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As a forester, I love trees. I think trees are a good thing. I work with people planting trees both <br />on an industrial basis and on a small but commercial basis of people planting trees. But, I also <br />want to speak up for the farmers. Much of the land on Hamakua is very windy. Windbreaks are <br />necessary for productive farms. I know that you cite frequently Natural Resources Conservation <br />Service in the document. They very much promote windbreaks for protecting your farms. So, I <br />have a concern about the viewplanes and how that could adversely affect the working landscape. <br />In particular, singling out windbreaks is a technology that you will steer people away from. I <br />don't think that's appropriate. I'd like to see that taken out of there. <br />I think for the viewsheds for scenic lookouts and getting the County to maintain scenic lookouts <br />to provide viewsheds, that's a positive thing I think you can do, as far as the viewsheds go. <br />Other points that jumped out at me from this plan was working with the Big Island Invasive <br />Species Committee. I'm on the advisory council for the Big Island Invasive Species. Really <br />positive to work on with BIISC on all the issues that BIISC is working on. Working with the <br />Plant Pono thing to encourage planting non-invasive, non-native and native plants with planting <br />things, I appreciate the call out for protection of our forest from Rapid `Ohi` a Death, one of the <br />main things that I'm working on. I appreciate the Little Fire Ants—Little Fire Ants to me are the <br />biggest threat that we have on the island from being able to enjoy our forests and our farms. <br />And, I appreciate also the discussion of working with the Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance. I <br />think the Watershed Alliance is a great forum for coming together to manage the land. Thank <br />you very much. <br />CLARKSON: Thank you. Will the next testifier please introduce yourself and proceed. <br />SUSINA: Good morning, if it's still morning. My name is Dana Susina. I am a resident of <br />Hakalau on Hanamalo Loop down in the Hakalau Plantation Village. My husband and I are <br />homeowners there and have just lived there since October, so this is kind of our first viewing of <br />the document and how it's going to affect us and our community. <br />We wanted to express our support of the document generally, but we do have a few concerns. <br />One specifically that will affect us and Hakalau is the recommendation of the Hakalau Point to <br />become designated as Open zoning rather than the current Industrial residential use. <br />We would support it remaining Industrial residential and to facilitate Mr. Shropshire in his <br />planned development. We see it as a fantastic opportunity and for community development and <br />really community cohesiveness. We are frequent visitors of the Papa`aloa Country Store and <br />Cafe and see that as a beautiful shining light of what a small community economy can become, <br />and we think that the Point project has a lot of positive aspects that do jive well with the current <br />visions of the Hamakua Community Development Plan including supporting local economy, <br />rural agricultural tourism, and revitalizing that retail service, dining, and entertainment center <br />within the Hakalau community. <br />And, thank you so much for listening to my testimony. <br />EXHIBIT D <br />17 <br />