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My name is Greg Gauthier. I live in Kamuela, PO Box 6412, 96743. I represent the 150
<br />employees of the King KamehamehaÓs Kona Beach Hotel. I represent the Hawaiian employees,
<br />I represent the Filipino employees, I represent the Japanese, the Portuguese, the Pacific Islanders
<br />and the haoles, of course, too. These employees are the most loyal, the most enduring, the most
<br />patient, the most patient employees that IÓve ever had the blessing to be fortunate enough to be
<br />elected to represent. TheyÓre the reason I sit before you today. These people need a fighting
<br />chance, not as an affront to the beauty and meaning of the Heiau and the luau grounds but as a
<br />compliment to its perpetuation. These people need a fighting chance to perpetuate their
<br />commitment to Kona. Out of the 150 employees at the King KamehamehaÓs Kona Beach Hotel,
<br />approximately half are working consistently. The other half are anxiously waiting for that
<br />fighting chance. In the peak tourism markets of 2004 through 2007 our workers had the
<br />opportunity to more than double their salaries in many cases as labor was short, and the glory of
<br />the King KamehamehaÓs Kona Beach Hotel had lost much of its luster.
<br />
<br />When I asked our housekeepers, our cooks, our landscapers, why do you stay? The customers
<br />are shunning us here to visit newer, more beautiful resorts furt
<br />always answer, ÐThis is my home, this is my ohana, this is my culture,Ñ and we just need a
<br />fighting chance. A fighting chance came in the form of Pacifica Hotels. They saw the
<br />employees, they saw the Heiau, they saw, somehow, saw through the rust, the age, the broken
<br />pipes, the crazy lease agreements, and saw the spirit and the po
<br />Their plans and investment have been an oasis of hope in this desolate economy. Our employees
<br />now finally have a fighting chance. They now have a reason to believe that their culture will be
<br />preserved. They now tell me, see, Greg, this is why we stayed, soon the tourists will come, and
<br />they will see and be reminded why the King KamehamehaÓs Kona Beach Hotel is the most
<br />beautiful, centrally located, culturally diverse, culturally sensitive hotel in Kailua-Kona. The
<br />Heiau will still be honored. Access will still be granted. Culture will still be the centerpiece.
<br />This renovation is our fighting chance for survival. ItÓs not done in spite of cultural preservation,
<br />but itÓs done because of it. So we humbly support King KamehamehaÓs Kona Beach Hotel and
<br />this particular proposal before you. Mahalo.
<br />
<br />WATANABE: Well, fellow Commissioners, do we have any questions of Greg? Thank
<br />you for your testimony then. Laura?
<br />
<br />DIERENFIELD: Thank you for the opportunity to address you again. Again, IÓm speaking
<br />on behalf of PATH. And this particular project is of, very near and dear to my heart, being born
<br />and raised in Kona and seeing the opportunity to realize a dream. I think that was expressed in
<br />the Kona Community Development Plan to connect Kailua Village in a unique way. As was just
<br />articulated thereÓs a need to revitalize Kailua Village. This is a historic village. The
<br />communities of KÒanapali and KauaÒi and Waikk have seen growth in their visitor market
<br />because they have things like shared use path that enhance a visitor experience. For residents
<br />who enjoy being down at Kamakahonu Bay and paddling, swimming, doing all kinds of
<br />recreation in that area, they need access as well. And we see a huge opportunity to connect
<br />Kailua Village in a very unique way through a shared use path as part of these renovations. It
<br />was encouraging to know that Na Ala Hele, the County Planning Department and the applicant
<br />had met to discuss some alignments. ThatÓs the first IÓve heard of it. IÓm a little concerned, I
<br />guess, about hinging possible alignments with the cooperation of neighboring landowners not
<br />knowing how they might feel about that. However, we would encourage that kind of
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