Laserfiche WebLink
Chairman of the Board. And we’ll be incorporating comments from Jena Way in my presentation. So <br />I apologize in advance if it’s a little lengthy. <br /> <br />Well, as some of you may know, I’m a lot better known for my juggling skills than for my ability to <br />make speeches. But today I’m going to do my very best because I’m actually representing many <br />people impacted by the threat of SPACE being closed down. As the people for SPACE, would the <br />people for SPACE please put your hands up. <br /> <br />SUPPORTERS: (Raise of hands of approximately 90 people). <br /> <br />ELLIS: Thank you. As you can see, we feel very passionate about this issue, enough to drive all the <br />way here. In addition to the people attending I hope you would have taken some time to look at over <br />250 testimonial letters that were submitted to you. In addition we have 977 people who signed a <br />petition when we were issued our original cease and desist order. And the petition reads “We the <br />undersigned are event members of SPACE,” 977 people. <br /> <br />SPACE serves our community by providing essential facilities for performances, and visual arts, <br />education, and entertainment. It includes a charter school, a farmers market, community meetings, and <br />family events. Puna Makai needs these neighborhood building activities, and therefore we, the <br />undersigned, request that the County agencies, State agencies, and funding agencies give SPACE their <br />full support. <br /> <br />We come here today to address you in the belief that you will hear us and that a way forward can be <br />established for the benefit of all community groups like SPACE. <br /> <br />There are huge costs involved in us participating in this process. And many of us present here today as <br />community volunteers have made significant personal sacrifices donating our time to support this <br />cause, while SPACE has had to commit its very limited financial resources to deal with the challenges <br />caused by the special permit process. <br /> <br />Just let me give you a couple of simple examples. A week ago, on the day my sister passed away and <br />my family was needing me the most, I had to answer phone calls and e-mails from concerned <br />community members. I had to drive to Hilo to meet the deadline for submitting these testimonials. I <br />had to meet with our lawyers preparing for today; and spent $340 just on photo copies. And SPACE, <br />while struggling financially, has been obliged to hire costly legal representation for our special permit <br />process. <br /> <br />So how did we get into this situation? Well, I’d like to tell you a little bit more about who we actually <br />are and what our goals are. We are best known for our Hiccup Circus program, which has provided <br />performance arts activities and entertainment for kids of all ages around the State of Hawai‘i for more <br />than 20 years. Now HICCUP stands for Hawai‘i Island Community Circus Unity Project. It’s about <br />community building. And our work has been praised internationally and supported by dozens of <br />foundations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, three times. <br /> <br /> 14 <br /> EXHIBIT B <br /> <br /> <br />