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KERN: Very good, thank you. Any questions for the testifier? Seeing none, Matthew Cruz, name and
<br />district.
<br />CRUZ: Hello everybody, my name is Matthew Cruz. I am a 12th grade senior at HAAS. I have been
<br />going to HAAS for about five years, and I am here to help represent the senior class and all of the
<br />student body. There are three things that I want to point out that differentiate HAAS from other
<br />schools. Number one ohana, number two hands on learning, number three a voice in the students. The
<br />thing about HAAS is that we’re all light tight bonds. You know, it’s all ohana based. And I wouldn't
<br />like necessarily know how to say it but we all stick together and we all help each other out; and it
<br />provides a better learning community. And as far as bullying, bullying does not, like it is not even
<br />there, like it doesn't even exist. Like if one thing begins to happen, all of these students already
<br />stepped in and it's done within the hour, like it is finished.
<br />Now hands-on learning, the thing with the hands-on learning is that, how do I say this, well, the hands-
<br />on learning we have a bunch of different things like fish ponds, gardens, we have surfing class, dance
<br />class, creative dance, all that stuff. And I personally believe in the world that hands-on learning with
<br />experience and stuff will technically enrich students and help them more than reading a book and
<br />staying in a classroom all day.
<br />Now the main thing is the voice, students have a voice. They can change anything as far as, how am I
<br />going to say it, they can change the school in a way that they just go up to the teacher and they discuss
<br />things. They have a voice kind of like a democracy in the real world, and it really helps. It really does
<br />help like us just prepare for technically the real world, and it gives students a chance to be leaders.
<br />And in conclusion, in conclusion, I ask that you guys support general growth and the being of the
<br />school. And I promise you that you guys will see leaders emerge and generations bloom. Thank you
<br />very much.
<br />KERN: Any questions for the testifier? Seeing none, thank you. James Weatherford, name and
<br />district, and you may begin.
<br />J. WEATHERFORD: Yes, thank you. My name is James Weatherford. I reside in Council District 5.
<br />Elizabeth and I, my wife, are owners of a nearby property that is not far from the HAAS campus. We
<br />have about 60 acres total there in two parcels that we bought three years ago and we are developing
<br />into a farm. Most of the land in this general area where our property is and where HAAS is is former
<br />cane land. Some of that former cane land is making the transformation to small farms. Our own
<br />children, of course, are grown, but some of the children or the families of existing farms in the
<br />neighborhood walk to school to HAAS, some even ride their horses over there. And in addition to
<br />those farms, there are a lot more cane land around there and I, well, a lot of us in the community feel
<br />like we are kind of seeing a good turning point where there is a lot happening there. We view HAAS,
<br />and I know I speak for my neighbors in saying this, we view HAAS as a good fit and as a good
<br />neighbor in this dynamic and transforming community. And we would certainly want the Planning
<br />Commission to do everything you can do to ensure its survival, both in terms of approval and
<br />reconsidering some of the owner’s requirements/conditions that are to be put upon the highway.
<br />Thank you.
<br />
<br />KERN: Thank you. Any questions for the testifier? Seeing none, Elizabeth Weatherford, name and
<br />district, and you may begin.
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<br /> EXHIBIT A
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