We talk listening before leading, raising standards, and why he believes the job is about giving people a boost so they can rise.

The general election is Nov 3. Get informed before you vote.

🎙️ Hosted by Steve Yoder | Kauai Wire

🔔 Follow Kauai Wire for more conversations with the people shaping Kauaʻi.

Evslin shares the unexpected Valentine's Day call that landed him in the legislature, the shock of walking into the House caucus room knowing almost no one, and the hard lesson that at the state level you have to focus on one thing or get swallowed by everything. He also explains why Kauai's housing crisis is not just a Kauai problem,it's tied to statewide pricing, vacation rentals, infrastructure, financing, and the brutal math of supply and demand.

You'll discover:

• Why he believes zoning, building code reform, and ADUs are the fastest path to relief
• How his own illegal in-home rental turned into the first ARU permit application on Kauai
• The ARU incentive program that wiped out tens of thousands in fees for local homeowners
• Why two ADUs statewide became one of the most controversial bills in recent memory
• What septic reform, cesspool conversion grants, and sewer expansion could mean for future housing
• Why manufactured housing, triplexes, fourplexes, and pre-approved ADU plans keep hitting government roadblocks

He also gets candid about the tradeoffs of public service, including the time away from his wife and two young kids, the pressure of being on Oahu Monday through Friday, and the constant grind of introducing bills that may die before they ever reach a vote. Still, Evslin makes the case that the work is worth it -

because every win, from a local grandpa finally getting to bring his kids home to a weekend river policy that reopened a space for residents, proves policy can improve daily life in tangible ways.

If you care about Kauai, Hawaii housing, or what really happens inside the State Capitol, this conversation pulls back the curtain. It is especially valuable for local families, homeowners, builders, and anyone wondering whether Hawaii can still be a place where the next generation can afford to stay.

Luke Evslin is the District 16 representative in the Hawaii State House, formerly of the Kauai County Council, and a longtime advocate for housing reform, local planning, and community-centered policy. He also co-founded a canoe-building business and coaches paddling.

Full credit for the original interview, production, and broadcast goes to KKCR and hosts Radio Annie and Jimmy T. This segment featured a conversation with Kauai mayoral candidates Mel Rapozo and Bernard Carvalho, and included commentary from Waylon Brun.

For more community programming, tune in to KKCR at 90.9/91.9 FM or visit kkcr.org.

Republished with attribution. All original interview content and production credit belongs to KKCR and Out of the Box.

Full credit for the original interview, production, and broadcast goes to KKCR and hosts Radio Annie and Jimmy T. This segment featured a conversation with Kauai mayoral candidates Mel Rapozo and Bernard Carvalho, and included commentary from Waylon Brun.

For more community programming, tune in to KKCR at 90.9/91.9 FM or visit kkcr.org.

Republished with attribution. All original interview content and production credit belongs to KKCR and Out of the Box.

Takeaways

• Passion for helping people
• Community service

Chapters

• 00:00 Pre-Debate Excitement
• 01:32 Passion for Helping People
• 05:11 Involvement in Community Service
• 09:06 Reflection on Past Actions
• 14:50 Misunderstandings and Hope for the Future
• 22:54 Closing Statement and Debate Preparation

The debate: Thursday, Aug. 27, 6:00–7:30pm. Live on KKCR 91.9FM / kkcr.org, or watch on Hō'ike's YouTube (youtube.com/@hoikekctv). Presented by Hale Lihu'e, Hō'ike Kaua'i, KKCR, and Kauai Wire.

Kauai Wire will have coverage of Bernard Carvalho pre-debate conversation as well — stay tuned.

A candidate with 25 years in the fire department says Kauai's biggest problems all come back to one thing: money.

Dane Smith — born-and-raised on Kauai, retired fire captain, and Hanalei Initiative leader — talks with W. Brun about why the county keeps hitting the same wall on landfill, wastewater, housing, and permitting, and what it actually takes to move things forward.

You'll hear about:

• A smarter, prioritized rollout for the 2050 cesspool conversion deadline
• Hanalei's wastewater model as an island-wide blueprint
• Why workforce housing is really "gap housing" — and how land banking and density could unlock it
• Pre-approved ADU plans as a fast-track for housing
• TVRs, parks, and public space in the fight over island quality of life

He also touches on small business, ag sustainability, and why the Junior Lifeguard Program is a model worth copying.

Learn more: danesmithforkauai.com · hanaleiinitiative.org

👉 Weekly county election coverage and interviews like this — subscribe at kauaiwire.com

Kauai Wire Podcast

25 years as a KPD captain. Front-line command during Kauai's worst emergencies. Now running for County Council on a platform of budget transparency and cutting the county's dependence on outside consultants.

In this episode, Paul Applegate breaks down where Kauai's budget actually goes, why the county leans so hard on outside consultants, and what he'd change about how the island handles homelessness, housing, waste management, and infrastructure. If you care about where your tax dollars go and whether the county is actually accountable for them, this one's worth the full listen.

Connect with Paul Applegate

• Campaign site: paulforkauai.com
• Instagram: @paulforkauai
• Facebook: Paul for Kaua'i
• LinkedIn: Paul Applegate

This episode is part of Kauai Wire's 2026 County Council candidate series. Catch our conversations with Jimmy Trujilloand Billy DeCosta too.

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

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

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

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.

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.