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LEITHEAD TODD: On I guess it was Page 7 of your original submittal, you indicated that the
<br />orchard on the property is with Sharwil, Sharwil avocados and then you, you sell those locally?
<br />
<br />COX: Yes, Director, yes, the primary crop is Sharwil avocados. We have some different varieties,
<br />Yamagata, Beshore. But we sell all of our avocados, 99 percent of our avocados go to a wholesaler,
<br />Pat’s Hawaiian Avocados, that then supply Costco and Safeway on all of the adjoining islands, who
<br />sell sporadically. And we do have a small account with the Coffee Shack locally; we supply them
<br />on a weekly basis with local avocados.
<br />
<br />LEITHEAD TODD: It’s my understanding that you are probably required by your lease with
<br />Bishop Estate to continue agricultural production on the property.
<br />
<br />COX: Absolutely, yeah, that is requirement from Kamehameha Schools.
<br />
<br />LEITHEAD TODD: I was interested in getting a little bit more information on the work you are
<br />doing with the work on the gully; you said that you are in a program with the U.S. Department of
<br />Agriculture to rehabilitate the area into a native forest. Where are you on that?
<br />
<br />COX: So there are two, two parts to the program that we have with the NRCS, National Resource
<br />Conservation Service, part of the USDA. One is the mulching program of our orchard trees, which
<br />has begun. And then the other part is to eradicate all of the invasive species that run through a
<br />narrow strip that basically divides the property in two where there were some collapsed lava tubes.
<br />And Herb had never cleared that area because it was too dangerous for large machinery, so there’s
<br />Christmas Berry and African Tulip and a lot of rubbish growing through there. So when we talked
<br />to them, we said that, you know, we’d like to work with them to hand-clear out the Christmas Berry
<br />and African Tulip, and replant that area with native species so we can attract more, you know, bird
<br />life and beautify the area. And the spin-off from that is to be able to educate our guests on native
<br />species and fauna that we have on the property. So that part of the reforestation of the native
<br />species is due to start next year, I believe. Is that right, next year?
<br />
<br />CORBITT: Year three (inaudible).
<br />
<br />COX: Year after next, yes, so the first two years is mulching, and then we start the clearing of the
<br />forest, mulching of the Christmas Berry and African Tulip, and replanting. So I think the program
<br />goes for five years and then the 10-year management after that.
<br />
<br />GIFFIN: Thank you. Commissioners, any other questions of the applicants? Okay. May I please
<br />ask you to step back, because there are three people who have signed up to testify on this agenda
<br />item. And they are Terry Wallace, will you please come forward, Jerry Benson, please come
<br />forward as well, and Ed Vasquez. Please all three of you come forward, please. Thank you. Will
<br />you please, all three of you, raise your right hands. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this
<br />matter now before the Leeward Hawai‘i County Planning Commission?
<br />
<br />TESTIFIERS: I do.
<br />
<br />GIFFIN: Starting with you, sir, your name?
<br />
<br />VASQUEZ: My name is Ed Vasquez, and I’m here to donate a bust relief that I made for Herb
<br />Kane. The original was accepted by his wife, and this is, she has the artist proof, and I have the first
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<br />EXHIBIT A
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