HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0032.099 2006-2008 (kaober 17, 2007
Marie Aguilar
P.O. Box 1874
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
46745
County of Hawai' i
County Council
Chairman Pete Hoffman
County of Hawai'I
Re: Bill l67 flan of Superstore Centers
Aloha Chairman Hoffman
Aloha Councilors, Mahalo for having this opportunity to teskify before this Council
today. You aze faced with one of the most serious decisions that will be made for the
future of small businesses on Hawaii Island. First, let me say that there is no way that
people on this island aze hungry and need to have a Superstore to bring them food. We
have some of the best grocery stores for the size of our population. They serve their
community well and give back everyday of the year. We have farm fresh fruits and
vegetables and home grown beef; and even have the best egg farm anywhere. We have
stopped buy old leaf lettuces, green -red tomatoes from the mainland, we just don't
want them. National surveys have concluded that fresh vegetable and fiuits grown
locally retain more vitamins ttran those that have to travel thousands of miles to reach
their market. A Superstore will undoubtedly ship mostly from the mainland or bring in
foreign produce and products, because they are cheaper but could result with more
problems. Just remember who brought the coqui frogs to the Big lsland.
I contacted 35 businesses in Kailua Village for the last month and half. Not one
business owner wants to see a Superstore in Kailua Kona. 'today, we have two cruise
ships in Kailua Village, and they would be here with me today, but they have to
take care of their business today, we have no surplus of employees here. Small business
owners sometimes have to close early because they have such a storage oi' employees.
Those that I spoke with wanted me to let you know that its so important to keep the huge
Superstores out of Kona, we've had it with traffic, which creates losses to our
businesses already. "their primary reasoct includes unfair competitive pricing.
Businesses on the Big Island aze barely getting back to pre-earthquake times. The
earthquake in October 2006 really did impact our businesses, not only in damage but
because the visitors stayed away in November, llecember , 2WG and January ,February
of 2007, which Jts high season.
Phis is issue goes deep, we have a life style that is being threatened by big business
corporations that send all their profits back to the mainland. This island is composed of
family owned small businesses. Do large corporate businesses care about the people of
Hawaii? Let me say this. if they did, the oiler to lease Hawaiian Home Lands
cmm; Wo. 2.q9
Ref. Toe ~nsMa Nhei
Ref. Dote OCT 17
would be in the millions oI'dollazs each year i'or the leases, and there should be a
elevating scale each year for inflation. In 65 years the amount of the lease will be a token
of what that store will make.
i did not come here to go over their business, and their legal rights. I came here to tell
you that you have a responsibility to vote to Ban Superstores because we are not ready to
give up our business. Small businesses will not survive with a huge Superstore center in
Kailua Kona. or Hilo. We aze having the pie cut so many times now that it will not
benefit our families to continue. The visitors to Hawaii bring a majority of the income to
this island, if you turn off the visitor, they have plenty of visitor destinations to go. As
for your businesses in your district such as towns in Waimea, Honokaa, Hawi, Hilo,
Volcano ask them , if they can live off the income that they generate from the local
community. The answer is no they can not. The visitor industry is healthy and happy
here now. 13on't mess up a good thing. Irven Kauai knows that their treasure is to keep
it Hawaiian. They have banned Superstores and haven't regretted.
Why is this Isiaud for sale to the tughest bidder'? Please consider the importance ot'this
bill today. We are still allowing big box stores to build their stores, why worry. Just do it
today Ban the Superstores for the future. Small business owners do vote in each
election and we will not forget those who let us down.
Mahalo
Aloha
Marie Aguilar