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 Michaela Widener, nonpartisan candidate for the office of Kauaʻi County Mayor.

Her opponents are Bernard Carvalho Jr., Felicia Cowden, Megeso-William Denis, Laura Andaya-Lindsey and Mel Rapozo.

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?

We need more diversity in the background of our elected officials. What I bring to the table is a unique perspective and the more of those we have, the better the solutions we can create, and the more representative of the communities we are. I want the job because I want to stop making excuses and figure it out. We have a housing crisis, a landfill crisis, a septic tank crisis. This didn’t happen overnight. I am determined to find solutions not excuses.

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?

The biggest issue is that there are many issues that have been neglected for far too long. Going forward there is a lot of work to do as far as strengthening communities and making life affordable. Our infrastructure must come first, especially water. I read a report by (Kauaʻi Department of Water manager) Joseph Tait who has done the research in the gaps of our current systems and estimates the costs to be $1.3 billion to fix. He states, “We are at risk of becoming the next Lahaina,” and I take that very seriously.

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

Great question. I believe if we can convince more renters to allow pets not only would stray cat numbers go down, but studies have shown that tenants with animals tend to be more stable, as finding rentals that allow pets is hard. By increasing the number of units that allow pets we can both boost the economy and keep people from dumping animals on the street.

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?

We can put pressure on the state to pass legislation like Hawaiʻi Senate Bill 1133 for county home rule empowering local solutions for housing affordability. A “one-size-fits-all” approach from the state level is no longer sufficient to protect Hawaiʻi’s families. We need local leaders who have the tools to address the crisis in their own backyards. County home rule would give us the authority to implement localized rent stabilization and housing affordability measures.

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?

I would make it very clear that the local police force and myself will uphold the Constitution of the United States and protect our citizensʻ rights as is our duty as civil servants. Any violations will not be tolerated. Period. As long as everyone is there to follow the law and execute as professionally as possible there should be no problems.

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

The Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee is highly effective but underfunded. Aggressive action is vital. Protecting native forests shields the island. As an elected official I would advocate for stricter port biosecurity and require 100% inspection of incoming baggage and agricultural shipments. Implement mandatory green waste sterilization protocols, create subsidy programs for residents to test and treat yards for fire ants, and dedicate long-term county and state funding for deep forest fencing and predator control.

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

I think investing heavily in waste reduction is vital for a small island with limited space. I would implement a composting and recycling residential pick-up program as well as enforcement on all major restaurants and hotel chains. I would invest in profiting from our waste with methane collection and work with Terracycle, a (mainland) company that can recycle anything and make it profitable. I would invest in infrastructure to create a circular economy in which we eliminate our need to ship in food.

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?

I think both. Our shorelines are disappearing and I believe new builds should have to follow new regulations to these issues. I believe that old homes should follow current guidelines but should not have to be moved until absolutely necessary.

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?

I think we should bring the trains back. Tourists can get a train ticket from their hotel at the same time they purchase airline tickets. As well as implement a specific time frame for schools and businesses. Studies have shown that starting schools later in the day decreases the number of cars on the road as well as decreasing stress while driving allowing for better sleep. There was a study done under Hawaiʻi House Bill 2222 and the benefits were significant.

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?

Practice makes perfect. I think we should assume the worst and assess where all our weak points are and create multiple strategies for scenarios we’ve seen in the past. It’s important that when disaster strikes we’ll already know what to do. I would work side-by-side with experts to ensure we are fully prepared no matter what happens. Engagement with the community is key to addressing these issues. Nobody knows the problems better than the people who live through them.

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?

We can expand the Residential Cesspool Conversion Grant Program increasing the funding to allow more lower- and middle-income families (to benefit). Partner with local credit unions and create low-interest loans allowing homeowners to borrow the money upfront and pay it back over time. The county can leverage the ⁠Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to secure low-interest loans that the (Kauaʻi County) Housing Agency can administer as grants. And we can advocate for Hawaiʻi House Bill 2079 and Senate Bill 2525 bringing back tax credits.

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

I would modernize public meetings by allowing livestreaming and remote video testimony. Create a digital portal to submit written testimony or register to speak. Publish an easily searchable online database of all our contracts, vendor bids and government salaries. Upgrade the county website to allow residents to track the status of building permits and non-emergency service requests, and mandate regular, independent performance audits of county departments and publish the findings openly.