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 Laura Andaya-Lindsey, nonpartisan candidate for the office of Kauaʻi County Mayor.

Her opponents are Bernard Carvalho Jr., Felicia Cowden, Megeso-William Denis, 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 am your first choice for mayor. I know and love our island home and I will serve the people of Kauaʻi. Grounded in Hawaiian and Christian values, I am a servant leader of good character. I know how to set priorities, manage resources and find the best talent for jobs. My leadership style is to improve systems and empower people. I want the job so that we can set right the foundation stones needed to protect and prosper our land and people for generations.

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?

Our infrastructure and our social safety net. Waste diversion and recycling to reduce what goes to the landfill. Highway/road safety improvements. Waste water solutions appropriate for the area. Coordinate with farmers, food banks and community partners to create food access points/community grocery stores to provide healthy, affordable food to ease food insecurity. Promote the conversion of unoccupied and under-occupied residences to provide housing.

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

This is a question the politicians avoid like the plague. We need to trap, fix and give them to homes locally or abroad. We don’t have enough shelter space and we cannot keep treating them like they are more special than other animals or the environment. I’m not a cat hater but I am a bird lover.

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?

Our county can help by continuing to build housing. We can assist our families by helping them build out their properties to meet their needs. We can provide information about financial partners. We can start a revolving loan fund to help the families make improvements. These will create more rentals and provide income to our local families. We can buy land and put in infrastructure and sell lots where they can live and build their own homes and don’t have to wait for us to build them.

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?

We would protect our community and comply with the law. In that order. Hawaiʻi state and county rules strictly limit local law enforcement from assisting with federal immigration enforcement. I would work to educate our community on what their rights are and how to protect themselves and each other. We can utilize our safe spaces like places of worship, healthcare facilities and schools.

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

We historically start out strong and then give up. We are losing the battle. Weeds, birds, cats, pigs, CRB (coconut rhinoceros beetle) is winning. I hear coqui frog is here too. The county does not have enough resources to be successful in doing these efforts alone. Because we are an island we need all of us to work together when we face these invasive species. What we can do is support the workforce/volunteers, educational materials to get the resources out to community.

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

Regulate what is allowed to come to the island. Divert as much as possible like green and food waste. Recycle and refurbish household goods. Recycle construction material and debris. “Mining” the waste material to sort through what is there to see if it can be recycled or disposed of differently. There is new technology with incineration as well. The current dump is like a giant pus on the island. It is seeping into our land. We need to pay attention to her.

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 cannot “oversight” all the things. There are private property laws and personal kuleana. However, all shoreline and disaster-affected areas need a closer look and better planning. If the landowners choose to rebuild, we cannot be expected to use disaster-related help and restoration for areas that we know will be affected. Insurance costs and community costs are not sustainable or practical. Other states have purchased said land and kept it from being developed.

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?

The amount of tourism is over what we have the capacity for at our main attractions. If we are not careful, we will destroy the very thing that people pay to see. Our beautiful Kauaʻi is already showing sign of wear. We generally have not managed any tourism except for the recent evolution at Hāʻena. The residents have lost access to the very recreation made for them. We have many more beaches that the tourist could visit if we could fund more lifeguards. Using a reservation system if feasible.

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?

Kauaʻi is minimally prepared. We lack emergency roadways, sufficient emergency shelters and hubs for resiliency in the areas where there is no transport or emergency services. Our food and water access are well below what is recommended for the 14 days after a disaster. We don’t have enough plywood on island to cover our windows, enough gas to fill our tanks or enough medical supplies. Our visitor industry needs a better plan to care for their clients and not expect the county to manage 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?

I remember when we asked people to pay $600 to hook up to sewer and they said that was too expensive. We need to take a fresh look at what we really need and to see the best way to meet the need. It may not be the conversion. It may be to invest in wastewater treatment in areas where there is sufficient population. The county offered a grant of $25,000 and the homeowners were just charged more because of it. We need to negotiate a fair and equitable fee to meet the needs of all concerned.

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

Access and information is available. We could make our website easier to search and more user friendly. We could have council and other hearings later in the day so people could attend.