PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-SPP-2021-000004)

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LILI`UOKALANI TRUST LT RANCH SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION TMK: (3) 6-4-018: 095 1. FILING FEE A filing fee of$500 payable to the County of Hawai'i (County) Director of Finance is included with this application. 2. SIGNED COPIES OF APPLICATION The signed application with attachments is included in the application package. We understand the County is requiring the electronic version be uploaded to their Electronic Processing and Information Center (EPIC) and no hard copies need to be submitted. 3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED USE, A STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND REASONS FOR REQUEST, PROPOSED HOURS OF OPERATION, AND NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES/CLIENTELE According to statistics from the 2021 Ka Huaka'i, many native Hawaiian 'opio (youth) face a multitude of economic, social, familial, and educational disadvantages. For example; economically, 16 percent of Native Hawaiian school-age children (5-17 years old) are in poverty and only 50 percent of Native Hawaiian households with school-age children earn a livable income. (Kana'iaupuni, Kekahio, Ka'eo, & Ledward, 2021). With Queen Lili'uokalani as their guiding star, Lili'uokalani Trust (LT) recognizes the need to reverse this trend by providing hands- on interactive cultural, artistic, and educational opportunities for these kamali'i to explore their inherent potential. Researchers have identified key components that best support overall wellbeing for youth include relationship with nature, connectedness, comfort and safety (Allock, 2019). The benefits of offering children access to green spaces include improved mental wellbeing, overall health, and improved cognitive development (McCormick, 2017). LT is therefore seeking a Special Permit to establish a cultural academy and retreat called LT Ranch. Situated in a quiet, rustic area in Waimea on the island of Hawai'i, LT Ranch provides a safe and nurturing environment for youth and their families to connect with nature, explore their potential, and reconnect with their culture. As a part of LT's continuum of services, LT Ranch will offer small group sessions for four to eight participants at a time. Two to four staff members will also be on site, including at least two staff members during any overnight stay. Activities are estimated to range from half-day sessions to three-week overnight retreats, depending on the program. Program hours are anticipated to be from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Day programs would end earlier at 5:00 PM. Quiet hours for any overnight stays will be from 8:00 PM until 7:00 AM. Core to the LT Ranch programming will be providing experiential activities focused on strengthening connections to self, 'aina, others, and Queen Lili'uokalani. Through nature-based programming connecting youth to animals,the land, and creative expression through arts, youth will better understand their inherent potential and mana. Embraced within this healing 1