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contempt; I've been met with total contempt, lack of assistance and cooperation from both the
<br /> Planning Department and the Building Department. As I speak, somewhere behind me, on the
<br /> other side of the bureaucratic stone wall, my permit application lies amongst some employee's
<br /> family photo and desktop novelties. Civil servants paid by my tax dollars, derived from my
<br /> business ventures, my frustration is only absorbed by my meals and a few cold beers.
<br /> In October of last year, I was elated to observe this board with the consent of the Planning
<br /> Department and the previous administration, the successful vote to rezone my property to
<br /> commercial use. I immediately invested sixty thousand dollars to the cosmetics and aesthetic
<br /> appearance of my building to appease the Japanese Gardening Association and other like-minded
<br /> individuals. I quote, "That ice house is an eyesore to the park. Move it out of there; we can be
<br /> in there in a week," end quote. Rest assured that ice house is a blessing to the fishing industry
<br /> and the majority of the population in Hilo in their daily activities.
<br /> Currently at 72 years of age, I'm approaching a turning point. I'm considering three options with
<br /> regard, regards to my business ventures. Continue dealing with the current fiasco known as the
<br /> Department of Public Works, i.e. Building Department and associates, as my business remains
<br /> stable but stagnant. Expand, grow, and prosper; continue to provide goods and services for the
<br /> benefit of our community, my children, and my grandchildren. Three, dedicate the facility as a
<br /> federal historical site; lock the doors, lay off eighteen full-time employees, spend more time
<br /> drinking beer and shooting pool.
<br /> As I stand here before you, I'm here to request that you, the Board, and you, the Planning
<br /> Department, follow up immediately with a final determination and implementation,
<br /> implementation of your vote last October. To renege on that vote is to stagnate future
<br /> development and stymie the motivation of the two percent fee simple owners of the very
<br /> peninsula that you're attempting to improve.
<br /> Please keep in mind we, that'd be HELCO [Hawai`i Electric Light Company], myself, Suisan,
<br /> and one other parcel—parcel owner, should be taken under consideration and the action should
<br /> be expedited. We're all self-funded, and we ask for no government assistance. On the contrary,
<br /> we support our community in numerous ways.
<br /> From my perspective, there's way too much politics and excessive discussion about who controls
<br /> the land, how to deal with the quote, "blight,"unquote, who is responsible for the liability, where
<br /> will the money come from.
<br /> In my conclusion, in my opinion, it's time for you, the Banyan Drive Redevelopment Agency
<br /> and the County of Hawaii with regards to the fee simple ownership of Banyan Drive peninsula,
<br /> to either defecate or evacuate the throne. Thank you for my three minutes. Aloha.
<br /> DELIMA: Thank you, Mr. Bockrath. Mr. Inouye, do you have any comments?
<br /> INOUYE: I didn't really expect to be speaking, but I'd like to speak in regards to the legislation
<br /> that just was passed, which is your number one on the agenda. You know, it's very good that
<br /> they've, the Governor allowed it to pass, but it does only apply to people that are on a lease or
<br /> ten years during the lease in order to seek a new lease. And I think it's very good. The only
<br /> comment I have on that is that I don't know how it's going to apply to my hotel, you know. I
<br /> know that Hilo Hawaiian was approved under the Act 219 and then I applied for a lease
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<br /> Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency
<br /> July 26,2017 Minutes
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