HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0089.002 2020-2022 P/GORWC
COMM.89
From: Diane Riley
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2021.3:43 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in strong support of Resolution 35-21, February 2, 2021, hearing before the
Hawai'i County Council Committee on Government Operations, Relations and Economic
Development, Douglas Callison
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Douglas Callison, and I am a construction worker by trade, specializing in Plastering. I was born and
raised in California, but I have lived on the Big Island of Hawaii since 1990. Over these past 30 years I worked on
many projects, homes, and resorts. The recessions of 1993 and 2008 closed down many projects, and there was a huge
decline in construction employment. In March 2020, due to Covid-19, construction declined again. When tourism
declines, construction declines. In my opinion, it would be wise to create industries in Hawaii which are NOT
dependent upon construction or tourism.
Thanks to Kupu 'Aina Corps, I was able to work at the Hakalau Sanctuary under the supervision of Susan Cordell
PhD (Director and Research Ecologist& Director of the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific
Southwest Research Station) and Dr. Patrick Hart (Professor of the Department of Biology with the University of
Hawaii in Hilo) in the program for Conservative Leadership (CLDP) with Kupu 'Aina Corps (KAC).
Before this opportunity with Kupu, I had bills to pay, but no one was hiring. Kupu gave me the chance to work hard
in return for a paycheck. This opportunity provided me with income, a sense of purpose, and hope for the future. I am
very pleased with the renovative and restorative work that I was able to do for them. My supervisors are wonderful
people who worked closely with me, and they were very supportive and appreciative of my work. I learned alot about
Conservation from them in this program, and I feel that we need to create businesses which protect the land of
Hawaii.
1 feel strongly that green jobs and programs like KUPU are very valuable, especially in a time like this when we are
experiencing such a huge decline in employment of all kinds because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and all that it
entails. Please watch Kupu's video, and take to heart the many genuine testimonials of my KUPU co-workers. Please
lend an ear to the voices of the people.
Thank you for this opportunity to be heard.
Sincerely, -11
Douglas Callison
Comm. N S 'L
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