often times a cloudy outlook, not that it's bleak. But I do have a burning desire to serve and continue to serve, and there are many different ways to do it.' Check out more news from around Hawaii 'I only got one year left and I really want to focus our efforts on wrapping up loose ends. Leaving the next administration with a good foundation so that he or she can build upon that. And I do have a burning desire to serve. Our Senate President Ron Kouchi is a person I look up to. And he can stay there as long as he wants, but I've always been patient.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami delivers 2025 State of County Address
LĪHUʻE, Hawaii (KHON2) — Instability and uncertainty were the themes of Kaua'i Mayor Derek Kawakami's State of the County Address at the Līhu'e Civic Center on Thursday, March 13. According to Kawakami, his proposed $347 million budget emphasizes infrastructure projects, affordable housing initiatives and improved customer service for county employees. Blangiardi looks forward as State of the City, decision on landfill near The Mayor hopes to continue prioritizing infrastructure projects to include 35 additional roads totaling 48 lane miles under contract, costing $21 million. Kawakami also hopes to continue expansion of the Kekaha Landfill as well as find a new landfill location before Kekaha reaches capacity in 2027. Officials said affordable housing remains essential in the budget, with hundreds of affordable housing units planned in the near future. He also spoke about the struggle to fill vacant county positions. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'We have proposed a budget initiative to convert full-time positions to two part-time positions to attract people who may be eager to work, but require flexibility. As we highlight our vacancies, let me quickly shout out any federal employee on Kaua'i looking for work. We have a place for you here at the County of Kaua'i,' said Kawakami. The County said they are also committed to purchasing a new twin-engine helicopter to support first responders and assist with wildfires and rescues. In his final words of the address, Mayor Kawakami emphasized Hawai'i's desire to find common ground, even in times of chaos, to provide a beacon of hope. 'As I have this rare opportunity to speak to my fellow state elected officials, I offer you the same challenge. No matter the conditions, we must always be that steady beacon of hope, and light the path forward for generations.' Check out more news from around Hawaii To view Mayor Kawakami's full State of the County Address, visit Kaua'i County's Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kauai county reaches COVID hazard pay settlement with police union
The union representing Kauai Police Department officers reached a settlement agreement with the county over COVID-19 hazard pay with initial payouts of approximately $20, 000 coming in the next four to five months if the Kauai County Council votes to accept it. The total cost of the settlement package has not been finalized. Kauai county officials do not yet have a firm cost estimate, but are working on one to present to Council members ahead of the vote. The agreement between the county and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, or SHOPO, covers officers who worked from March 4, 2020, through March 25, 2022. Officers would be compensated for hours actually worked during that period, not any leave time. SHOPO's Kauai chapter counts 121 members. 'We are pleased to have reached agreeable terms for a COVID THP (temporary hazard pay ) settlement with SHOPO, ' Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 'It was important to our administration that the settlements with various unions be consistent, and we appreciate our associates' patience as we worked through the details.' Voting material is being mailed to eligible police officers to the addresses the union has on file. Voting on the agreement begins Monday and closes at noon March 17. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. In an email to SHOPO's Kauai chapter members obtained by the Star-Advertiser, union President Robert Cavaco, a Honolulu Police Department lieutenant, announced the agreement with the county. 'After three years of legal and labor law process, the (SHOPO ) State Board has a Hazard Pay compensation package worthy of your support, ' Cavaco wrote. 'We endorse this agreement, and we recommend you ratify it. The SHOPO State Board believes the compensation package in front of you provides the best financial benefit attainable through a negotiated agreement.' Payouts will be based on the officer's 'actual experience ' during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is 'highly likely ' that members who worked consistently through the COVID-19-related hazard period will get a check for $20, 000 or more. The estimated payment timeline is four to five months after the agreement is ratified by the membership and the County Council, Cavaco said. He told members familiar with Honolulu's COVID-19 hazard pay settlement that they 'may have noticed that SHOPO's analysis of the two proposals is basically identical, ' explaining that while each chapter 'has to pursue hazard pay separately, each chapter relies upon the same collective bargaining agreement.' A hypothetical calculation included in a short video message shared with members Thursday night shows what a KPD officer who worked during COVID-19 might receive. The agreement covers up to 4, 160 regular work hours per officer. The hourly rate for a police officer VII was $32.81, meaning the officer would have earned $136, 490 over the two-year period. Fifteen percent of that amount is $20, 473. Hazard pay for overtime also is calculated at 15 % of each overtime hour worked, regardless of rank or assignment. The same police officer VII who worked two years of overtime at 600 hours a year would earn $39, 372 by the terms of the agreement, for an additional $5, 905 in hazard pay. At the end of February, members of the Honolulu police officers union overwhelmingly voted to accept a with the city worth more than $30 million, with initial payouts of $20, 000 or more by June 30. Of the 946 votes cast, 890 were in support of the settlement, 49 were opposed and there were seven blank votes. The number of eligible SHOPO Honolulu chapter voters was 1, 653. 'Just as was the case in Honolulu, while it is impossible to predict the future, we do believe that if the agreement is not ratified, we will not likely see future settlement discussions with the county, ' Cavaco wrote. 'You all have been patient through this cumbersome, frustrating process. We appreciate that. We hope you see the value in the settlement package before you.'
