Civil Beat has asked candidates for the Hawaiʻi General Election on Nov. 3 to answer a survey about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected.

The following comes from Megeso-William Denis, nonpartisan candidate for the office of Kauaʻi County Mayor.

His opponents are Bernard Carvalho Jr., Felicia Cowden, Laura Andaya-Lindsey, Mel Rapozo and Michaela Widener.

Go to Civil Beat’s 2026 Election Guide for general information, and check out the other candidates on the Hawaiʻi Primary Election Ballot.

Why are you best suited for the job of mayor? And why do you want the job?

I believe in “people-first” governance. I understand fiduciary responsibility and accountability as a business systems division operations manager at a Fortune 500 company required to produce measurable results. I want to restore the cultural identity of Kauaʻi. I want food and island independence so our people thrive and not be forced off island. Implement “people-first” programs that improve the quality of life, lower the cost of living, grow small businesses, affordable housing and opportunity.

What is the biggest issue facing Kaua‘i County, and what is the first thing you would do to address it in the first six months after being elected?

Cost of living and quality of life. I would review our investments. 75% of our budget is salaries, wages and benefits leaving only 25% for housing, infrastructure, etc. We have 938 non-governmental organizations that need to be successful, transparent, and accountable so every taxpayer dollar is producing measurable results. My kuleana is to eliminate duplication of efforts that result in waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money. This means retooling for food and island independence away from foreign influence.

Here’s one question from a constituent: How are we going to deal with wild cat colonies?

The cheapest and most humane solution are low-cost spay/neuter programs, mobile veterinary clinics, community education, incentives for responsible pet ownership, enforcement against abandonment. Identify high, moderate, and low-risk zones, establish enclosed or semi-enclosed cat sanctuaries. Implement community stewardship teams to monitor colonies, track population numbers, organize sterilization efforts, conduct adoptions, report abandonment and protect wildlife.

The cost of living on Kaua‘i is rising. How are working and middle-class people expected to buy a house or pay the rent as well as take care of other expenses? And how can the county government help?

By keeping our money on the island through food independence and not paying inflated prices of imports. Developing local talent or entrepreneurs to fill gaps of other imported services for island independence to the point we become exporters of Hawaiʻi-made products, goods and services. Cost of living comes from government waste and foreign influence. Regulatory relief, faster permitting, tax credits, tax incentives and elimination of some taxes.

Kauaʻi has been targeted for enforcement by ICE agents. What will be the position of your office to requests for more cooperation by county law enforcement and federal authorities?

Quite simply, the mayor is required to follow the laws of immigration as it is a federal not county responsibility. My responsibility is to the residents of Kauaʻi County to ensure our resources are to protect our people. County law enforcement must protect all Kauaʻi residents’ safety and welfare first.

What is your assessment of programs combating invasive species on Kaua‘i and what other measures would you advocate for in office?

Kauaʻi has been relatively successful at identifying and responding to new invasive threats like coqui frog detection and eradication efforts, little fire ant surveillance, invasive plant removal in sensitive watersheds, early detection of invasive reptiles and insects. I would create a coordinated “Kauaʻi Biosecurity Initiative” to focus on airport inspections, harbor inspections, cargo screening, nursery monitoring, online plant and animal sales monitoring.

What solid waste solutions do you think should be considered as the Kekaha Landfill approaches full capacity in 2027?

My goal is simple: Send less waste to the landfill, recover more resources locally, create local jobs, reduce taxpayer costs and extend the life of existing infrastructure. By moving from a landfill-dependent model to a decentralized resource recovery system, Kauaʻi can protect its environment, strengthen its economy and build a more sustainable future for generations to come.

The Kaua‘i County Council has debated tougher regulations for shoreline setbacks. Do you support more stringent oversight of improvements and should more homes be moved farther back rather than face costly renovations or remediation measures?

We must respect private property rights while being honest about coastal realities. New development should be built where it can safely remain for generations. Existing homeowners should be treated fairly, not punished for decisions made under previous rules. Our goal is to reduce future risk, protect beaches, protect taxpayers and preserve public access while working cooperatively with property owners.

Overtourism can degrade the environment, contribute to wear and tear on infrastructure, generate traffic and disrupt neighborhoods. What do you think about the amount of tourism on Kaua‘i and how it’s managed?

Tourism is an important part of Kauaʻi’s economy, but our responsibility is to ensure tourism works for the people of Kauaʻi. We will focus on quality over quantity, protect our neighborhoods, preserve our natural and cultural resources, and ensure tourism contributes fairly to the infrastructure it uses. The measure of success is not how many visitors arrive, but whether our families, businesses, kūpuna and future generations experience a higher quality of life.

All of Hawai‘i has experienced damaging and dangerous weather events that have exposed weaknesses in our planning, preparation and response. Is Kaua‘i sufficiently prepared for the next Hurricane Iniki or Kona low system? What else should the county be doing?

Response not submitted.

There are nearly 14,000 cesspools on Kaua‘i that must be removed by 2050. With an average cost of $15,000 to $30,000 to convert to septic, many homeowners say making the transition is not affordable. How can the county help jumpstart cesspool replacements?

Our goal should be that no homeowner is forced into financial hardship to comply with the cesspool mandate. We will pursue state and federal funding, establish county infrastructure credits, create revolving loan programs, and prioritize assistance for kūpuna and working families. Where decentralized micro-treatment systems demonstrably reduce future county infrastructure costs, those savings should be shared with the homeowners who make the investment.

How would you make the county administration more transparent and accessible to the public?

Government works best when the people can see it, understand it and participate in it. My administration will operate with open books, measurable results and regular communication with the public. We will bring government back into the communities through town halls, stewardship councils, transparent budgeting and public performance dashboards. The people should never have to wonder what their government is doing. Government works for the people, and the people deserve a seat at the table.