2005-08-05 TDELOZIER - Laserfiche WebLink

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L. RHOADES:I do. GALDONES:Ms. Rhoades? G. RHOADES:I do. GALDONES:Ms. Hirayama, well start with you. Could you please state your name, your residence address, and you may begin your testimony. HIRAYAMA:Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Director Yuen and Commissioners. My name is Kathy Hirayama and I am the owner of Hirayama Brothers Electric; and Im here because I own three parcels in the Houselots, Waiakea Houselot area. In fact, my business is located where my home used to be. Ive live in that area for 30 plus years. The home that I had where my children was raised is now a 50 by 70 building that houses HirayamaBrothersElectric.ThereasonwhyImheretoday,Ireadaboutitinthepaper so I did some background investigation on my own. And I felt like it was seriously, if I had a business, like Ive never met Mr. Delozier. In fact, I had him pointed out to me today by Jason Armstrong. But I felt like since Ive been in that area for over 30 years, it has been a mixed use type of area. And I recall when Merle Lai was on the Council they were planning at one time to make it an industrial area; but because some of the residents were against it I guess they never pushed it forward. But, you know, thank goodness for my neighbors; and I hope and I think I am a good neighbor. My business there, theres a lot of people in the area who were widows and they felt like we were a clean business, we operate early in the morning if we do, we do not make any noise, we try to conform to the quiet of that community. And theres a lot of small businesses. And I recall when there used to be Orchids of Hawaii right on Hinano Street that converted to Big Island Candies. Go further down the road, there is Dons Grill, one of the finest restaurants in town. You have CU Hawaii. In fact up on Manono Street right by Lanikaula theres the Tanouye building that was built there. At one time they used to house Neils Automotive Supply. I think that made more noise than Mr. Delozier is going to generate. And my daughter lived in the house where the Gayatan family used to live, the yellow house on the corner of Hinano and Lanikaula. Next to that house is Les Carpet. Next to Les Carpet you people approved a building going up now thats going to house an electrical contracting company, which is one of my competitors; and Im happy for him, you know. But Im only talking here because I felt, and I dont normally ever go before any Commission to speak about anything, but Im here because I felt like youve already opened the barn door years ago, the cows are already out. I dont know what you guys are going to do. But if he is a good neighbor, and thank God for the vision of those in the past that were in the power to grant a zone change for me. I have now seven of my members working in my company. Weve been working together for umpteen years; and weve enjoyed a quality of life because of decisions that were made by people like you. And I believe that were a good neighbor, were a community, were involved in the community every day of our lives. We love Waiakea Houselots, we love the Big Island. And I think businesses, small businesses just like -. Im an owner of a home and I think thats a dream of every individual, is to own the property and the house that you live in. So does 8EXHIBIT A