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I'm on the board of PASH (Public Access Shoreline Hawai‘i). I own a bed and breakfast down <br />in Keaukaha, down across from Leleiwi Beach Park or Waiolena Beach Park. And for years I <br />rode my bike from my home up to Honoli‘i to check out the waves at the end of the day, until I <br />went over my handlebars one day. I had an accident. Then I slowed down and rode my bike <br />from Leleiwi down to the nice little park behind Suisan; and then I’d take a break; and then I’d <br />go home. But then the traffic got so bad from the Port of Hilo down that one stretch that I <br />stopped riding my bike. And here I am today. It is one of the things that you can continue doing <br />as you get older. It doesn't wear out your joints and uses a lot of different muscles. But there is <br />the fear that you're going to get seriously injured in an accident. Right now, since I pass the Port <br />of Hilo every single day of my life, I can attest to the fact that the trucks come out of the Port of <br />Hilo without even looking, turn that corner to merge into traffic. And they basically have been <br />pushing people out of the drive lane. And there have been a lot of accidents right there. There <br />was even one where they ended up in the fence of the oil company on the corner there, Tesoro. <br />So it’s now that the point where the traffic issues have grown and you see those poor tourists <br />walking from the Port of Hilo Downtown or back again; and they are under stress. There is no <br />sidewalk. <br />And I'll tell you my experience from my guests why they're walking. I had guests who came <br />from the big city, and they're not used to driving around. She was pregnant. They were here <br />getting married. They took the bus Downtown and missed the bus home, and ended up having to <br />walk home; and here she was pregnant. She should have called a cab but she was young so they <br />decided to walk home. Sometimes people have to walk because transportation doesn't appear to <br />be available. Or they start off, they decide, “Oh, well, I'll just walk” and then they get <br />themselves into an uncomfortable situation. But again it will add so much to what we can say <br />about Hilo and the beauty of the Bay. And as I drove in today, I once again embraced the beauty <br />of looking across the Bay, at Mauna Kea. And the beauty of it and the enjoyment of it and being <br />able to walk and ride along it will be a pleasure. I hope you pass this SMA today. <br />KERN: Thank you very much. Are there any questions from Fellow Commissioners? <br />ONO: Yes. <br />KERN: Commissioner Ono. <br />ONO: Yes, if I may have -. <br />KERN: Use your mike, please. <br />ONO: Oh, I’m sorry. I wish to thank the last testifier. I also have a concern on this. In the <br />presentation by staff, we seem to be focusing on Liliuokalani Park and that area for the walking <br />area. I am as concerned about the last testifier regarding the wharf to the entryway into the Bay <br />area. My concern is the heavy traffic that is generated in that area. So I did note for myself that <br />I wanted to ask that. To what extent, and you did a beautiful presentation on the plaque, the <br />signs and everything else. But, and I wasn't clear on the extent of improvements from the Harbor <br />to the Hilo Bay area regarding the walking trail. <br />11 <br /> EXHIBIT B <br /> <br />