HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR091918MayorsignsMOUtoallownightfootballgames2018seasonBERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
COUNTY OF KAUA'I
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: September 19, 2018
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
SARAH BLANE, CHIEF OF STAFF
Tel (808) 241-4900
Fax (808) 241-6877
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. signs MOU to allow night football games for
the 2018 season
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the County of Kaua'i to allow the county to use
stadium lights at night during the 2018 football season.
"It has always been my goal to establish an agreement with the federal government that
would allow us to bring back our longstanding tradition of Friday Night Lights on Kaua'i, in a
manner that is safe and responsible during the endangered seabird fledgling season," said
Mayor Carvalho. "While we continue to work on a long-term agreement, this MOU serves as an
interim measure that allows us to use stadium lights on evenings with minimized risk to
endangered seabirds."
As noted in the MOU, stadium lights will be allowed at night on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28,
2018. The endangered seabird fledgling season runs every year from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.
"We are happy to have found an interim solution that supports seabird conservation as
well as the needs of the community," stated Mary Abrams, field supervisor for the Pacific Islands
Fish and Wildlife Office. "The work of conservation is a team effort, and Mayor Carvalho and
County of Kaua'i have been great partners."
The County will continue to participate in the development of a long-term agreement —
called the Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan (KSHCP) — on the use of stadium facilities
beyond this year's football season. This plan, which purpose is to conserve seabird species
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), is currently in development by the state Department
of Land and Natural Resources — Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW).
"While our ultimate goal is to finish the KSHCP for future football seasons, we are
grateful to all of our federal, state, county and community partners for working diligently
throughout the past several years to bring us to this point now," said Mayor Carvalho. "This
year's opportunity for night football is a testament to the hard work we've accomplished
together, including the retrofitting of ballpark lights at Vidinha and Hanapepe stadiums, and
conducting training and educational outreach campaigns to perpetuate the importance of
protecting our endangered seabirds. We look forward to the Waimea Homecoming game this
Friday night, Sept. 21, at the Hanapepe Stadium."