Kauai County in Hawaii Looking to Preserve Open Spaces on the Island

Kauai is the oldest inhabited island in Hawaii, with some of the nicest nature hikes and beaches in the state of Hawaii. However, this has also attracted a lot of development, causing major traffic problems and dramatically decreasing the island's natural beauty. The County of Kauai is currently soliciting feedback and ideas from residents of Kauai to decide on how and where to save some of the island's last untouched areas.

The Kauai Planning Department, a department for the County, is doing a series of presentations on their Open Space program and promoting the 2007 Public Access/Open Space survey at a handful of free, public information meetings at various community centers and schools on Kauai.

The following list is a compilation of dates, times, and locations for these free public information meetings:

Tuesday, July 17 7:30 - 9 pm Kōloa Elementary School cafeteria
Thursday, July 19 7:30 - 9 pm Līhu'e Civic Center, Pi'ikoi rooms A & B
Monday, July 23 7:30 - 9 pm Hanalei Community Center
Wednesday, July 25 7:30 - 9 pm Waimea Neighborhood Center
Monday, July 30 7:30 - 9 pm Kapa'a Middle School cafeteria
Tuesday, July 31 7:30 - 9 pm Kīlauea Neighborhood Center

Anyone who has special needs but would like to attend these public information meetings are asked by the Kauai Planning Department to call them and make arrangements three or more days before the meeting you would like to attend. The number for the Kauai Planning Department is (808) 241-6677.

Starting on July 16, the 2007 Public Access/Open Space survey will be accessible at www.Kauai.gov/OpenSpace for completion. Hard copies of the survey will also be provided at the public information meetings or picked up at the Kauai Planning Department. The deadline for completing and turning in the surveys is September. 30, 2007.

The survey asks for your ideas and perspective on issues relating to access, open space and natural resources preservation, which may be
incorporated in the Open Space Commission's 2007 report.