SPP-21-000227 9.3.2021 R. BARKER TESTIMONY

Home

1-5-017,04 Ronda Barker CDH PLANNING DEPT 73-4360 Waipahe Street SEP 13 202 NM1 Kailua Kona, HI. 96740 REC'D BY MAIL September, 3 2021 County of Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission 101 Pauahi Street Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Mr. Chair Vitousek and Members of the Leeward Planning Commission: I'm writing to you on my own behalf and as a member of the Kailua-Kona community to express my support for Special Permit No. 21-000227, submitted by Kona Aerials Gymnastic Team Inc. requesting to permit the operation of a youth gymnastic and sport fitness facility on Hualalai Road in Kailua-Kona. Kona Aerials Gymnastics Inc. (KAG) is a non-profit organization that has served West Hawaii athletes for decades and is the only gymnastics training facility in Kailua-Kona. Their programs offer Big Island youth the opportunity to participate in an array of activities designed to advance physical and emotional skills as well as promote leadership skills, self-confidence,teamwork, and physical coordination. The proposed Special Permit will allow KAG to continue to provide a vital space for athletes and youth to train and further develop their skills, potentially enabling some participants to compete nationally and seek college scholarship opportunities. In addition to providing a healthy, fun and enriching environment for our keiki, KAG, through their partnership with Nakuwana Foundation, another Hawaii Nonprofit Corporation, the facility also provides adult fitness, strength and conditioning facilities to the community. The combined services offered by these two nonprofits promote a consistent, healthy and active lifestyle for community members of all ages while providing a positive source of much needed recreational activity to West Hawaii. I currently work as a School Counselor at Kealakehe Elementary School and I sery ice close to 800 of our communities youth. I am seeing first hand how the aftermath of the school closures due to Covid-19 has been detrimental to our Keiki. The rates of childhood depression and anxiety is at an all time high and concerns about drug and alcohol use are sky rocketing.Exercise is proven to be an effective coping skill and able to reduce stress and stress related illness,including mental illness.In Kona,we have a limited amount of clubs,sports and activities for our Keiki.I have witnessed first hand,the effectiveness of the Kona Aerials Gymnastics School and it's positive effect on our youth.It would be detrimental to our community,and especially to Keiki for this permit to be denied.Please take not only the physical health of our Keiki,but also the mental health of our Keiki into consideration when making this decision.