2025-03-03 PL-REZ-2024-000070 Support Letters from Applicant Susan Osborne (30)

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FOSTER LAW OFFICES, LLC JEFFREY E.FOSTER,Attorney at Law* 74-5617 Pawai Place#206• Kailua Kona,11196740 Ph:(808)348.7800 *Licensed in Hawaii&Washington State Mailing Address:P.O.Box 127•Captain Cook,111 96704 Fax:(808)443-0277 March 4, 2025 Jeffrey W. Darrow Planning Director East Hawaii Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 RE: LETTER OF SUPPORT -REZONE APPLICATION- PL-REZ-2024-000070 Aloha Mr. Darrow and Windward Planning Commissioners: My name is Jeffrey Foster. I am a lawyer and small business owner here on Hawai'i Island. I'd like to start by thanking you for your time and consideration of the Rezone Application that will provide a permanent home for Kua O Ka La. Please accept this letter as my full and unequivocal support of the application by Ho'oulu Lahui to change the zoning from Ag10 to Ag5 (Application: PL-REZ-2024-000070) on Tax Map Key: (3) 2- 2-048:013 (por.) at Pana`ewa Farm Lots South Hilo, Hawaii. My law firm, Foster Law Offices, has been honored to represent dozens of homeowners who were denied insurance claims against Lloyd's of London. For the last six-and-a-half years, I've had the pleasure of representing one of the finest human beings I've ever met, Susan.Osborne. A true community leader, Ms. Osborne founded Kua O Ka La in 2020. In 2018,. the school was destroyed in the Kilauea eruption. Ms. Osborne not only lost the school she dedicated so many years of her life to,but her home and belongings were also destroyed in the eruption. I've seen firsthand the challenges a school can face in locating and acquiring suitable land. From 2020-2022, I volunteered on a working group organized to secure land for a Hawaiian Immersion school. Despite the best efforts of our group, and notwithstanding millions of dollars in legislative funding,the school was unsuccessful in its land acquisition efforts.Years of hard work could not overcome the challenges of finding and securing the land necessary to construct a new campus for this school. So, when I heard that Kua O Ka La was presented with an opportunity to secure a permanent home on the Pana'ewa property, I was ecstatic. By approving the change of zoning,this committee has the opportunity to create a stable and secure future for a school that delivers not only excellent academics but also the cultural experience desired by so many families here on Hawai'i Island. A permanent location for Kua O Ka La offers a tremendous benefit to the Hilo and East Hawai'i community as well. As a parent of three Punana Leo o Kona puka kola(graduates), I recognize the importance and have experienced the myriad of benefits conferred by a Hawaiian-focused education. After witnessing the