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organization dedicated to the research, education, conservation concerning manta rays. Two <br />thousand and nine (2009) we were able to get Governor Linda Lingle to sign a bill, Act 092 <br />making it illegal to kill or capture manta rays in Hawaii. Currently, we have a bill in the House <br />and in the Senate which would require commercial ocean operators to have at least one crew <br />member trained on their boat – trained as a lifeguard or as dive master – we feel that this would <br />raise the level of safety on the tours – the commercial operators – as well as – we think there <br />would probably improve the quality of the tours for the guests out there. The most important <br />thing for me is safety, sustainability, the wellbeing of the manta rays and our ocean <br />environment and I’m happy to answer any questions. <br /> <br />AA: Thank you. We got Joni May (Balancio). <br /> <br />SW: OK. Go ahead… <br /> <br />AA: Joni May? <br /> <br />JM: Aloha, my name is Joni May Balancio, I wanted to quickly share with you guys why I chose to <br />start a company and its vision on how unfair this all is. These proposed rules – I’m asking you <br />guys to reject it – it’s mainly benefiting the large vessel and scuba companies. These proposed <br />rules are being placed for all manta sites as a whole, but each site is very different – different <br />with ocean conditions, current, location sizes. I also feel adding more moorings are putting more <br />unnecessary debris into our oceans. I am a small company with just one permit. I’m a six <br />passenger vessel. There is only a handful of companies that are six passenger vessels. We do <br />multiple trips a night, which is great because we are keeping the manta viewing areas less <br />crowded all at once. Being a native Hawaiian, born and raised here in Keauhou and having a <br />strong knowledge of the ocean and culture – we chose to start this company about 10 years <br />ago. For a few reasons, number one, obviously for us to support our family but for number two I <br />also wanted to give back to our community, um, we had a testimony that got sent out to you <br />folks that I hope you guys had a chance to read it – but I have been blessed to be able to have <br />our company be part of an organization that helps educate over 8,000 keiki a year, here on our <br />Island. So many have come along with our families to experience a night manta ray snorkel tour <br />with us. These kids are not just experiencing this time in the water at night with the manta rays <br />but they have a chance to connect with their culture – we are able to educate them – not just <br />with the marine life but also that they too can be a native Hawaiian from the Island and become <br />a business owner and be able to afford to stay here on Island and support your family. Losing <br />the manta ray permit will not just affect my family tremendously and everything we scraped up <br />to start our business, but also, so many of our children in our community will be affected by this <br />and lose yet another opportunity for them. I’m asking you to please hear our voice from our <br />small local mom and pop shop. We are the true definition of locally owned and operated and we <br />ask you to please be a voice for us. Thank you for your guys’ time. <br /> <br />AA: Thank you, Joni May (Balancio). Next is Manu Powers. <br /> <br />MP: Aloha, I’m Manu Powers. I wanted to first just quickly thank the Commission. It’s refreshing to <br />hear that you folks are talking about what’s happening with the pigs, the goats and all of it. Born <br />and raised and to have seen what’s happened over the past, ten, fifteen years, it’s refreshing to <br />know that you guys are there but only got three minutes so I’m gonna move on, there’s four <br />30 <br /> <br /> <br />