2011-07-21 Leeward Exh B - LDS Church

Home

seniors who must manage a significant number of steep slopes or steps to reach the chapel. Additionally, the current facility in Hōnaunau does not provide much room for youth activities, which are conducted at our buildings on both Sundays and Wednesday evenings. The new proposed building plan would resolve these issues for our congregation. Finally, due to the earthquake a few years ago and the natural wear of time, the building in Hōnaunau is rapidly deteriorating and would soon need to receive major renovations in order for it to be fit for its continued use. This new building will be a great opportunity for us to update our facilities to provide sufficient class space and to accommodate our members in a great way. Our congregation is excited for the prospects of a wonderful new building in Kealakekua. We believe that it will enable us to serve the needs or our members in ways that are currently not possible. We appreciate your consideration for this use request, and encourage you to act favorably on it. HARRIS: My name is Philip Harris. I reside at 82-5844 Māmalahoa Highway in Captain Cook. I am obviously a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And I am a member of Bishop Hendrickson’s Ward and will attend at this new facility. Part of the challenge of being the last to speak is that everybody else covers what you were going to say, so I’ll try not to be redundant. Obviously, the existing building has served the Church community in the south area very well. But the reality is we have outgrown this facility and, as the Bishop mentioned, we have a challenge because of the fact that the building is on three levels, which makes it very difficult for some of us senior members to climb up and down those steps or get to the parking area. The cultural hall in this building is rather small compared to other facilities, and so whenever we have any activities of any size such as funerals or wedding receptions or cultural events, that is moved to the outside to the upper parking lot where tents are erected to be able to accommodate the number of people that’s there, which frustrates even further our limited parking areas. In fact, there are times when that parking lot is so full that it becomes very frustrating to be able to get out because there are people parked in different ways where you can’t get out readily, which makes it even more frustrating or dangerous. Our lower parking lot is adjacent to the highway, and in my opinion, is an accident waiting to happen; all it takes is for one of our keiki to walk out into the highway and who knows what may happen from such an occurrence. And so the new facility will accommodate our, as the Bishop mentioned, will accommodate not only our worship time but our other activities and social events, which not only accommodates the members of the Church but also the community in general because we have had funerals within the community at our facilities. And so I guess we are here -. And one other point, the Church is very meticulous in its maintenance of its buildings. I think that if you travel around Hawai‘i, or any place for that matter, you will see that the Church buildings are well maintained. And so this building will not only be a building for us but it will enhance the area. And so I guess we are here in essence as law-abiding productive citizens of this community, asking for your approval of this process so that we can begin building this facility. Thank you so much. BEAUDET: Thank you. Commissioners, any questions or comments for the testifiers? If there should be anyone else in the audience who wishes to testify, please come forward now. You may be seated. Any more questions or comments from the Commissioners? Okay. With that, Commissioners, call for a motion. 9 EXHIBIT B