2011-05-04 Windward Planning Commission Hearing Transcript SP 11-115

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KERN: And district. FLOWER: I am Tyann Flower. I live in Hawaiian Paradise Park. I have three children who have thth gone to HAAS. Two current, my youngest two are currently enrolled in HAAS, 9 grade and 8 grade. And my oldest is at Hawaii Community College right now, his second semester. So I feel that HAAS has supported my children greatly in many areas that they would not have received had they stayed in their district school. I spent a lot of time trying to get them into HAAS; and I was very grateful when the opportunity came about to where my oldest boys were in a program that is an online program. That’s how we came in. So I was able to take and supplement their education with this online program to take them from where they were at their previous school to their grade level when they went into main campus HAAS. So they were behind quite a lot. Actually, my youngest boy was behind two grade levels when he went into the HAAS program; and in one year he was able to make three grade levels, his grade level and the two he was below for the next year when he entered HAAS at his grade level. So they do a lot of really beneficial things when it comes to education and what it is that, what their choices are, what their options are. They are not limited to this is your program you have to make it, if you don’t make it by this time then we’re moving on. You know, they’re able to supplement different things in different areas because of their programs and their flexibility. I say it a lot and I’m going to say it here, we’re not just raising students, we’re raising people. And so I’m proud to have my kids at HAAS, through their influences and the people who are able to mentor them and show them what it is to be a person. You know we, when we talk about the roads, and that being one of the issues, it’s very stressful for me. I mean HAAS makes an effort to reduce traffic with their vans and bussing. And we help clean up the roads twice a year with 250 free working students who, you know, put a good four hours in cleaning up that whole stretch and all of Pāhoa, and other outreaching places. So, you know, I hope that you will take into consideration that there are good things happening. And to limit the passing of this and approving the special permit based on small technicalities and recommendations and things that could -. You know, we’re willing to do what it takes. You know, we’re willing to go through the motions that’s needed. It’s just make those motions possible and then, you know, our students will step up and say we’ll do it. Our teachers, our parents, everyone will step up and do it. It’s worth doing it for. Thank you. KERN: Thank you. Any questions for the testifier? Seeing none, you all may have a seat. Thank you very much. The last testifier, Tiffany Edwards Hunt. HUNT: Aloha. KERN: Good morning. Raise your right hand real quick and I’ll swear you in. Thanks. Do you swear to tell the truth today before the Windward Planning Commission? HUNT: I do. KERN: Very good. Name and district, and go for it. HUNT: Aloha. My name is Tiffany Edwards Hunt. My husband and I own Jeff Hunt’s Surf Boards which is in the Fifth Council District. And Jeff Hunt’s Surf Boards is located on Pāhoa Village Road so we interact a lot with the HAAS School students and staff. And I’m also a registered substitute teacher at HAAS even though nobody sees me because I have other roles in the community. I’m a 17 EXHIBIT A