2021-09-16 Leeward Exh A (Public Testimony re Item 1 SPP 21-227)

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MOSSMAN: I'm Ayla Mossman and I am born and raised here in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. I'm here to speak for Nanette and on behalf of Kona Aerial's Gymnastics. Gymnastics was a huge part of my life. I started when I was seven years old, and I was a competitive gymnast for 10 years with Coach Nanette. She was not just my coach. I put countless hours in the gym, eight hours almost sometimes during the summers. We did four to five days a week training and not only is gymnastics a very physical sport it's also a very mental sport too. And with Coach Nanette having your back and being there for you, I would have not grown into the woman that I am today. She was always there for me as a coach, as a mother figure, as a great mentor, she instilled so much not just on the physical end but mostly on the mental end. I am a mother of two and both of my boys joined her program. I think it's very important to have gymnastics in the Big Island and that's the only gym on the Kona side. I have learned so much life lessons and I use them still today at my age right now. I would have not been where I am today without Nanette and her program. She opened her gym and also her heart to not only my `ohana but I know of a lot of other `ohana's in the community. She is very important to me today. I keep in touch with her. My boys still do her program, especially in this day and age, I think it's very important to instill and have a sport for kids that just need that guidance. I have learned just so much in general, and I just want to thank Nanette for being here and it's very important that Kona Aerial's is still a part of this community, as it has been for over 30 plus years and it's an amazing sport and it's an amazing facility. Thank you. VITOUSEK: Thank you very much, appreciate the time. Moving on to Doug Scoufos? Is Doug here? Do we have, Doug are you on the line? Okay, moving on to Janice Palma-Glennie? PALMA-GLENNIE: Aloha, good morning. Hello, can you hear me? VITOUSEK: Yes. PALMA-GLENNIE: Okay good thanks. Aloha everyone, let me be very, very clear here gymnastics is a great sport. The company doing this seems to have their heart in their business and doing a great thing, but this issue is not about gymnastics and it's not about them, this is strictly a land use issue. As far as the application I'm a bit confused by it it's unclear to me why another entity beside the landowners is asking for a permit to use ag land for commercial, non-ag related use. And why there are two companies engaged in the commercial activity on the site while only one appears to be the applicant. In any case, these two companies or just one are asking for forgiveness, rather than permission and it sounds like it's not the first time. In the section "Reason for Request"they say they admit to another zoning discrepancy in their last location. All I can ask is why don't they find a commercial space rather than intrude upon and try to skew existing land use law to pursue their sweet goals. They are just going about it backwards. As a member of the public, I have a right to know that land use law is being followed and enforced. I have a right to feel confident that my elected and appointed officials know when the laws are 3 EXHIBIT A