WAIMEA — As the end of his term fast approaches on Dec. 5, Mayor Billy Kenoi was the guest speaker for Waimea Community Association’s October town meeting on Thursday, in tribute to what he and his administration have accomplished in North Hawaii over the past eight years.
“We’re gonna work really hard until the last day,” Kenoi said. Looking around the room he added, “We get more department heads out of Waimea than anywhere else.”
He spoke from the heart to a group of 50 or so residents and staff members, recalling their concerted efforts on the project to have shoulders added from the top to the bottom of Waikoloa Road, as well as Waimea District Park, as part of the $630 million in improvement projects his administration has completed since 2008. He added that the debt ratio is now the same as when he started.
“Our goal has always been to leave the island better than we found it,” he said. “My hope is that every person on this island feels that we listened to them, heard them and followed through.”
A potluck dinner was held in the mayor’s honor following the meeting.