Billy DeCosta has spent his career with his hands on things that last, first as a teacher, then in construction and woodworking. Now he wants to bring that same hands-on approach to Kauai County Council.

We sat down with him on the Kauai Wire podcast to talk about his path into local politics, and where he actually stands on the issues that matter to this island: permitting, small business, agriculture, housing, and what it would take to make Kauai County government work better for the people who live here.

Billy's background isn't the typical political résumé. He taught. He built things, literally with wood and with his hands, before deciding the skills he'd developed solving real problems for real people belonged on the council dais. He talked about how woodworking in particular shaped the way he thinks: measure twice, build for the long term, don't cut corners you'll regret later.

That mindset shows up in how he talks about county government. It is less about talking points, more about what actually gets built, fixed, or fixed faster.

TVR tax and the budget. Billy walked through his read on the transient vacation rental tax bill and the county budget resolution tied to it. It comes down to where the money should go and what it means for the rest of us paying property taxes on this island.

Permitting reform. If you've tried to build anything on Kauai, you already know: permitting is broken. Billy talked specifics on what's slowing the process down and what streamlining could actually look like, not just "we need to fix permitting" but where the friction really is.

Small business and economic development. Kauai's economy runs on small business, but the county's track record on making it easier to start and grow one here is mixed at best. Billy laid out where he sees the openings.

Agro-tourism and agri-parks. A real opportunity for local ag producers to diversify revenue, if the county actually builds the infrastructure and policy to support it instead of just talking about it.

Slaughterhouse capacity. This one matters more than most people realize. Kauai's local livestock producers, ranchers included, are bottlenecked hard by a lack of slaughter capacity on-island. It's the single biggest constraint standing between "we raise cattle here" and "we can actually supply local beef at scale," including to institutions like the schools. Billy gets it, and it's worth watching what he'd actually do about it if elected.

Rain catchment and off-grid living. For a lot of rural Kauai residents, this isn't a lifestyle choice. It is infrastructure. Billy talked about where county policy helps or hurts people living this way.

Workforce housing. The throughline of almost every conversation about Kauai's future: can working families actually afford to stay here? Billy connected the dots between county affordable housing programs and actual rent stability. Not just units built, but rents people can pay.

Billy was direct about what county council actually does day to day. It is not glamorous, it is budget lines and permitting ordinances and zoning fights, but it is where a lot of the decisions that shape daily life on Kauai actually get made. His pitch: vote for candidates who share your values and can actually get things done once they're in the room.

Takeaways:

Listen to the full conversation. It includes his take on legislative achievements, community collaboration, and what he wants voters to know before they fill out their ballot.

What do you want to know from the other candidates running for county council this cycle? Reply and let us know. We are talking to more of them.

/

Go to the website if you dont see link here to hear podcast