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and we made a pact that we€re going to come home and we€re going to try to provide more <br />opportunities for youth that grew up in Hilo than existed for us in our days. <br />There were no Walmarts, no McDonalds, no Burger Kings, no Star Bucks, no Borders. I <br />remember when the Prince Kuhio Plaza was proposed. Hilo was in an uproar. People said it was <br />going to be the death of Downtown; and we had a family business that was Downtown at that <br />time. And, nevertheless, Prince Kuhio Plaza came, Downtown survived. And I think Hilo is <br />better for Prince Kuhio Plaza being here. <br />And then all of a sudden the evil monster Walmart was coming to Hilo. And then everybody <br />again was in an uproar, oh, no, it€s going to be the death of small businesses in Hilo. But <br />businesses transitioned, Walmart came, and I think Hilo is better for Walmart being here. <br />I think together as a community we have met the challenge and we succeeded in providing more <br />opportunitiesforthepeoplethatarelivingheretoday.Butwestillneedmoreandthere€smore <br />that needs to be done. I think we have met the challenge of opportunities but we have fallen <br />back on the mission as a community to provide adequate housing for this community. There are <br />businesses in Hilo. And in order for our community to grow and in order for businesses to <br />prosper, you€ve got to be able to provide housing for the employees. <br />The University is growing, the Hilo Medical Center is growing, the John A. Burns School of <br />Medicine is interested in a program of internship in Hilo. One of their concerns is housing. And <br />I think it€s beholding upon us that we address these issues. The last nuclear facility built in the <br />United States was about 25 years ago. The last oil refinery constructed in the United States was <br />over a decade ago. The last townhouse project in Hilo was somewhere between 10 and 25 years <br />ago in Hilo. And look at that today. It€s a very desirable project and it€s at a very desirable <br />location to reside. <br />I have seen Hilo changed and I realize change is inevitable. And there are more opportunities <br />that still need to be made way for so our classmates, so our friends, so our bothers and sisters can <br />come home and enjoy opportunities and find housing opportunities. Housing and jobs go hand <br />in hand. <br />There are a few things that are certain in life; and among them death and taxes; and now a <br />shortage of housing in Hilo. And I urge you to positively support this proposal and others like it <br />that should be put forth before you. Thank you. <br />ALAMEDA:Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Young? Thank you for your <br />testimony. We appreciate it. Will the applicant or its representative please come forward. <br />Mr. Fuke? There were five testifiers and you heard the various opinions. You care to comment? <br />FUKE:Sure. Mr. Chairman, this is like one of the, from a personal standpoint, a <br />little bit more the tougher applications that I€ve had to handle for a number of reasons. Like one <br />is that I think that when you, you know, we always try to, like anyway from my perspective, <br />when you look at applications you always try to put myself in the other person€s shoes, <br />especially if there are complaints; and then hopefully you try to arrive at a win-win kind of <br />situation. <br />21EXHIBIT C <br /> <br />