2010-01-08 THERNANDEZ - Laserfiche WebLink

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HERNANDEZ: I do. WOODWARD: Very good, okay. If you’ll use the microphone; and before you begin your testimony give us your name and address for the record. You’d like to begin? MIKKELSON: Sure. My name is Lori Mikkelson. I live at Laupahoehoe, Post Office Box 291, Laupahoehoe. And I’ve been working with Mr. Hernandez for quite some time to get this resolved, some issues resolved, and move forward to a permit. WOODWARD: Okay, thank you. HERNANDEZ: My name is Marcel Hernandez; and I’m the applicant. WOODWARD: Very good. All right. Would you like to begin your testimony, sir, or -? MIKKELSON: Yes, I would like to. WOODWARD: Okay. MIKKELSON: I would like to possibly start off by addressing the concerns of the Planning Director regarding the area and the use and the relocating it to an Urban area. Mr. Hernandez, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez purchased this property as part of their dream to create the center; and part of the center is to heal people and to teach people meditation. And the serenity of the property and the surrounding area and the ocean are more conducive to what the outcome that they’re looking for, rather than a urban center where they would not have the serenity that they want. So that’s my main thought about this. He has got a lot more to say. His heart is certainly in it, but that would be my observation. WOODWARD: All right. Any questions from the Commissioners? No? Okay, you may begin sir. If you’ll give us your name and address and then start away. HERNANDEZ: Thank you. My name is Marcel Hernandez. I’m the applicant. I’ve live on this property at 47-4628 Honokaa-Waipio Road. We bought the property ten years ago and it was a falling down property. Both buildings on the property including, three buildings, including the carport, were falling down. And we rebuilt them. The property had been abandoned and was being used as a crack house. And so we got the people out of there and bulldozed the property, and put in our herbal gardens and sustainable agriculture. My wife and I are both Hawaii licensed naturopathic physicians; and we bought this property. Before we bought the property I went to the Tax Department and found out the names of all the owners in the area and called them all up and asked them how they would feel about having a doctor in the area consulting with patients and doing a retreat there. And everyone welcomed me and said we’d love to have you here. And before this week, before coming here, obviously, I went around and knocked on those doors of everyone that was home for three afternoons. And everyone that I spoke to was very enthusiastic, as the signatures on that petition would indicate, and really wanted us to be here. I didn’t find one neighbor that said I don’t want you here, I’m 5 EXHIBIT A