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have no history, family stories that’s been brought down from generations to generations that
<br />tells about the history, where they ate, they sacrificed to worship, etcetera, etcetera. So, yeah, I
<br />oppose the condo, and hopefully, you guys can turn it into like one parking space with bathrooms
<br />because that’s what we need, because Banyan’s is a huge road wide spot, you know, get like
<br />Shane’s contest and there’s many more contests that they rule and there is no parking, and it will
<br />be a perfect place for a parking and bathrooms for the community, the lineal, lateral descendants,
<br />tourists, everybody benefits. So I think that’ll be better, but – thank you very much for your
<br />time.
<br />
<br />UNGER: Mahalo. Thank you. You may be seated. \[Applause from the audience.\]
<br />
<br />Trisha Kobayashi, Shannon Rudolph, Cherie Griffore – both as self and Surfrider Big Island
<br />Chapter – and Sepa Tanoai. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
<br />before the Planning Commission?
<br />
<br />TESTIFIERS: \[Inaudible affirmation.\]
<br />
<br />UNGER: Thank you. Please state your name and area of residence.
<br />
<br />KOBAYASHI: My name is Trisha Kobayashi. I live right across Banyan’s. My family, I, born
<br />and raised there all my life. We don’t need this. We don’t need another condo. We don’t need
<br />more traffic. We don’t, especially a five-story building, it’s too much for that little property.
<br />The traffic, to get out when we have, the last time we had the tsunami, it took us almost four
<br />hours to get out, and, and we left early, we didn’t wait till the end; we left when we were
<br />supposed to and it took us almost four hours to get out. And it’s crazy, the traffic on the
<br />weekends, there’s just too much buildings and development. The parking, they park in our
<br />driveway, and we feel bad, they are surfers, we know them, but we always try to tell them no you
<br />can’t park there, but where else are they going to park, you know. Just, we don’t need this.
<br />Thank you.
<br />
<br />GRIFFORE: Hello, my name is Cherie Griffore and I live in Kailua-Kona on Palani. I am here
<br />representing the executive committee for Surfrider Big Island Chapter Kona Kai Ea. We have
<br />over 1,100 members and we oppose this development.
<br />
<br />Now, I’d also like to give my personal testimony. Last time four people showed up to oppose
<br />this; today, you have a roomful of people to show you our community opposes this development.
<br />In a 2-28 West Hawai‘i Today article, it was titled, “Erosion Undermines Ali‘i Drive in Kailua
<br />Village”; “County crews are working to address erosion issues on Ali‘i Drive across from Bongo
<br />Ben’s Island Cafe in Kailua Village. … ‘It’s like a washing machine right there,’ said Highway
<br />Division Chief Neil Azevedo. ‘It hits and circles.’ Azevedo said the erosion has been an issue
<br />\[in that area\] for about four or five years. Crews have patched it up at least once, where they
<br />back-filled it with rocks and fixed the wall fronting Ali‘i Drive.” In a 3-7 West Hawai‘i Today
<br />article it says, “Erosion issues on Ali‘i Drive in Kailua Village are being addressed and repairs
<br />are underway. ‘It was damaged good,’ said the Highway Division Chief, ‘the road was
<br />undermining. I’m glad we caught it when we caught it.’ For the past several days crews have
<br />been working to repair the seawall, patching up holes and restacking rocks. Azevedo said, “The
<br />wall should wrap up today and they are patching up the sidewalk.”
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<br />EXHIBIT A
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