2012-07-19 Leeward Exh B - Bill No. 255

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PATRICK: Good morning, Commissioners. BOWMAN: Good morning. PATRICK: My name is Terry Patrick. I’m a coffee farmer from Captain Cook. I’m currently operating the farm of one of the original founders of the South Kona Farmers’ Market, and just very thankful that she was such a hard worker and helped put this group together. A good portion of the income from our farm comes from this market, and allows me to hire several full and part time workers throughout the year. And we really appreciate this opportunity to move back to Amy Greenwell Botanical Garden. Thank you. BOWMAN: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you. And Mr. Moodie? MOODIE: Hi there, good morning, Commissioners. My name is Harold Moodie. I’m testifying as a former vendor at the South Kona Market. We really had to stop going to the market because it was essentially costing us money to be there. When the market moved up behind Choice Mart, we lost the visibility that we really need to attract the island visitors. We sell hand-painted silk garments, and we also grow fruit and sell eggs, and so the hand-painted silk really does depend upon the visitor industry. And if we were to return to the Greenwell Garden, I think that it would really enhance the sales of a number of vendors. Thank you very much. BOWMAN: Thank you. Any questions? Okay, moving right along, we have Michele Wilkins? WILKINS: Aloha, my name is Michele Wilkins, and my husband and I own and operate a small plant nursery, and we specialize in the landscape. We’ve been with Market two years now, and we have noticed a substantial decrease in our sales. And we don’t sell products that tourists can buy. But just the visibility, even with the local population, you know, with the community, it makes a huge difference to us as far as getting our plants, you know, and talking to people and telling them how to grow food and, you know, as landscape kind of a thing. It makes a huge difference, so -. Thank you. We hope to get to go back. BOWMAN: Thank you. Any questions, Commissioners? Thank you. Mr. Reiner? REINER: Good morning. I’m John Reiner. And I agree with my wife. She pretty much covered it. And I agree with the Bill 255. Thank you. BOWMAN: Thank you. You may be seated. I will call our last testifiers – Shirley Wills, Robert Scanpule and Virginia Isbell. If you could please be sworn in. Virginia, are you -? Thank you. WILLS: My name is Shirley -. BOWMAN: I’m going to swear you in first, please. If you raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Leeward Hawai‘i Planning Commission? TESTIFIERS: Yes, I do. BOWMAN: Thank you. And if you could speak into the mike. 12 EXHIBIT B