2021-10-07 Windward Exh A (Public Testimony re SPP 12-138)

Home

LIN: Thank you. REPLOGLE: Thank you. Okay, thank you Mr. Turner. We are now going to Kimo Miller? MILLER: Aloha. REPLOGLE: Good morning. MILLER: Morning. Is the Planning Commission planning on building sidewalks on Kaumana Drive? Oh, wait, wait, my name is Kimo Miller. I'm a resident on Kaumana Drive near Edita Street. I'm voicing my opposition to having Connections Charter School in our quiet Kaumana neighborhood. First of all, as noted in earlier testimonies, their vision of having a K thru 12 school in our neighborhood will without a doubt cause disruptions and challenges to the lifestyles that many of us in our elderly years have enjoyed for many years. It's been approximately 7 years since the Commission dealt with this Charter School request and I am dumbfounded. Why in these 7 years the schools visionaries have not found a more suitable location in Hilo with the land and access that would not disrupt an already existing neighborhood. They had time to look for alternative sites and even meet with the community to look for some compromises, but no, it seems they are choosing to be more in our face in our Kaumana community and ignore us. I know alternatives exist for this school. I think we all know, there's alternatives that exists. Perhaps some mutually agreeable compromises could be reached, but at least they could have tried, but they have not made any efforts. I'm asking the Planning Commission to help Connections Charter School plan a future that all can support. And the reason why I brought up about sidewalks is because I don't know if you guys know Kaumana, but at the corner of Kaumana and Chong Street there's a popular swimming hole. When the rain hits hard in Kaumana which it does, that swimming hole is very dangerous. The swimming hole is only about 200 yards from the entrance of the Charter School. I have reason to believe, as all of us who are parents would believe that if kids are living at the school, they're going to find out about this swimming hole. They are going to track up and down Kaumana Drive to swim in this hole and Kaumana Drive is not safe to walk on. Especially up in this area. So, if there are safe sidewalks for them to walk safely great. The other thing is how about the caves. These are kids going to be living here they're going to be tracking up and down to the caves. What else do they got to do? I mean outside of their proposed agricultural activities, but I think it's a bad idea to have a school in our neighborhood and that's why I'm voicing my opposition and I really appreciate you guys allowing us to see our peace and mahalo. REPLOGLE: Thank you Mr. Miller. Next will be Sadira(Sprout) Kirham, a student. Sadira? KIRKHAM: Aloha and good morning, everyone. I believe that Connections should indeed continue with their project on the Kaumana property, including building a second campus. This will greatly improve our community and our lives on an ecological and social scale. If I as a 9 EXHIBIT A