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area and a small store for our visitors. We need to have a small snack bar and beverage center. We need to have a classroom facility where we can offer educational sessions to our visitors as well as to local residents on topics of interest to them. Of course we will also need to provide nearby parking for our visitors, and we need to pave the avenue of palms that leads to the site of the planned visitors center. We have a 50-acre Hawaiian Section in the Gardens that is dedicated to growing native Hawaiian species. I have been working with a French College student on coming over here for a 6-week internship this summer, and this is going to happen actually, hes coming over to begin working on native Hawaiian plant conservation in the Gardens. We also have individuals who have volunteered to give their time to come out and talk about Hawaiian culture and plants of Hawaii in that section once we get it going. Ive also spoken with people that, faculty and staff at the University, as well as the Chancellor on cooperativeworkwiththemandsharingfacilitiesandallowingstudentstoworkonprojects,as well as internships at the Garden. I would like to make the observation that a conventional farm has operations facilities, barns, shops, storage buildings, as part of its business. I believe that most people would agree that a botanical garden is an agricultural enterprise. Botanical gardens are, in most cases, established to educate people about plants and to provide opportunity for people to enjoy plants. Therefore, it is only logical that a botanical garden should have facilities that enable people to get the most out of their visit. Facilities like clean restrooms, a place to purchase mementos of their visit and/or snacks, and a place where they can obtain information about plants and gardens. So, in reality, were not really seeking to use the land in a way that is incompatible with its agricultural zoning, given that a botanical garden is a people-oriented business operation and its to provide services that most people expect. And I think Ill conclude there. Thank you. SPRINGER:Thank you. Commissioners, any questions for the applicant and their colleagues? Commissioner Salavea. SALAVEA:Well, I think the question to the applicant was regarding the weed reference or screening process. Im not a plant person so -. SIRACUSA:Its a process, excuse me. SPRINGER:Commissioner Siracusa, can you clarify? SIRACUSA:Yeah. Its a system that was developed in, I cant remember if it was Australia or New Zealand called the Weed Risk Assessment; and there is a whole list of questions that you ask about a given plant and its reproduction and its the extent, elevations that it will grow at, and things like that. And each question is weighted so you give so many points for yes or so many points for no; and at the end you tally them all up, and thatll give you a pretty good indication whether that plant has the potential to become an invasive problem here in Hawaii. And if it is, then you say no thanks. There are lots of other plants in the world; and I get the impression from what our testifier just said that he is fully aware of that. And since you 12EXHIBIT C