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<br />MOSES: Please state your name and area you reside in and speak clearly into the microphone.
<br />Please note that you only have three minutes to address us. Thank you. Go ahead, you can
<br />begin.
<br />
<br />KIM: Okay, my name is Garrett Kim, and I live directly across of the, the lot that’s in question,
<br />and I oppose the Special Use Permit for the site on Wainaku Street.
<br />
<br />Let me first say that I’ve, I’ve met Ms. Bugado and this has nothing to do with Ms. Bugado. She
<br />seems like a very nice and friendly person, and if she was planning on building her home here, I
<br />would welcome her into our neighborhood, but she’s not. She’s planning on bringing her
<br />business here, and that’s what I oppose. The office building is not a good fit for our
<br />neighborhood. Presently, there’s nothing but residential and agricultural use in the entire area.
<br />Approving this permit would change the character of our neighborhood and also lead the way for
<br />more commercialization not only of our neighborhood, but the entire Hāmākua Coast.
<br />
<br />There is also no justification for a caretaker’s quarters for security reasons. The area we live in
<br />is safe, and neighbors look out for neighbors. I urge you to deny the Special Use Permit.
<br />
<br />MOSES: Thank you, Mr. Kim, for your testimony and your thoughts. Commissioners, any
<br />questions for this testifier? Okay, thank you. Gwen? You got three minutes.
<br />
<br />HERRINGTON: Thank you. My name is Gwen Herrington. I live in Hilo. Have been here for
<br />over 30 years, and I’ve been a client since she opened her first facility, if you will call it that, in
<br />the basement with two small rooms, and started provided services that we really need here, and
<br />watched her completely explode because of the need. The people that needed her services and
<br />wanted to be cared for nutritionally and, you know, with the other services she offers, so she was
<br />able to take an old plantation home, completely remodel it, and open for business—a fine,
<br />quality, beautiful facility with a very nice atmosphere. Very warm, friendly, upscale you might
<br />say. And, now she’s exploded the boundaries of that, what that can provide.
<br />
<br />So, what it tells me, and my own needs as well, is that there is a real need for a bigger facility,
<br />and we looked extensively all over for other properties that would make it convenient for her
<br />current clients, which by the way, this facility that she currently operates, it’s just a few blocks
<br />away from this new proposed site. So, the people that are already frequenting, excuse me, in
<br />using her facilities, are coming to this area already.
<br />
<br />So, because I think it would be a beautiful addition to our area and services that would provide,
<br />there will be nothing like it, in East Hawai‛i, and it would be a really beautiful asset to our
<br />community. She trains people. She provides jobs. Right now, she can’t offer any more jobs
<br />because she can’t have any more services. She’s maxed out. And so, this would allow for more
<br />people to have jobs and training, and learn how to really operate a quality spa, so it gives them
<br />an education to go on to other places and better themselves, too. She gives services to our
<br />community already. She offers, you know, massages and other services to people in need, and
<br />helps with high schools, and she does a whole lot of things for the community. And this facility,
<br />I think is, would be a really welcome asset to our community.
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<br />EXHIBIT A
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