The Garden Island: Kawakami attends U.S. Conference of Mayors 93rd Annual Meeting
June 25, 2025
LIHUE – Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami traveled to Washington, D.C., from June 8 to 11,, to participate in the 9th annual Hawaii on the Hill, and later attended the 93rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors held June 19 to 22 in Tampa, Florida.
Hawaii on the Hill, hosted by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, brought together local businesses, nonprofits and policymakers to showcase Hawaii’s economic and cultural strengths. The four-day event included a welcome reception, a policy summit with remarks from national leaders, and the signature Taste of Hawaii on the Hill, which featured more than 90 Hawaii-based organizations and drew over 1,500 attendees.
“Coming together in D.C. reinforces that Hawaii’s spirit and entrepreneurship shine most brightly when we unite on the national stage,” said Kawakami. “Mahalo to Sen. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii for hosting this event, which shares Hawai‘i’s culture, vision and aloha.”
The following week, Kawakami joined over 200 mayors from across the country at 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 Kauai,” said Kawakami. “Connecting with fellow mayors facing similar issues reinforces our shared responsibility and opportunity to serve our communities better. We thank the organizers and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor for hosting this year.”
