2021-04-15 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony re SPP 21-222)

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watched the last testimony, I read through a lot of the testimonies from last time as well. I did see that Holualoa Inn was thrown out as an alternative location because it is located really close to Sunshower Farms. In my own research though, even on their own website I found that they charge 3 to 4 times for a wedding or an event. What Sunshower Farms does it's right on their website, it's public information and I truly believe locals deserve an affordable, beautiful event space that is accessible to them. Otherwise, for locals planning an event here our choices are community pavilions or again hotels and resorts that we are very often priced out of. When I was planning my own wedding on the Big Island, I wished Sunshower Farms had been an option, we would have jumped on the chance to get married here for that price and at that location because I believe what they are offering is really unique and valuable to the local community. I hope for this committee is to really consider kama`aina to consider locals when you are looking at this proposal. Again, I watched the whole last testimony and I've read through a lot of the submitted statements including the new documentation that Kay and Doug have submitted and I really believe that they have gone above and beyond to reach out to neighbors to hear their concerns and to really attempt to address specifically the road issues that I've heard everyone bring up. I think what more could you ask for from a neighbor than someone willing to work so hard to make sure all of those concerns are addressed and to really make sure that they can put on safe events. Thank you very much. VITOUSEK: Thank you. We will move on to Paul Wozniak. WOZNIAK: Hi, aloha, my name is Paul Wozniak living in Mountain View and I've been a resident of the Big Island for a little over a year now. My wife grew up here and we currently also living on Ag zoned land. When I moved here, I joined a small business community of which Kate is one of the leaders and organizers and her mentorship and caring nature have made all the difference. Having being involved with the Hamakua Coast farming community early on I've come to admire and care about the work that they do and care about this island and I know just by serving on this Commission you cared too so thank you for all your work. Being a small farmer is hard in today's global world, competing on price and volume is not feasible. So, small farmers are either forced out of business or need to find ways to adapt. The Hickey's permit application represents such a small change in how the farm currently operates. Asking to designate 2 of their 20 acres for a venue that would allow them to bring people to the farm to promote the work that they do and sell their products. It's a shift to a more service orientated business model as a farm and it's just an extension of what many farms have been doing for years by offering tours and is also simply a representative of the change in consumer behavior to that of caring about sustainability and locally sourced produce. While being a small change of asking just ten (10)percent(%) of their land to be designated for this purpose, it actually represents the only remaining lifeline in face of being forced out of the farming business. To support and say be it that the small farms moving forward including a service orientated aspect in their operations. I'd like to bring up the Puakea Ranch which has some similarities to Sunshower Farms with regards to their application which was approved last October. Mainly, I like to point out both applications have seen number of complaints and oppositions and concerns from the neighbors. Some of those concerns have been about the road 7 EXHIBIT B