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(kaober 17, 2007 <br /> Marie Aguilar <br /> P.O. Box 1874 <br /> Kailua Kona, Hawaii <br /> 46745 <br /> County of Hawai' i <br /> County Council <br /> Chairman Pete Hoffman <br /> County of Hawai'I <br /> Re: Bill l67 flan of Superstore Centers <br /> Aloha Chairman Hoffman <br /> Aloha Councilors, Mahalo for having this opportunity to teskify before this Council <br /> today. You aze faced with one of the most serious decisions that will be made for the <br /> future of small businesses on Hawaii Island. First, let me say that there is no way that <br /> people on this island aze hungry and need to have a Superstore to bring them food. We <br /> have some of the best grocery stores for the size of our population. They serve their <br /> <br /> community well and give back everyday of the year. We have farm fresh fruits and <br /> vegetables and home grown beef; and even have the best egg farm anywhere. We have <br /> stopped buy old leaf lettuces, green -red tomatoes from the mainland, we just don't <br /> want them. National surveys have concluded that fresh vegetable and fiuits grown <br /> locally retain more vitamins ttran those that have to travel thousands of miles to reach <br /> <br /> their market. A Superstore will undoubtedly ship mostly from the mainland or bring in <br /> foreign produce and products, because they are cheaper but could result with more <br /> problems. Just remember who brought the coqui frogs to the Big lsland. <br /> I contacted 35 businesses in Kailua Village for the last month and half. Not one <br /> business owner wants to see a Superstore in Kailua Kona. 'today, we have two cruise <br /> ships in Kailua Village, and they would be here with me today, but they have to <br /> take care of their business today, we have no surplus of employees here. Small business <br /> owners sometimes have to close early because they have such a storage oi' employees. <br /> Those that I spoke with wanted me to let you know that its so important to keep the huge <br /> Superstores out of Kona, we've had it with traffic, which creates losses to our <br /> businesses already. "their primary reasoct includes unfair competitive pricing. <br /> <br /> Businesses on the Big Island aze barely getting back to pre-earthquake times. The <br /> earthquake in October 2006 really did impact our businesses, not only in damage but <br /> because the visitors stayed away in November, llecember , 2WG and January ,February <br /> of 2007, which Jts high season. <br /> Phis is issue goes deep, we have a life style that is being threatened by big business <br /> corporations that send all their profits back to the mainland. This island is composed of <br /> family owned small businesses. Do large corporate businesses care about the people of <br /> Hawaii? Let me say this. if they did, the oiler to lease Hawaiian Home Lands <br /> cmm; Wo. 2.q9 <br /> Ref. Toe ~nsMa Nhei <br /> Ref. Dote OCT 17 <br /> <br />