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CAIN: Hello. <br /> CARR SMITH: Thank you for your patience. Go ahead with your testimony. <br /> CAIN: Good morning and thank you forgiving me the opportunity to speak to you today. Eight <br /> (8) years ago I moved to North Kohala and I had the good fortune to stay for one (1) month on <br /> Puakea Ranch because Joshua Alt is my son and Christie was kind enough to let me stay in one <br /> of the cottages. During that time, I had a unique introduction to this island because Christie told <br /> me with great pride all about the magical place I had landed on. Puakea Ranch is unique, there is <br /> no other place to compare it to. Christie and the people who work and tend to the ranch do it <br /> with a personal connection to its significance both historically and currently as an asset to our <br /> community. <br /> Christie has expanded the gardens every year, added beehives, has a prolific pineapple patch, <br /> planted sandalwood trees, and brought back many indigenous plantings on her property. I <br /> personally watched Christie sacrifice a great deal for this property with complete commitment to <br /> making it an interval part of our community and North Kohala is proud of Puakea Ranch. The <br /> employees and the vendors that comes to the events have told me how much they love caring for <br /> the land, the animals, the gardens, and the guests. Christie has been generous to the local <br /> community and gifted many organizations the ranch for their events absorbing the cost to herself. <br /> Puakea Ranch brings income to the merchants in town because when you stay at Puakea Ranch <br /> you just don't want to stray too far from your lanai. Your lush gardens, the paths for hiking, the <br /> chickens, goats, horses, sheep, donkeys, and of course the amazing sunsets and rainbows. <br /> Everyone who stays at the ranch takes a little bit of authentic Hawaii home with them. Given <br /> the opportunity you can be sure Christie will continue as she has been doing everything to come <br /> into compliance with the law and will continue to care for Puakea Ranch with her heart and soul. <br /> She has not been neglecting her responsibilities to come into compliance. I have watched her <br /> week by week, month by month, year by year trying to do the right thing and now she is fighting <br /> for her land that she loves so much. I want to thank Mr. Yee for supporting Christie and <br /> recommending the approval of the Special Use permit she is requesting today. Please consider <br /> the value this Special permit will have for our community. Please allow Christie to move <br /> forward and make right anything that needs to be corrected and give her the opportunity to <br /> protect the integrity of this place she calls home. To farm it, and to offer its slender and bounty <br /> to all who are lucky enough to eat from its gardens and sleep under its stars. <br /> CARR SMITH: Very good, thank you Catalina. Any questions from Commissioners? Thank <br /> you so much appreciate your patience. You can drop off the call now. Barbara Davis? Are you <br /> on? Barbara Davis? No, okay. Coral Schiller are you on? Yes, Coral your here. Thank you for <br /> your patience Coral, you can go ahead with your testimony. <br /> SCHILLER: Aloha, my names is Coral Schiller. I am a Kohala resident and have been for half <br /> my life. My significant other, is actually an employee of Josh and Christie and have worked <br /> there for years taking care of the grounds at Puakea Ranch. This is just really ultimately a <br /> special place its far, its total opposite of the hotel cultural experience you get down on the west <br /> 21 <br /> EXHIBIT A <br />