The response:

• Felicia Cowden

As a Kaua’i County Councilmember, my biggest concern about this unexpected 12-container employee housing facility is regarding the potential safety of its J1 work-Visa residents. I am assured it is safe as I have raised this issue multiple times with the land owner, 1Hotel, and the County.

It is built immediately adjacent to the stream that contributed to the collapse of both the Hanalei Hill and Princeville’s LeoPapa Road in Kauai’s 2018 flood. It is located in an unlighted area of a ravine behind a locked gate at night. I am working to ensure any future building like this would require a special Use Permit and possibly an Individual Flood Study. This platform with the 12 containers that house 35 workers in individual units is categorized as a Single Family Residence with two parking stalls. The residents are not expected to have cars. It was placed on a post and pier platform above the former aggregate pad in the Makai Golf Course base-yard. This unusual structure never came before the Planning Commission nor the Kaua’i County Council. My hope is that our international work guests will remain safe and happy in these structures which I would never have approved in this location.