Derek Kawakami

Hawaiʻi's county mayors now have the authority to adjust COVID restrictions in their jurisdictions under the latest emergency order signed by the governor. Here's our conversation with Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami.

Former Honolulu mayor and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Kirk Caldwell announced he has secured the endorsement of Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami.

Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami has issued a new emergency proclamation which repeals the county’s pandemic tier system.

Kauaʻi is planning to revise its coronavirus restriction structure as the Delta variant continues to impact the county. Mayor Derek Kawakami says officials will continue to enforce strict COVID-19 safety measures even as the state approaches a vaccination rate of 70%, a milestone earlier set for loosening rules under a tiered reopening plan.

The Kauaʻi County Council has passed a bill adding a 3% surcharge to the state’s hotel tax. The county expects revenue from the tax to replace the roughly $15 million Kauaʻi used to receive each year from its share of the state’s transient accommodation tax.

A setback in collecting the new county hotel room tax, the state Attorney General’s office says the state tax office does not have the authority to collect the taxes for the individual counties. That puts the mayors in a fix now that the state hotel tax will not be distributed to county governments.

The Conversation last week spoke with each of Hawaiʻi's county mayors to learn how the COVID-19 surge is affecting their communities and health care systems.

Mayor of Kauaʻi Derek Kawakami shares the latest COVID-19 news from the Garden Isle.

On Thursday, Kauaʻi moved into Tier 5 of its COVID-19 guidelines and ended its resort bubble program as the state's fully vaccinated rate neared 60%.

Hawaiʻi Gov. David Ige said 60% of Hawaii's population will be fully vaccinated in two weeks, and some restrictions on travel and gatherings will be lifted.