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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0387.001 2016-2018 P1 count cit. MIAM. aS7 Murashige, Laura From: Joan Channon <joanchannon@gmail.com> Sent: Friday,August 11, 2017 9:23 AM To: Council Testimony Cc: Isnishie1954@gmail.com Subject: Bill #61, REF Shiro Takata c C9 Joan Channon ' P.O. Box 130,Hawi,HI 96719 .� joanchannon(a'mail.com ._ August 11,2017 Ref:Hawaii County Bill#61 Written Testimony submitted for County Council Agenda for August 16,2017 w To Whom It May Concern, I met Shiro Takata in 1987 when I purchased his grocery store in downtown Hawi. In the ensuing thirty years,he has been a friend,a mentor,and a role model. On a personal level,when I began my restaurant,I had never had employees and now I was in charge of a load of Aunties who knew more than I did and knew they knew more than I did. How to handle this situation? For years,I would call Shiro and ask him to come and meet me in the restaurant when it was closed. I cried on his shoulder and ranted in his ear. Throughout my tirades he listened,patted my head,and guided me. I felt like the daughter he'd never had ... mostly a confused and frustrated daughter in those early years. "If your employees aren't doing what you want,it's because YOU haven't trained them properly." "YOU have to model the behavior you want in your employees.""You HAVE to be generous with everyone." "It is YOUR job to keep people smiling." And, "You're going to be worried if there's no business and you're going to be worried if there's too much business. Learn to take it easy." He was always there for me. And,as I look around me now,I see employees that have been with me for ten years,fifteen years,and more than twenty years. Simply stated? His advice worked. But why name a sports field after him? In my thirty years in Kohala,I have never seen,nor could I imagine,anyone who cared more for his community. Raising money for sports teams. Starting an anti-drug campaign. Doing anything positive for the kids of Kohala. Cleaning up the roads. Raising money for the schools. Pushing people to become politically active. Sponsoring countless community activities from the Kohala Walk to May Day. Always,always, it was Takata Store that was the mainstay and primary supporter for community events. Anything beneficial for Kohala? Shiro was at the front of the line. yt g Honestly,however,I can't say it was always pretty. More than once I was pressured to do more,participate more,give more to the community. Sometimes I was left feeling,like,"Gads, Shiro,I'm topped off. I can't." He'd shrug,look disappointed in his daughter,and let me go. The Shiro Takata Field? Absolutely. Shiro Takata Airport? Yes. Shiro Takata Middle School.?Yessss. Shiro Takata Lookout at the End of the Road? Yep. Shiro Takata High School? Yesiree. Shiro Takata Road? Yep. A sports field is the least we can do for this bastion of the community. Let's give it to him. I'll hold down my end of town taking care of the Old Takata Store... Sincerely, �rio COMM NM Joan Channon Ref. To: ' GOV/ 1 Ref. Dote 1 1 6 201?