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KERN: Dana Kenny? Speak up if you’re here. <br /> <br />PUBLIC: No. <br /> <br />KERN: Okay. And Jeff Gomes? Very good. <br /> <br />Can I have you three raise your right hands, please. Do you swear to tell the truth today before <br />the Windward Planning Commission? <br /> <br />TESTIFIERS: Yes. <br /> <br />KERN: Very good. Dr. Lee Loy on behalf of Pauline. What’s her last name? Could you use <br />your microphone. <br /> <br />H. LEE LOY: Pauline Kealoha Lee Loy. <br /> <br />KERN: Okay. Go ahead. <br /> <br />H. LEE LOY: My name is Pauline Keala Kealoha Lee Loy. I regret that I am not able to testify <br />in person as I remain in isolation at the Queens Medical Center while undergoing chemotherapy <br />for acute leukemia. I have been an educator for the past 33 years. I commend them for their <br />dedication. I feel that they deserve a new academic campus, however I feel that this is not a <br />good location for the Connections Public Charter School. Kaūmana Elementary School is <br />located just 3/10 of a mile from the proposed project and has been serving the community for <br />over 100 years. <br /> <br />The County of Hawai‘i Planning Department says “From a planning perspective, the request has <br />proven to be difficult in arriving at a position we are comfortable with. The greatest difficulty <br />we encountered was determining whether or not this is an appropriate location for a public <br />charter school whose student body largely consists of students who do not live in this particular <br />section of Hilo. Currently there are approximately 50% of the student body coming from the <br />Puna district and approximately 50% coming from different locations in South Hilo. In <br />reviewing this land use request for a new K-12 school we considered several factors. One factor <br />is that a K-12 school should be located in close proximity to where people live and near the <br />center of probable student population for the proposed school. A school should not be located in <br />an area where the students live a far distance from the school and requires students to be <br />transported via buses or vehicles. <br /> <br />I believe contrary to the County Planning Department's perspective the location of the school <br />would not create a better neighborhood and a more livable community, as the students will be <br />transported a far distance via buses and vehicles, increasing traffic congestion in our <br />neighborhood that is already well served with existing public schools. <br /> <br />Again, as an individual dedicated to education in both public -. <br /> <br />DARROW: One minute. <br /> 23 <br /> EXHIBIT A <br /> <br /> <br />