Kaua‘i County Council Meeting – August 13, 2025: CASPER Survey Briefing, Appointments, and Easement Approvals
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Kaua‘i County Council Meeting – August 13, 2025
The Kaua‘i County Council convened on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 8:30 AM in the Council Chambers, Līhu‘e. The meeting opened with a prayer and a certificate presentation honoring Keani Garcia, crowned Miss Hawaii Filipina 2025. The Council then held public hearings for eight bills (Nos. 2961–2968) related to plantation camp districts, state land use boundaries, and zoning amendments; no testimony was offered and the hearings were closed. The regular business included an interview for the Board of Review, approval of consent items, legal documents for the Po‘ipu Road Safety and Mobility Project, a resolution confirming a Charter Review Commission appointment, and a detailed briefing on the 2025 Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) Survey by the Hawai‘i Department of Health.
Consent Calendar
- C 2025-168 – Mayoral appointment of Swede E.K. Sandblom to the Charter Review Commission (Term ending 12/31/2027). Received and placed on consent.
- C 2025-169 – Fourth Quarter Statement of Equipment Purchases for FY 2024-2025. Received. (Both items approved unanimously.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- No oral or written testimony was offered on any agenda item during the public hearing or the regular meeting.
Discussion Items
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Board of Review Interview – Karl T. Miyake (term ending 12/31/2027). Mr. Miyake, a lifelong Kaua‘i resident and independent real estate appraiser, was introduced. Councilmembers commended his expertise and experience. He expressed willingness to serve. The vote will occur at the next council meeting.
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C 2025-171 – Fire Chief’s Request for IAFF Train-the-Trainer Program – The Fire Department briefed the Council on the urban interface firefighting course. Councilmember Cowden recommended inviting the Planning Department to participate. Councilmember Bulosan raised concerns about PFAS contamination at training sites. The item was approved.
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C 2025-172 – Opioid Settlement Funds ($361,077.68) for Kaua‘i Fentanyl Task Force – Mike Miranda, Opioid Coordinator, explained the funds will support harm reduction, prevention education, naloxone deployment, and transitional housing. Councilmember Cowden expressed hope for clean-and-sober housing; Councilmember Holland shared a personal story and thanked the team. Approved.
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C 2025-173 – Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Grant ($95,048) – Deputy Planning Director Jodi Higuchi Saigusa noted the funds are recurring and help maintain the CZM position. Approved.
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C 2025-174 – DMV Registration Renewal Kiosks Agreement – Finance Director Chelsea Sakai confirmed the chargeback and indemnification provisions. Approved.
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C 2025-175 – Home-Delivered Meals Program Donations ($300) – Funds from four sources will support kupuna nutrition. Approved.
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C 2025-176 – Write-off of Delinquent Property Tax ($19,279.35) – The property (an unbuildable lot) went through judicial foreclosure; the county recovered $59,000 from a $70,000 sale but must write off the remainder per code (amount exceeding $5,000 requires council approval). Approved after explanation.
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Legal Documents – Po‘ipu Road Safety and Mobility Project Easements
- C 2025-177 & 178 – Grants of easement from Mahaulepu Farm LLC for sidewalk construction at Po‘ipu Road and Ala Kinoiki (roundabout). Approved.
- C 2025-179 – Grant of easement from Hawaiian Telcom Inc. for sidewalk construction at Po‘ipu Road and Koloa Road (mini-roundabout). Councilmember Cowden queried traffic impacts; Engineering Division assured phased construction with no full closures. Approved.
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Communication C 2025-170 – CASPER Survey Briefing (at 11:00 AM)
- Dr. Janet Berreman, Lauren Guest, and epidemiologist Grayson Callis presented the 2025 CASPER Survey results, conducted June 23–27, 2025. Key findings:
- 186 interviews completed (89% of 210 target); 80% cooperation rate; 55% contact rate.
- 80% of households aware of the 14-day emergency supply recommendation, but only 17% have a 14-day supply of food and water.
- 77% have an emergency supply kit; 83% have a first aid kit; 32% have a generator.
- 17% of households have a member with an electricity-dependent health need; only 45% have backup power.
- 67% are concerned about climate change impacts; most discuss it at least monthly.
- 70% aware of global bird flu outbreak; 53% aware of detections in Hawai‘i; 6% have backyard flocks; fewer than half of those know biosecurity guidance.
- 74% aware of measles outbreak (up from ~50% in 2024).
- Perceived importance of staying up-to-date on vaccines declined from 73.4% (2019) to 57.5% (2025) – a statistically significant 16% drop.
- 34% of households are aware of the 988 mental health crisis line; among users, mean rating 3.4/5.
- 5% of homeowners lost homeowners insurance or couldn’t pay due to rising costs.
- Councilmembers asked about methodology (random cluster sampling, household-level responses), data limitations, and suggested future questions (water quality, food insecurity, awareness of community resources). The briefing was received.
- Dr. Janet Berreman, Lauren Guest, and epidemiologist Grayson Callis presented the 2025 CASPER Survey results, conducted June 23–27, 2025. Key findings:
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Claim C 2025-180 – Vehicle damage claim by 21st Century Centennial Insurance Co. a/s/o Leo Defontorum. Referred to the County Attorney for disposition.
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Committee Reports
- CR-PRT 2025-01 – Parks & Recreation/Transportation Committee report on Spouting Horn concessions (received).
- CR-COW 2025-05 – Committee of the Whole report on Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant NPDES permit (received).
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2025-33 – Confirming mayoral appointment of Swede E.K. Sandblom to the Charter Review Commission: passed 7-0 (roll call vote: Bulosan, Cowden, Holland, Kaneshiro, Kuali‘i, Kuali‘i? Actually all seven voted aye; Chair Rapozo aye).
- All consent and communications items (C 2025-168 through 175) approved by voice vote with no opposition.
- Legal documents (easements) for Po‘ipu Road project approved individually.
- Claim C 2025-180 referred to County Attorney.
- Board of Review appointment of Karl Miyake will be voted on at the next meeting.
- CASPER Survey briefing (C 2025-170) received; Council encouraged ongoing data collection and wider distribution of findings.
- Meeting adjourned after the CASPER briefing without further business.
Meeting Transcript
Morning, everyone, and uh welcome to the council meeting of August 13th. Before we get in words of wisdom, chair counseling. Thank you. For a share, uh, lead us in prayer. Just wanted to quote, share a few quotes. Number one, the Bible says, let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. So this is a your appointment is a divine appointment. The Bible also says that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. And so you have people who are praying for you, who are going directly to God, asking God for your wisdom, asking God for your power to do whatever he desires to do. I'd like to share a quote with you from Queen Keopuolani before we pray. Keopuolani was one of Kamehameha's many wives. She was the most sacred wife. She uh her lineage was such that she had the highest mana. She was so sacred that you couldn't be uh in her shadow, or else you would have to be one of the human sacrifices at that time. She was also when Kamehameha died the great. Uh she her son became Kamehameha the second. Uh and uh her third child, her second child became Kamehameha the third. Uh she became as sacred as she was, she welcomed the missionaries in 1820, and uh at her dying, she became the first convert to Christianity. Imagine that. They look to you as a God, goddess, and then she becomes the Christian who points people to Christ. And so she was part of the abolishing of the uh the Kapu system, the taboo system, and then on her dying bed, I quote, she says. She called the king, her son Lehulio, and her two other children, and all the chiefs, and said to them, I am now about to die. I shall leave my children, my people, and these lands, and I wish now to give you my last charge. She then turned to the king and said, I wish you after my death to be a friend to all the friends of your father, to all my friends. Take care of these lands which you have received from your father. Exercise a tender care over the people, protect the missionaries and be kind to them, walk in the straight path, keep the Sabbath, serve God, love him and love Jesus Christ. Also, attend also to the word of God, that you may be happy and that we may meet in heaven. If you see any of these people, of the people going wrong, take care to lead them in the right way. And but I entreat you not to follow them in the bad way. She then turned to the chiefs and said, said, watch over the king, my son. He was a young king. Uh in his late teens, I believe. And so uh Kamehameha, the great's most favorite wife, Kahomanu, uh, raised him uh when he was little, Hanaid him, and she became the co-regent of that time. She became the co-ruler along with Lehole, Kamehameha II. And so both Kama Kahomano, Kamehameha's most favorite wife, and Keopuolani, Kamehameha's most sacred wife, led not only the islands with Lioleo, they were the leaders, uh, but they were also the proponents of Christianity at that time. Watch over my two younger children. See that they are brought up in the way, that they are instructed in reading, that they keep the Sabbath. There was no literacy at that time. The missionaries brought the word of God to teach the natives how to read and write at that time. So Hawaii, within a few years, Hawaii became the most literate nation in the world, and the most Christianized nation in the world. 90% of the people declared Christianity as their religion. Attend to their instructions. Love God, pray to him, protect the teachers who have come to this land of dark hearts. Attend to their instructions, cease not to keep the commandments of God, to love him, to obey his word, to regard the Sabbath and all the means of instruction. And do not neglect prayer to God. Our former gods were false, but he is the God by whom we may all live forever in heaven. Let's bow in prayer. Father, thank you, God, for our history, our past, or what you have done, Lord, you've changed our lives. You have brought light into darkness.
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