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that keeps sucking resources and money right into Hilo. I can't emphasize this more. We have to get these community plans up. If not, you can look at Kona, you can go to Honolulu, and you can go to the mainland, and see how rampant development kills a community. Go to California, go to Honolulu, go to the west side of the island; it is starting there. We have to reign in growth. We have to get plans in place, and it has to be community based, not the special interest of big money, particularly the big money that has been ruling this county for 50 years. The reason I say this is because I started my life here in the islands 28 years ago as a fisherman out of Pohiki. We were dragging our boats across roads here in lower Puna makai that had potholes that were breaking axles. We were hauling in - -this is in the early 90's -- something like 8 -12 million dollars a year from 30 fishermen down in Pohiki with 30 boats. Our County government was totally unresponsive to us at the time. We went up there at the time and said, fix the roads. We had to make an extra five mile trip around the Pohiki Road to the Kapoho Road, instead of going straight out. That cost us money and time. The point is, the reason we are going through this fantastic CDP process is because we still have a big money conglomerate in Hilo that is Hilo- centric, and keeps sucking resources into the town. Literally, we were going through potholes, dragging tons of fish, and breaking axles on our trailers and our trucks over potholes. Then we would get into Hilo, and all of a sudden the roads were just smooth. They had sidewalks, they don't have tank traps. That is what I am saying. Also, anything that helps us get clarity and openness in government, is what we need; we need that here. The powers that be have been blood - sucking the rest of the island for 50 years, based in Hilo, and of course in Honolulu, they don't want that, well we want it. The only way that we can keep resources being fairly distributed to the island is if we have participatory government and a populace that is engaged in their community; not this 19th century plantation, or 17th century Monarchy thing either from Japan or ancient Hawaii. This is modern Hawaii, we deserve representational government. I'm sorry, but I don't come from this type of culture. My family members are union representatives. In fact, my grandfather actually helped the union organizers that came to Hawaii in the late 30's and early 50's. The point of the matter is that I can't handle that type of government; yes boss, yes, I'll just take what I can get because the boss says so. That is all done with, plantation days are gone; we don't need that. It just means the wealthy get wealthier and the poor get poorer. The main factor here is that what Margaret Wille has put across is very good. It helps the people, and helps keep the people engaged. The biggest problem I see here is that so many people say, what's the use, why should we be engaged, because they run everything, they do what they like. Anyways, thank you very much. CHR. HAITSUKA: Are there any questions for Mr. Smith? Thank you, Mr. Smith. Do we have anybody else here to testify? We have no one else here to testify, we will close this meeting at 2:35 p.m. Thank you. 7