Kauai Wire

Umi Martin joins Kauai Wire to talk about his background and his focus on agriculture, housing, and land use heading into the 2026 county council race.

The conversation covers the housing crisis and short-term rentals, workforce housing shortages, and the permitting bottleneck — including how AI could help streamline the process. From there, Umi digs into agriculture: water resources, infrastructure gaps, the challenges small farmers face competing in the market, and what it actually takes to scale up production. He closes out talking about community engagement, nonprofit support, and the potential for economic growth through small business and entrepreneurship on Kauai.

🔗 Learn more / support Umi's campaign: umi4council.com

Takeaways

• Workforce housing is a growing crisis on Kauai, and affordable housing solutions need to be part of the answer.
• AI has real potential to streamline permitting and help address workforce shortages.
• Local agriculture won't scale without community support and real infrastructure investment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
04:07 Housing and Short-Term Rentals
07:24 Challenges in Housing and Workforce Housing
13:15 Permitting and Land Use
15:03 Use of AI in Permitting
16:34 Agriculture and Infrastructure
25:12 Challenges in Crop Production
26:10 Small Farming and Market Competition
27:17 Scaling Up and Infrastructure Investment
29:13 Community Engagement and Nonprofit Support
33:42 Economic Development and Small Business

Billy DeCosta joins Kauai Wire to talk story about his path from teaching and construction into local politics — and what he'd bring to county council.

The conversation covers his background in teaching, construction, and woodworking, then digs into the issues: the TVR tax bill and budget resolution, permitting reform, economic development for small business, agro-tourism and agri-parks, slaughterhouse capacity for local livestock producers, rain catchment and off-grid living, and workforce housing. Billy also shares his take on what county council actually does day to day, why he's running, and what he wants voters to know before they fill out their ballot.

Takeaways

• Fixing permitting, economic development, and agriculture on Kauai requires real collaboration and policy change — not just talk.
• Workforce housing and rental availability are core to keeping local families on Kauai; county affordable housing programs play a direct role in rent stability.
• Voting for candidates who share your values — and can actually get things done on council — matters more than most people realize.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
00:30 Teaching and Construction Experience
02:04 Impact of Woodworking Skills
03:34 TVR Tax Bill and Budget Resolution
11:03 Permitting and Streamlining Processes
13:51 Economic Development and Small Business
19:12 Agro-Tourism and Agri-Parks
23:04 Slaughterhouse Space and Livestock Production
33:33 Rain Catchment and Off-Grid Living
37:45 Workforce Housing and Rental Properties
38:43 Affordable Housing and County Programs
39:40 The Power of Voting and Council Influence
40:38 Choosing the Right Candidates
46:29 Experience and Expertise in County Council
53:40 Community Collaboration and Legislative Impact
01:03:24 County Council Responsibilities and Processes
01:05:23 Legislative Achievements and Future Aspirations
01:06:50 Personal Reflections and Community Engagement
01:09:59 Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

In this episode of Kauai Wire: The Interview, we sit down with Councilwoman Fern Holland to ask the hard questions — trash and solid waste management, the housing and labor crisis, and how her first term on the Kauai County Council has gone. We also get into her background, her committee work, parks and rec initiatives, tourism's impact on the community, the houseless and drug crisis, and what proactive local leadership actually looks like.

Takeaways:

• Council responsibilities and initiatives
• Parks and Rec initiatives
• Trash management and solid waste
• Labor force and housing crisis — community engagement is essential for addressing local challenges
• Proactive problem-solving and accessibility are key to effective leadership

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:59 Council Responsibilities and Committees
01:59 Parks and Rec Initiatives
02:51 Trash Management and Solid Waste
10:01 Labor Force and Housing Crisis
11:30 Community Commitment and Challenges
12:12 Recruitment and Workforce Challenges
13:07 Parks and Recreation Expansion
14:44 Tourism Impact and Community Solutions
15:14 Houseless Issues and Park Management
20:15 Drug Crisis and Community Safety
25:47 Council Role and Advice for New Members
31:08 Accessibility and Community Engagement

Learn more about Councilwoman Holland: votefern.com

Kauai Wire sits down with Chad Schimmelfennig, Democratic candidate

for State House District 17, ahead of the August 8 primary against

16-year incumbent Dee Morikawa.

Born in Waimea and raised on Kauai, Schimmelfennig traces his family

roots eight generations back in Koloa. He's executive director of Nā

Wai Hānai o Kahili and a first-time candidate running on lived experience over seniority

Part of Kauai Wire's 2026 election coverage. The same sit-down has

been offered to every candidate in this race.

kauaiwire.com

Jimmy Trujillo, a candidate for the 2026 Kauai County Council election, joins the Kauai Wire Podcast to discuss his vision for Kauai. In this episode, we cover streamlining the county permit process, improving government efficiency, supporting local businesses, addressing housing challenges, and the issues shaping the future of Kauai.

Whether you're a longtime resident or a first-time voter, this conversation provides an opportunity to hear directly from a candidate seeking to serve on the Kauai County Council.

In this episode, we sit down with John "Scooby" Mattos, a community-minded candidate for Kauai County Council, to talk about his background, qualifications, and vision for Kauai. Scooby shares real-life experience and practical ideas on housing, environmental sustainability, local business, ranching, and economic development, with a strong focus on honesty, transparency, and community-first leadership.

This conversation is part of Kauai Wire's 2026 election coverage. With all seven County Council seats and the Mayor's race on the November ballot, we're talking with candidates about the issues that actually affect daily life on this island.