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intensive agriculture land under the General Plan and the location of the proposed project is a prime agricultural land because, basically, thelower Hamakua Ditch cuts right across the property and water, as you know, is essential to any agricultural endeavors. Obviously, this project changes the essential character of the land and the present use, and is not intensive agriculture. As an organization that is deeply involved in agricultural-related issues including the protection of good agricultural lands, the Hamakua County Farm Bureau urges the Commission to deny the request for a Special Use Permit for the proposed Wellness Center at Kapulena, Hamakua, Hawai i. Thank you. FUJIKAWA:Thank you. Any questions? Commissioner Springer? SPRINGER:Mr. Shioji, could you describe to me who comprises the Hamakua CountyFarmBureau? SHIOJI:Werefarmers,ranchers,agriculturists,anybodywhostrongly believes in the preservation of agriculture in the area. SPRINGER:Could you give me an estimate of membership. Is it a membership organization? SHIOJI:Yes. Its a national organization, the National Farm Bureau Federation. We have a State organization, the Hawai i Farm Bureau Federation; and we also have a Big Island Farm Bureau organization. And were one of four chapters on this island, the Hamakua County Farm Bureau. And weve been involved in this land issue thing for a number of years, going back when the Hamakua Sugar Plantation went bankrupt and the status of the Lower Hamakua Ditch became a big issue in that area. And weve been actively involved in trying to preserve the Lower Hamakua Ditch as the primary source of water for any irrigation endeavors in Hamakua. And weve been also actively involved in trying to get the County Council, as well as the State Legislature, to try to identify and protect our best agricultural lands in the County of Hawai i. The State hasnt done a darn thing since the LESA Commission presented a report to them back in 1983. So were now working with the County Council to try to get them off their butts to do something. We havent been successful with the last Council. We hope well have better results with the new Council. And in Hamakua, the area that were most concerned with is the 6,000-plus acres below the Ditch, because these are irrigatible lands. And in this particular project the Lower Hamakua Ditch goes right through the project, if you look at the map. So were very concerned about that. SPRINGER:And the number of members? SHIOJI:I beg your pardon? 18