2007-07-06 TSUPERSTORES - Laserfiche WebLink

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GUMAPAC:Okay, I take it back. DOMINGO:You know, another statement that you made to which I agree is that they force us to travel far distances to go to theirstore. I think good sound planning dictates now, especially in this very time, in this day and age, where you try to minimize traveling, the use of vehicles to do your business or to go to work and everything. You know, you try to minimize that because of the cost of the fuel and everything else. And thats one of my concerns. Because what it does, it causes us to have to travel far distances to go do our shopping. And like I said, a good planning practice is to have your village or your town in one area with your markets, your school, etc. within that development where you dont have to travel far to go to school or go to shopping or just to enjoy yourself with the social programs. So I agree with what you said. GUMAPAC:You know, Taka, thats the ideal situation, especially for this island, especiallyhowbigtheislandis.And,again,weneedtobuildcommunities;anditsnecessary not only to build the communities but also to offer a place for the kids to be able to go to, rather than having the kids all being forced to go to this one big huge location, and you never know whats going to happen. And we also have to reinforce the ohana values; and the ohana values is very difficult when youre having to deal with these big superstores. And it becomes so impersonal, very impersonal; and you dont even know who youre dealing with. Whereas if you stay with the ahupuaa concept you know your friends, you know your family, and the people that youre doing business with, you know them. And this is so important when we can see, when we can smell, when we can hear and when we can touch our people. WATANABE:Okay, thank you. CAMPBELL:I am Paul Campbell. I live at 13-1342 Malama in Leilani Estates. I am Chair of the Sierra Club and represent approximately 975 members on this island. Superstores on an island are just bad urban planning, period. Weve already established that theyve been shown to produce much more traffic than any other type of retail use. Can we handle any more traffic here or in Kona, especially in Kona? And I wont say the W word once, I promise. If superstores drive out other businesses as theyve been known to do, then everyone has to drive all the way to the superstore to do their shopping, as has been pointed out. They have to drive further, clog up one area. Thats poor planning. The whole thing flies in the face of the community development process that weve been in and the establishment of the General Plan. Local businesses, it destroys our sense of place. It destroys our sense of culture, of continuity. People come to the Big Island both to visit and live here because of the rural atmosphere. If the local businesses cant survive, Hawaii Island will lose a great deal of what makes it special. Kauai is on the verge, as Mr. Yuen said, of passing a big box store ban bill, and this is to keep stores or businesses from becoming too centralized; and thats what were trying to get away from. Were trying to get the community hubs. Since they put the Malama Market and the whole little shopping center near Pahoa, hey, its wonderful. I come to Hilo maybe twice a month now. Local businesses are owned by local families. Money spent in local stores stays in the economy here. It pays their rent, it pays their mortgage, it pays their food. When only one or two large superstores thrive the money spent here leaves Hawaii, period. I spent most of yesterday calling local farmers from the list I got from HOFA. I called several dozen farmers, I talked to them. Thank you Mr. Ha for coming, I really appreciate it. And you 25 EXHIBIT B