Kawakami went to mainland in June with stops in Washington and Florida

Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami earlier this month went to Washington, D.C., to participate in the ninth annual Hawai‘i on the Hill, and a week later trekked to Tampa, Fla., to attend the 93rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Hawai‘i on the Hill, hosted by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i, brought together Hawai‘i businesses, nonprofits and policymakers to showcase the Aloha State’s economic and cultural strengths.

The 4-day event included a welcome reception, a policy summit with remarks from national leaders and the signature Taste of Hawai‘i, which featured more than 90 Hawai‘i-based organizations and drew more than 1,500 attendees.

“Coming together in D.C. reinforces that Hawai‘i’s spirit and entrepreneurship shine most brightly when we unite on the national stage,” said Kawakami in a news release about his trip. “Mahalo to Sen. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i for hosting this event, which shares Hawai‘i’s culture, vision and aloha.”

The mayor joined more than 200 mayors from throughout the nation the following week during the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Tampa to discuss shared challenges and policy solutions.

Topics included housing, public safety, climate resilience, artificial intelligence and strengthening partnerships between cities and the private sector.

“Conferences like this offer both proven and fresh ideas we can tailor for Kaua‘i,” said Kawakami. “Connecting with fellow mayors facing similar issues reinforces our shared responsibility and opportunity to serve our communities better.”