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and mahalo the staff for also being here to support the work of the people. I am Laura <br />Acacio, I am a resident of Hilo former State Senator and I’m also on the Environmental <br />Management Commission; however, I am testifying here in my personal capacity. I did <br />attend a – and this is an agenda item 4 & 5. I attended a public meeting that was called <br />by DAR last week Thursday, there was much concern about issues that are – that is <br />really about an emergency situation costing livelihoods as well as emergency Coast <br />Guard, Fire Department, as the previous testifier had mentioned – it’s really important <br />to have this on the record for the GMAC as it needs immediate relief and we do know <br />that and mahalo our area representatives for having – OK – if you can pause my time <br />that would be great cause that’s distracting. Hold on one second, I need to regroup. <br />Sorry about that. I would like to see if the GMAC is able and willing to draft an <br />immediate emergency letter to the Governor, to DLNR Director Dawn Chang, and to our <br />area representatives specifically Representative Todd and Representative Onishi who <br />have been working on this issue already, to get immediate relief and recognize that our <br />community is asking for that relief much prior to July as that is peak, you know, going <br />into peak fishing season and I think a bigger concern here in the emergency side also is, <br />you know, from Keauhou to Kawaihae is this was our only safe access to the ocean for <br />our boaters and fishermen and just raising that level of immediacy because of the <br />emergency based on livelihoods, I mean, it really brings in issues of folks that are at risk <br />of being homeless, and being able to feed their families based on that livelihood, as well <br />as if there is a natural disaster or some kind of emergency where folks needs to go out <br />to sea or come in for that matter. And so, the request is to see if there can be <br />immediate action and movement from the GMAC on that. I am well aware that folks on <br />the GMAC know about this issue, but just really to be here as a voice for… <br /> <br />SW: Your time… <br /> <br />LA: … \[unclear\] not there, um, and lastly to ask our legislators to call an informational <br />briefing with DLNR and DOBOR, to answer questions that were posed to DAR that were <br />unable to be answered by DAR. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. <br /> <br />LT: Mahalo. Mahalo for that information and testimony. Right. That was our fair member of <br />the public testifying. And our last member is Mr. Stanley Mendes. Aloha. <br /> <br />SW: If you would please show us your video and unmute Mr. Mendes. He’s on…(no answer) <br />Chair, if you like, we can move on and… <br /> <br />LT: OK. Since Stanley isn’t responding, um, let’s give him a couple of seconds… <br /> <br />SW: No, he appears to have left the meeting. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br /> <br />