HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPP-21-000227 9.3.2021 J. WESTLUND TESTIMONY Dr. Jaime Westlund COH PLANNING DEPT
75-5923 Kakalina Street SEP 10 2021 k7:17
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
REM, ET HAIL
Sep. 3,2021
County of Hawaii
Leeward Planning Commission
101 Pauahi Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Mr. Chair Vitousek and Members of the Leeward Planning Commission:
I'm writing to you on my own behalf and as a member of the Kailua-Kona community to express
my support for Special Permit No. 21-000227, submitted by Kona Aerials Gymnastic Team Inc.
requesting to permit the operation of a youth gymnastic and sport fitness facility on Hualalai
Road in Kailua-Kona.
Kona Aerials Gymnastics Inc. (KAG) is a non-profit organization that has served West Hawaii
athletes for decades and is the only gymnastics training facility in Kailua-Kona. Their programs
offer Big Island youth the opportunity to participate in an array of activities designed to advance
physical and emotional skills as well as promote leadership skills, self-confidence, teamwork,
and physical coordination.The proposed Special Permit will allow KAG to continue to provide a
vital space for athletes and youth to train and further develop their skills,potentially enabling
some participants to compete nationally and seek college scholarship opportunities.
In addition to providing a healthy, fun and enriching environment for our keiki, KAG,through
their partnership with Nakuwana Foundation, another Hawaii Nonprofit Corporation, the facility
also provides adult fitness, strength and conditioning facilities to the community.The combined
services offered by these two nonprofits promote a consistent,healthy and active lifestyle for
community members of all ages while providing a positive source of much needed recreational
activity to West Hawaii.
I ask that you please vote to approve Special Permit No. 21-000227 so that our community can
continue to enjoy the many benefits that Kona Aerials Gymnastics and the Nakuwana
Foundation provide.
It saddens me greatly that activities that help instill hard work,teamwork, and confidence in our
local youth are under attack based on"special permits." Everything in everyone's power should
be done to ensure that our youth on this island have opportunities and a better future.
Frequently, I get asked by patients if I "plan on staying"on this island because they recognize
the instability of medical professionals that typically leave the island,on an island that is already
so very underserved by the number of providers that we have. Unfortunately, it is very difficult
to live here and stay here because of the inability to get anything done, like a youth gymnastics
gym fighting tooth and nail to keep the doors open over a"special permit." If you choose to not
allow the gym to stay open (which provides both of my girls the training and environment that
they need), you will not only lose the only facility on the west side of the Big Island that is
committed to hundreds of youth gymnast but you would lose yet another doctor on the island.
My daughters love gymnastics and if it is taken away based on this special permit than my
family will likely relocate off the island. I cannot continue to allow my children to be"pawns"
in preposterous situations that are avoidable.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this testimony in support of this application.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jaime A. Westlund
DNP, APRN, NP-C
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