2007-06-05 TSUPERSTORES - Laserfiche WebLink

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KIM: My name is James Kim. I live at in 1184 Puhau Street. I’m against all superstores cause if they were to build a superstore where they want to, have you ever seen the traffic there? I know you guys pass out there. Have you ever tried crossing the street with your kids? It’s impossible. So I’m looking at traffic congestion, you know, maybe some accidents happening. So I’m against all superstores. Even somewhere else in another district, I don’t think so. That’s all I have to say. GRAHAM: Thank you very much for your concise and clear testimony. Terry Crowley next, please. CROWLEY: Yes, sir. GRAHAM: Name and address, please. CROWLEY: My name is Terry Crowley and my address is 227 East Palai Street. Chairman Graham and Commissioners, good morning. My name is Terry Crowley and I’m the store manager for the Hilo Wal-Mart. Thank you for the opportunity to testify against Resolution 21-07 which is Item 5 on the agenda. I helped open the Hilo store as a manager in the mid-1990s, but first came to the islands in 1971 when I began a 24-year in the US Navy as a Naval Officer in the submarine force. My wife is a native Hawaiian. She was born and raised in Keaukaha. We currently live on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. We have a farm lot down on East Palai. Actually my mother-in-law and my father-in-law, the late John and Mani-, I’m sorry, John and Lani Manuia were one of the original farmers there in Panaewa. All of us want to see the island thrive with smart growth and planning. Unfortunately that’s something that this legislation does not do. Strong community involvement also is important to us. We were pleased to honor Pahoa High and Intermediate School Cynthia McAnish as our store’s teacher of the year last year. And we’re proud to say that she went on to be named Wal- Mart’s 2006 Teacher of the Year for the State of Hawaii. In all Pahoa High School received $11,000 in educational grants from that program. More recently we’ve tried to help our neighbors, specifically around the Panaewa Park, where they recently had a fire. We’ve tried to direct work parties to go and help, with our associates; and we’ve started fund raising activities also to help raise funds to repair the park facilities. We also work with many local suppliers and vendors. The Keaukaha-Panaewa Farmers Association also holds farmers markets there daily; and we’ve had that ever since the store first opened. This bill would keep us from expanding our local supplier-base with additional farmers and local businesses. So when it comes down to it, we are against this resolution and urge you to vote against it. Thank you for your time. GRAHAM: Thank you, sir. I’ll have John Yates, please. YATES: Okay. Morning Chairman Graham and Commissioners. My name is John Yates. I am a local resident of Kailua-Kona, 73-4400 Holoholo Street. My family has been here in Hawaii for several generations. Some of you might even be familiar with my late great grandfather, Julian R. Yates who was a senator at one time for the island. EXHIBIT D 10