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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0535.003 1998-2000 t/~b HA All ,Q, ISL ND Eco~ omit • u_,_~~, Dev loplment Boa d '~9 fJOil 1R pm i~ ~7 ~ ~~~~i~" I~ ' ~.''J''~r°`~l Easl M~waii-Hilo November 16, 1999 200 Ki elenua Aye Sulro ~ •2a1 Coouncilman Curtis Tyler Gh (8I B 605618 Chatr Fev (8 )BaB f]92 Committee on Economic Development & Human Resources °~"~'""~°`"°I Hawaii County Council Weat awall • Kona KJakIP). pmrne'CE CfnIEY 25 Aupuni Street ]5na Kuak~n~ro~y,lno] Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Ka~~ua• o~ia n es]ao Re: MARGARITA HOPKINS ' Nominee for Director, Dept, of Research & Development! Dear Councilman Tyler and Members of the Committee: It is a pleasure to offer an unqualified recommendation far AQargarita ' Hopkins to the position of Director, Department of Kesearch & DevelopmerL,t. I have worked with Ms. I-Iopkins for nine years. In the early 1990x, she took up the cause of agricultural redevelopment long before sugar plantation closures, and worked closely with more than 400 members of the farm community to develop the HAWAII COUNTY AC>1t1CULT'URAL STRATEGIC PT..AN. Hawaii County is (I believe) still the only county in t11e state that has articulated agricultural opportunities and planned accordingly: The rewards of that hard work are all atowid us during this important transition phase, including informed support on water access and ditch systems repair, crop expansions, value-added processing and import substitution, as well as new opportunities in export marketing. Ms. Hopkins has also devoted her considerable talents in encouraging highs tech opportunities and "new" educational tvurism initiatives which are noc~~ championed by the state's Hawaii Tourism Authority. I believe it is thanks. to our partnership that the words and support for "edu-tourism, ecc~-tourism, agri-tourism, cultural tourism, techno-tvurism and sports tourism" are now being explored on a statewide basis. Again, Hawaii County has led the way.'' While there is much to praise in what Ms. Hopkins has accomplished, littlelis noted of HOW she has done it; her long lwurs and absolute dedication to ' duty are legendary for those who know her..... she simply does not soil until the job is completed. c~~. N0. 535. oe3 File No.- MAY ' Ref. To: Co ~N e' Ref. Date~~ MARGARITA HOPKINS - F'AGL TWO On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Island Economic l Development Board, we look forward to continuing t}~e partnership, and thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments. Y sincerely, - Paula L. Helfrich President/LOO i'.