2018-11-07 Hearing Transcript - Kurtistown Assembly of God USE 18-078

Home

So, I don't the impact that we have on our community as far as, there's a lot of people that come for our distributions. We don't anticipate that that's going to change or increase, because we're not adding any of those pass out kind of ministries that we do. They do benefit the community greatly. The building that we're going to do is going to be more for to help people do a better job on getting on their feet, and we feel that's going to be a blessing to the community, and that's going to increase in the economy and it's going to decrease on the crime which is something Puna needs, and we want to be a part of that. KERN: Thank you, Pastor Shrinski. We'd be happy to answer any questions you folks have. CLARKSON: Yes, I was going to ask if there were any questions from the Commission. None? Okay. KERN: Thank you very much. CLARKSON: I think we understand the proposal clearly. KERN: We humbly ask for your support. Thank you so much. CLARKSON: Thank you. At this time, we'll proceed with public testimony. So far we have three people signed up to testify on this application. Aaron Collins, Doreen Harvin, and Sharon Nomura, would you all three please come forward? Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Commission today. HARVIN/NOMURA: Yes. COLLINS: I do. CLARKSON: Thank you. Whichever one of you desires, please introduce yourself and proceed with your testimony. COLLINS: Good morning, committee and Chairman, my name is Aaron Collins. I am born and raised here on the Big Island. I was raised in Puna. I'm currently a licensed marriage and family therapist, and I'm in support of this project. I just wanted to share a couple things. So, yeah, the Kurtistown and supporting Puna community is in great need of a resource to help empower, equip, and educate the people. We areI believe we are in a heightened state of mental health crisis where families are stressed and overwhelmed due to a wide range of different issues such as drug use, domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness, and other things such as this. These are all problems that I believe could be decreased through a return to the values of education, equipping, and empowerment of the people in our community. I believe that this project, this community outreach would be contributing in those areas, so, you know, I grew up in Hawaiian Acres right across the street from the church. I've been through many different instances of needing food and utilizing the services that the church provides from when I was a young, young kid, and I'm grateful for those kinds of outreaches and things that have been going on in the community. EXHIBIT D 6