|
buyer, local buyer, from the farmers. And, well, the agriculture business is very risky,
<br />and then my boss growed ginger too and he took a loss. And the profit margin on
<br />agriculture pretty small so he can’t cope with the loss, and then we have very, very
<br />difficult time to pay the farmers on time. As a buyer I feel difficult to work with. So I
<br />have an opportunity coming, you know, Michael Zelko, start a business called the Hawaii
<br />Agriculture Products and Services. So I went to work with him. So the first year we
<br />worked there we did to make it even, to make second year we sell the ginger and the
<br />papaya, also sell fertilizers to the farmers. But the ginger and the papaya we took such a
<br />huge hit, you know, because when we’re buying, the farmers wants his price, but again
<br />the market is really, you know, dropped very drastically. So we took a huge loss and then
<br />also we couldn’t keep the business going because overheads and you had to pay the rent,
<br />high rent, you know, the warehouse, everything.
<br />So end of the second year we closed. But because I had to walk away with the farmers
<br />and the produce wholesaler, you know, for three years we’ve been operating good
<br />relationship with it. So everybody encourage me to take the part of the produce, to take
<br />on by myself. So I got the permission from Mike Zelko so I go ahead, went to. And then
<br />one of the farmers had a warehouse, you know, he helps me, you know, the storage stuff
<br />and also I help him to distribute the produce, whatever he do, you know, that’s how I just
<br />continue that business. And, you know, because that warehouse also is temporary.
<br />Actually he just put it in the middle of nowhere in the field, then we have to move
<br />because the landlord have to take it back. That’s why I mortgage my house and got my,
<br />the land, at that time we got good price so I can afford. And then that’s how I build the
<br />warehouse and do the produce. I do, and at that time, you know, between 2002, 2001-
<br />2004 I was shipping ginger, you know, shipping ginger, one container to two containers a
<br />week. And so by the time I finish my building is end of 2004. And then 2005 because
<br />the Chinese Ginger and Thailand Ginger hit the market, very bad. You know, I cannot
<br />ship it. It is so cheap, too cheap, like 30 cents a pound. You know, so I didn’t ship the
<br />whole year, you know. Because ginger season we start end of the year of 2004 until June
<br />of 2005, you know. I end up doing nothing with that loading dock and the warehouse. I
<br />cannot do anything.
<br />And I have an old friend from China and friend say what you going to do? You know,
<br />the furniture business, you know, I just send it to you, don’t need the money at this point
<br />until you finish sell then you can give me. That’s my friend in China, they offer that to
<br />me. And then I just, well, maybe it’s a god idea and they did that. So, cause I never
<br />thought it was illegal, you know, the warehouse, to sell furniture. Because I saw some
<br />signs say, you know, advertisement, they say sell stuff in HPP, the houselot over there. I
<br />just never thought, you know, that much. So I put the sign out and I sell furniture there
<br />and I get cited. Then I, of course, I just have to move. So I found a place, I was looking
<br />for a warehouse for the store, but it’s really hard to find a combination together. And we
<br />were finding the store site. Furniture business is actually can’t, turned out very good, it’s
<br />really hard to move. And then I did just some cabinets, cabinets because the construction
<br />business is doing well. So the cabinets take off pretty good, you know, steady, you
<br />know, help to pay the warehouse payments, and be able to hire a person to do the job too.
<br />So, and it’s just, you know, because, I mean, local people are making every, you know,
<br /> EXHIBIT B
<br />4
<br />
<br />
|