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LEITHEAD TODD: You know, just that we may propose when it gets to the Council some <br />amendments to definitions and stuff, but that the basic format of the bill will remain the same. And it’s <br />basically to try and make it easier for the smaller farms to do ag tourism without having to expend <br />money to do drainage studies and, because those, you know, will run you $5,000-$6,000. And for a <br />small operation that’s a lot of money for somebody to come up with, especially for some of the, the <br />guys that are just kind of going month-to-month. And, again, the ag tourism, the idea is to try and help <br />supplement agricultural income, and especially on a monthly basis, as opposed to, you know, normally <br />you’re waiting for your crop to come in. And so for a lot of farmers their big income is seasonal. But <br />by allowing some small scale agricultural tourism it will help them supplement their income on a <br />monthly basis and help meet their monthly operating expenses, without having to go out and do more <br />loans. <br /> <br />AU: Okay, thank you. We have one person to testify. So please come up, Lani Weigert. Please raise <br />your right hand, and swear yourself in. <br /> <br />WEIGERT: Yes. <br /> <br />AU: You can state your name and your address. <br /> <br />WEIGERT: My name is Lani Weigert and I live in Kaumana. <br /> <br />AU: Yes. So you have three minutes, go ahead. <br /> <br />WEIGERT: So I’m in favor of the changes that were proposed by the Director. My position is I’m <br />president of the Hawai‘i Agri Tourism Association, which is a statewide nonprofit association; and we <br />have 125 farms on it right now. I’m also owner of the Lavender Farm in Maui so I am very aware of <br />the ag tourism activities. And I think that these revisions would be very, very helpful for many farmers <br />to gain supplemental income and diversify their revenue stream right now coming into their farm. So I <br />am for the revisions, and I hope that you folks will approve to send IT on to the Council. <br /> <br />Now I don’t know if I feel really special or really insignificant but (laughter), but after that huge crowd <br />(crowd for prior agenda item) I’m just so glad that you folks are still here. I really appreciate it. <br />Thank you. <br /> <br />AU: Okay, thank you for your testimony. Any questions for the testifier? Okay. Well, thank you <br />very much. <br /> <br />WEIGERT: Thank you. You may have a seat. <br /> <br />ISHIBASHI: Chair, one question. Excuse me, sister, you say you have 125 members. Is that <br />statewide or just on this island? <br /> <br />WEIGERT: Statewide. <br /> <br />ISHIBASHI: Oh, statewide. <br /> <br /> 2 <br /> EXHIBIT C <br /> <br /> <br />