2016-09-28 BDHRA Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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DELIMA: Okay Mr. Inouye, I think it’s important for you to ask whatever questions you want to ask as part of your testimony. Staff is here, they’ll listen to your testimony and when they come time to review the revised plan, I would ask that they address some of the points and questions that you are raising today. That would be a better practice because they’re in a better position to answer them, rather than us. INOUYE: I understand exactly now. Okay. I wasn’t really, kind of, tuned into that. DELIMA: You’re doing a good job. You have written testimony, you’re asking smart questions, so I want to make sure you have a full opportunity to ask whatever questions you want. The staff are taking notes and they’ll be able to address them when they make their presentation. INOUYE: Very good, very good. Okay, the subject is the resort expansion location to be, has to be, on the ocean side. In other words, any new hotel that is to be built must be on the ocean side or ocean front, or have a bay view. All hotels located on Banyan Drive must be located on the ocean front to show the beautiful pictures of Hilo bay on their internet website, or through any international hotel room internet sales company to get the business, to stay in business. I’d like to add on that. If I did not have an ocean view for my hotel, I would not be in business today because I sell all my rooms on the internet. I do get a certain amount of local business, but not enough to keep me in business. Next paragraph, there has to be a level playing field for all hotels on Banyan Drive as to having a bay view for their hotel. Hilo Hawaiian, Naniloa, Reed’s Bay Hotel presently all have the Hilo bay views to use in all their advertising. I, Don Inouye, would have been forced to close my business as a hotel if I were not located on the ocean side. On your proposal, location on Tomorrow Land Use scenario needs to be changed from the golf course to an ocean front. Question; is it not the main reason for the Redevelopment Agency existence to create a beautiful Banyan Drive area and attract more tourists? Is it not the sole responsibility for each hotel to promote their hotel and bring the tourist to the area? The Volcano National Park Hotel has a captive tourist trade from the volcano and the National Park. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Prince Hāpuna Hotel \[sic\] also have a captive tourist trade because of one of the most beautiful white sand beaches. Does this subject need to be discussed? Is there any question? Are we only looking at the tourist side of this development or are we concerned with the business owner side also? End of statement on the first one. Shall I proceed, or anyone have any questions to ask me? DELIMA: You know, Mr. Inouye, I’m going to let you testify and just to advise you, we do have suggested time limits but frankly we haven’t adopted the rules yet, so technically there is no time limit, but please use your common sense. This is not a filibuster okay. Go ahead though. Page 2 of 19 Banyan Drive Hawai‘i Redevelopment Agency September 28, 2016, Minutes