2020-02-20 Leeward Exh E (SMA 19-074 & SPP 19-210)

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find it in stores in Kona. Unfortunately, we sold it well before the bakery was making any money. It is now carried nationwide. I still run a summer yoga camp in Colorado where we reach 500 kids per summer, which teach the yoga and meditation to give them the tools for dealing with stress in their lives. We also do arts and crafts, hiking, go to a local spring type pool, which is freezing but extremely beautiful. We have baby goats and alpacas to connect the kids with nature and teach care for the environment and respect for everyone. In regards to the yoga ashram, I have been the secretary treasurer for over 40 years since I was 20 years old. I have been through the special permit process successfully on behalf of the ashram four times in Colorado. In these cases I wrote the special permit along with our attorney, Berkley Freeman. Because our yoga ashram has limited financial resources, I worked as research assistant to our attorney for legal cases. I've done that for 30 years. I'm not a lawyer or a paralegal, but from experience, I have a working knowledge of church law. And though no expert, I am not completely unfamiliar with County planning zoning and building departments. I am here to help the yoga ashram to be granted special use in Ag zoning as is permitted within the County's zoning, and that's why we are here today. The last thing is that they talked about what is the ideal use for the property and the land, how do we use it that helps. One, it is in Ag zoning. We've put 20 years now into improving the soil quality. We've had people from the Hawaii Extension come and evaluate the soil. We have planted mango trees. We grow Rudraksha trees, which are the seeds for malas. We have multiple citrus plants or trees. We have a vegetable garden. So we have, even though the soil quality is E, very poor, we significantly improved it. We also do only organic farming both for our own health, we don't use any pesticides, and for the health of our neighbors. The neighbor just below us grows organic mangos, and while we wouldn't use it anyway, we certainly wouldn't want anything coming from our property to blow onto his. We did look into doing organic gardening at one point, but the certification for that was a bit more than the yoga ashram needed. When we have extra fruits and vegetables, we donate them to the community food share. I think that's enough for the basic. CARR SMITH: Thank you. GOLDSTEIN: Aloha Commissioners and Planning Director. My name is Anna Goldstein, and I live in Kona at this ashram we call it Konalani. I've lived in austere wise ashrams since 2010, but at Konalani for the past five and a half years. I currently manage the ashram, and I am a resident acharya, which is a minister in the yoga tradition. Living in the ashram has completely changed my life and my way of being; it has turned me from only worrying about myself to really caring about the community, the people around me, being more loving and compassionate and kind, and generally, I'm, I'm just happier. The amazing thing about the ashram is that it's not just about me, it's not just about the single family, but it really is about a community. This remarkable sanctuary helps people lead happier, more fulfilling lives. I am just one example, but these practices impact countless others in the same way. I know we are small,just a 9 EXHIBIT E