Pedro Tama Testimony 05.25.23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Application The SP application accurately includes a reference to the successful small-scale permaculture operation that Mr. Silber has established. It also includes references to how volunteers and guests practice learning permaculture backyard gardening skills. These are strong positives. But the application is misleading because it omits important information about a vital part of living or visiting there: Lolia is a"clothing-optional"property. "Clothing-optional"is a contemporary term for what used to be called a"Nudist" or `Naturalist" camp or colony. A definition of a nudist colony is: "an establishment for guests in a context where they are invited to practice naturism—that is, a lifestyle of non-sexual social nudity." However, Lolia is not non-sexual. The Problem Lolia is unique in that it not only practices nudity but,unlike other nudist camps, also supports sexual contact and exploration amongst the people staying at Lolia. This includes with employees, long-term renters,volunteers, short-term renters,guests, and permanent staff. Mr. Silber has implicitly expressed his belief in polyamory. And, children over 8 are welcome, as long as their parents stay with their children at all times. As a community of"personal growth and development," Lolia staff often facilitate group and personal growth sessions that explore residents' and guests' personal, and sometimes sexual, difficulties in life and assist them towards healing. Yet, first,Lolia has no policy prohibiting sexual contact between staff and any non-staff people. This violates all professional ethical norms requiring strict boundaries between providers and clients. Second,none of the staff at Lolia has a degree or certification in psychology or in sex therapy. It is for these two reasons that, given our small neighborhood community of 19 residents and 43 lots,with families with children and grandchildren, that the SP application is fundamentally contrary to the Hawaii County General Plan. Of the eight Purposes of the County General Plan,the actual activities at Lolia are out of conformance with six of them and are contrary to the following two: -Identify the visions, values, and priorities important to the people of this County; [the unethical lack of any sexual boundaries between staff and non-staff, and the lack of any psychological or sex-education professional is contrary to the values and priorities of the people in our neighborhood, and the people of this County.] -Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole. [Lolia is not a model that promotes the public interest, nor the interest of the County as a whole.] 2.2 Economic Goals Lolia is Contrary to the following five out of the eight General Plan Economic Goals, because each of these goals includes improving our County's social or cultural environments, and Lolia is not a model for improving our County's culture or society. (a)Provide residents with opportunities to improve their quality of life through economic development that enhances the County's natural and social environments. [For example, here are some quotes from the Volunteer Agreement that prospective volunteers must agree