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had a practice evacuation for tsunami. We maybe once a year walked down to the stone church.
<br /> I think that was more of an evacuation if there was a bomb threat or something, but that certainly
<br /> wouldn't benefit the children if there was any other kind of threat, earthquake, tsunami.
<br /> So, I've also observed the traffic there, of course, and it's very difficult to get up Royal
<br /> Poinciana or down Royal—the evacuation for that area, there's not a plan and it just is very
<br /> scary. I, again, I, I do go by Banyans every day. I stop often, and I know the area very, very
<br /> well.
<br /> I want to give everyone else time, so I just wanted to share my vision, our vision, for the future,
<br /> for the children, would be to clean up Alii Drive. Make it a beautiful corridor like it used to be.
<br /> I'd like to see a non-motorized zone in the ocean so we're not chopping up our dolphins and our
<br /> manta with the propellers. It's out of hand if you ever watch 20 boats around the dolphins
<br /> jumping on them, not giving them—I'm sorry, I'm going off on that tangent, but it's all part of
<br /> what's happening in Kona. Don't let the big developers take over everything. You guys are
<br /> decision-makers. Go into your heart and decide: Is this going to benefit our children and our
<br /> future and our community? Are they coming here to take and send more boats on the ocean and
<br /> do more tours, and it's just—and the homeless thing is a huge, yes, the police have, you know,
<br /> they're sleeping everywhere, so we're also trying to organize a meeting, community meeting for
<br /> that.
<br /> But, thank you. Please close your eyes and see beautiful orchards all up and down Alii Drive
<br /> and everywhere. We need to grow food for our community and make this a place for the Kanaka
<br /> first and the rest of the people to live in peace and harmony. Thank you.
<br /> LINGER: Mahalo.
<br /> GASPAR: Hello, my name is Celeste Gaspar. I reside in Washington State, but I have grown up
<br /> at Banyans. I lived behind the Banyan Mart Store since I was one, and I moved away when I
<br /> was 21. The beach is my first spot that I come to when I come home. I get very emotional about
<br /> the beach because I grew up there every day in the water. Sorry, but I can't believe this is
<br /> happening. You know, I move away, and I come home, and I can't believe this. It just makes
<br /> me sad to know that there might be a development on this property. When I come home from
<br /> the mainland, I expect it to be how it is and see my friends, family, go fishing, go, you know. I
<br /> don't even need there to be waves, I'll just get in the water, and I feel home. I feel love. I feel
<br /> the Big Island. I feel this is my roots. This is where I, you know, belong. But, it's, you know,
<br /> Hawaii is expensive, and I can't be here.
<br /> I just urge you, like everyone else here, please do not develop this property. It's, it's my home.
<br /> Again, I'm just, it blows my mind. Thank you.
<br /> LINGER: Mahalo. You may be seated.
<br /> HOXSIE: Thank you.
<br /> LINGER: Lokelani McMichael, Chad Campbell, Cindy Freitas, and Cherie Griffore?
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<br /> EXHIBIT B
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