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character, rural character, views, it's only after they're impacted, like I have lots of great
<br />examples. Waipi`o Valley Lookout. There was, it used to be pastures and then the lookout.
<br />Now, you have humongous homes impacting that whole gateway to the thing. If you drive
<br />through, on Hamakua and we have a subdivision there in across World Botanic[al] Garden.
<br />That, in my mind, was a mistake because the impact of the experience of driving Hamakua and
<br />then seeing this right on the side of the road just changes the feeling, the continuity of the
<br />agriculture. And, so, we have stuff like at Ninole right on the cliffs.
<br />And, then so, you know, these are some of the examples, and we've tried to address them in
<br />ways to actually move the, move it forward, and I think the plan is not perfect, but in my mind, I
<br />think it's very well crafted. The County Planning Department has stepped to the plate. They had
<br />to take over from the consultant team, and they have listened and incorporated the changes, and
<br />we have I think pretty clear ideas of what we need to do to improve it, addressing questions like
<br />what David's bringing up because I have very specific things that I would like to see that would
<br />address his concerns but also the broader community good in terms of views are important. You
<br />know, driving up and seeing the coast rather than a bunch of Podocarpus hedges to the coastline
<br />as well as having sweeping views up the gulches to Mauna Kea. Those are important. You
<br />know, that's what the tourists come for. That's what people here, you know, enjoy, and, but
<br />once it's gone, it's gone, you know, and it's very easy to have those things deteriorate and
<br />degrade. And, then once you open that floodgate—and we don't want to be Oahu, we don't want
<br />to be Kauai, we don't want to be Maui. Beautiful places, but Hamakua, Big Island, Ka`u
<br />coastline, we are blessed.
<br />So, anyway, those are some of the things that I, you know, observed during the process. We
<br />have some contentious issues that were kind of publicized probably unneeded, but, you know,
<br />like in the Hakalau Point, and that's why Susan and the community here is very active and, you
<br />know, in terms of land use and trying to provide guidance for future land use changes and zoning
<br />changes, and that was an issue that came up, but if we stay true to our, the input that we got from
<br />the community to protect and enhance our cultural heritage, our ecological, sensitive areas, all of
<br />those things. And, so, you know, somebody's got to draw the line, and we want to draw the line.
<br />RAFFIPIY: Well, sir, I'd like to thank you and your Steering Committee and the community of
<br />Hamakua for the work that you put into this. A few weeks ago when I got my book, I was
<br />reading it and go through `em, and it's kind of—it's impressive. It's impressive, and it talks to
<br />the many hours that you guys, that you spent on crafting and drafting this, you know, this
<br />proposal that you have here. So, congratulations. Thank you very much for all that work that
<br />you guys put in. So, thank you.
<br />CLARKSON: Excuse me, thank you, the four of you, and I'd like to call up if there are no
<br />further questions which I don't think they are. I'd like to call up the next four testifiers, please.
<br />That would be Susan Melow, Francine Roby, Springer Kaye, and Glenn Carvalho. Please raise
<br />your right hands. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Windward
<br />Planning Commission?
<br />TESTIFIERS: I do/yes.
<br />EXHIBIT A
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