Mayor Kawakami Visits KCC Automotive Students; Zonta Awards $2,000 to Chelsea Salud

Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami visited Kaua‘i Community College’s Automotive Technology department on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, to meet students training for the trades and to highlight workforce pathways tied to county priorities. During the visit Mindy Smith, treasurer of the Zonta Club of Hanalei, presented a $2,000 scholarship to KCC Automotive Technology student Chelsea Salud, a moment captured in photos by Dennis Fujimoto.

Kawakami told students the county is facing a labor squeeze in technical fields. “We are having more difficulty hiring highly qualified people,” Kawakami said. “The trades are always going to be needed, and we are always going to need qualified people.” Fowlkes noted the mayor emphasized the mechanics’ work on electric vehicles, adding that these skills will become more important as technology and climate demands increase.

The scholarship presentation was photographed with Kawakami answering students’ questions in the background. Mindy Smith handed the $2,000 award to Chelsea Salud on campus, a tangible example of community support for vocational training and an immediate boost to one student’s ability to continue hands-on instruction.

Program staff and alumni framed the visit as part celebration and part warning about enrollment trends. KCC Automotive Technology instructor Darryl Gerard explained how declining enrollment resulted in loss of various programs while Kawakami and special guests listened. Two alumni were cited as speakers on the program’s importance: Wesley Umakoshi and KCC’s Gordon Talbo. Separately, a guest list identifies Westley Umakoshi as Bacon Universal Branch Manager; the materials do not confirm whether Wesley and Westley refer to the same person.

Industry partners were on hand to signal hiring interest. Cynthia Vaughn, CAT/Hawthorne Branch Manager, and Kaylee Branco-Iwase attended the department event alongside the mayor, alumni, and faculty. The presence of employer representatives underlined the mayor’s point about recruiting qualified technicians as the island transitions toward electric vehicle maintenance and other advanced trade skills.

Kawakami extended his campus visit to meet Culinary Arts students and guest chefs, including an executive sous chef from the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, underscoring the county’s broader workforce focus across hospitality and trades. The visit framed immediate local priorities: bolster enrollment, align KCC curricula with EV and climate-driven technology needs, and strengthen employer partnerships to address the mayor’s hiring concerns.