LIHUE – When Kauai Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signed Bill 2961 into law last month, it became Hawaii’s first ordinance to incorporate Wildland Urban Interface safety standards directly into zoning and permitting for Kauai’s plantation-camp districts.
The landmark measure aims to strengthen wildfire resilience across rural neighborhoods, helping people better protect their homes, families, and communities from growing fire risks.
A video produced by Kauai County highlights how the ordinance turns wildfire prevention into everyday practice.
• Home hardening requirements to mitigate ember intrusion
• Incorporating a five-foot noncombustible zone around homes
• Defensible space up to 30 feet around homes
• Maintaining low vegetation out to 100 feet
It also highlights active partnerships between the County of Kauai, the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), and Headwaters Economics, the Countys commitment to education-first enforcement, and the shared goal of protecting lives, homes, and cultural landscapes across Kauai.
HWMO Co-executive Director Elizabeth Pickett said, “This truly is a landmark for wildfire safety in Hawaii. Kauai’s commitment and the strong partnerships behind this effort reflect a deep sense of kuleana — a shared responsibility to protect our people and places from wildfire. We hope this serves as a model for building safer, more resilient communities across Kauai and throughout the state.”
Source: The Garden Island
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