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!Z' <br />Ear:*�✓�9,ca by <br />,d_atied` <br />!fit <br />Catherine Sugiyama, <br />PO Box 3028 <br />Kailua Kona 96745 <br />County of Hawaii / Leeward Planning Commission , <br />Use Permit 21-0002277 <br />May 19th 2023, <br />I have known Nanette Guiffrida for 30 years. My two daughters were in the first <br />gymnastics classes she offered in Kona. I assisted as dance coach for several years <br />and my daughters became assistant coaches while in high school. <br />Nanette provides Kona with an athletic service that is unequalled on this island. She <br />provides classes from tiny "Mommy and Me" beginners to elite gymnasts training at <br />competition level 10. She even teaches "Senior Fitness" people in their later years. I am <br />80 and am in that class with "younger" adults - over 55 who need strength, balance <br />and flexibility exercises which are hard to find in "regular" gyms. <br />Her facility is the culmination of years of growth, in it you find multiple balance beams, <br />parallel bars, vault runs and crash pits full of foam. The floors and runways are <br />supported in various ways - one has pipes under it, another blocks of foam, and many <br />areas have crash mats that can be placed below pieces of equipment one on top of <br />another so falls are minimized. <br />Previously in Kona at a gym - which was located where the Jags Automotive is now - <br />parents had to line up across the parking lot so their children could have an adequate <br />distance to run and vault. Needless to say vaulting was not an every class event! <br />This year Kona Aerials hosted the Hawaii State Gymnastics Championship meet. <br />Teams came from other islands to compete. Kona has hosted the Ironman race. <br />Olympic swimmers have practiced in our pools. Kona is known as a sports <br />destination. Athletes no matter what age need to maintain their level of fitness. To <br />close the Kona Aerials gym even for a short while would leave close to 175 Kona kids <br />without a place to practice and about 300 unhappy parents left with their active <br />children unable to attend the "bounce and tumble" classes they need to use up their <br />energy. <br />Please keep our gym open. <br />Cathy Sugiyama <br />