HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPP-21-000227 L. ELLIS TESTIMONY (LATE) 05.18.23 From: Lisa Ellis
To: LPCtestimonv
Subject: Kona aerials gymnastics
Date: Thursday, May 18,2023 8:52:30 PM
What has Kona Aerials Gymnastics meant to me and done for me, personally? I remember
being at a local park and seeing a young girl doing a flip of some kind on a bar and thinking
to myself, "That's a gymnastic move. I wonder where they do that out here." My daughter
was 5 years old at that time. She had been clinically diagnosed as hyperactive at age 4.5.
Her school and pediatricians were suggesting medication so she would be less of a handful
both in the classroom and at home. I always felt that physical hyperactivity went hand in
hand w/ mental hyperactivity and therefore could be a sign of great intelligence, so why
would I want to medicate that? I politely declined. I began my search for a physical activity
she would love and could practice at home to help slough off some of that extra energy. We
tried several sports and dance and eventually came to find Kona Aerials Gymnastics and
Coach Nanette. By that time, I was frazzled. I talked to Coach Nanette about my daughter's
aggression in play and her other foibles and begged her to please help me with this child as
I had no family or close friends out here to help me deal with her.
Coach Nanette laughed, told me she understood and that this was the right place for her. I
signed my daughter up at age 5.5. 1 immediately saw a difference in her in more ways than
I can really say. Within weeks of my daughter having such a regimented physical workout,
her grades improved. Her interactions with others were not so aggressive because she had
physically aggressive activities to practice on her own. She wasn't constantly in my face
and when she would be, I could direct her to run around the outside of our house or jump
on our bed to practice for gymnastics. An acquaintance of my husband's gave us some
gymnastic grade matts for her to practice on. We were able to set up a makeshift beam and
singular bar in the back yard for her to practice on. Our daughter started to flourish, not just
in gymnastics, but in her schoolwork as well. Gymnastics gave her the physical outlet she
needed to be able to concentrate and focus on her schoolwork when necessary. It gave her
self confidence. It taught her both teamwork and individual goal setting and
accomplishment through hard work and perseverance. It taught her to listen to instruction. It
taught her self discipline. It taught her that her only worthy opponent was herself.
Eleven years later... My daughter is duel enrolled in both high school and college. She
entered her freshman year of high school with 3 college credits already under her belt. She
graduated her freshman year top of her class. She is 16 years old,a sophomore in high
school now, and is certified in first aide, CPR and as a freshwater lifeguard. She is a level 8
competing gymnast and a coach to the youngest potential gymnasts. She has an
impressive resume with many references from those she has babysat for or helped coach
in her spare time both inside and outside of the gym. None of that would have happened
without this gym. This coach. This help and encouragement for this Momma who needed it
more than anyone could possibly understand in dealing with this particular child.
In my 11 years as a "gym mom" I've seen this gym and it's programs help thousands of
people of all ages, but especially children and their parents, find their strengths. This land is
zoned agricultural. It is for the growth of plants and animals. This gym promotes the growth
of healthy humans. Not just physically, but in Oh! So many ways!
I need to add that this gym is run as a non profit entity. I would never have been able to
afford to keep my child in this sport if this gym was run otherwise. In this gym, you get back
what you give. I worked our at home meets and got $ off my daughter's bill for doing so. I
worked the fundraisers and was rewarded for my efforts above and beyond what I was
personally able to fundraise for those efforts. I have done other work for the gym and
reaped the benefits of doing so in the form of$ off the cost of my daughter's expenses.
I spoke a lot about the things being a part of this gym, this team, has taught my daughter. I
want to now speak of the things it has taught me as an adult; as a parent. It has taught me
many of the same things it has taught my daughter. Teamwork, individual goals, self
esteem and self confidence, good work ethic and how to function way outside of my
personal comfort zones, just to name a few.
This gym is an "all in effort" to finally find a permanent home for this gym and its programs
that include all ages and skill levels here on the west side of this island. If this permit isn't
approved it could very well be the end of this sport being offered on this entire side of this
island. That would be a devastation to parents like me and children of all backgrounds. It
would literally be a crying shame not just to those currently involved in this gym, but to
future children like my daughter who truly needs this level of activity to function.
Thankyou for your consideration, Lisa