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accommodations on agriculturally zoned lands. And as a member of the Access Committee, those <br />individuals who have been assisting Vipassana Hawai‘i in the creation of these easements, they are <br />some of the same groups represented who were so opposed back in 2000 in principle. But what <br />they’ve found is that in practice having a landowner whose values and goals are consistent with the <br />values and goals of the community is actually real positive. So I’m available, if anyone has any <br />questions of me from either of these perspectives. <br /> <br />GIFFIN: Commissioners, any questions of the testifier? Thank you. Thank you for coming <br />forward this morning. And then to your left, sir, your name? <br /> <br />OLDFATHER: Good morning. <br /> <br />GIFFIN: Good morning. <br /> <br />OLDFATHER: My name is Charles Oldfather. I’m from Hāmākua. I was born and raised here on <br />the Big Island and, in Honoka‘a, and I have a small landscaping company here. I’m the land <br />manager for Vipassana Hawai‘i. I’ve been with them for about five years. And I just want to say a <br />couple of things real quickly in support of this project. First of all, Steve and Michele are great <br />people, and I’ve known them for a while now, and, you know, a lot of integrity, you know, they are <br />really committed to sharing the teachings of Buddhism and Buddhist meditation, and it has been <br />great to work with them. And the main thing I really like about this project, like – what’s your <br />name again? <br /> <br />THOMA ROBINSON: Beth. <br /> <br />OLDFATHER: Like Beth was saying, you know, I mean, this is an incredibly beautiful place, <br />beautiful coastline land, you know, you go down there and it’s amazing and beautiful just to be <br />there. And what you see in this area is more and more gated communities popping up and private <br />estates and, there is nothing wrong with that, you know, but if the whole coastline is nothing but <br />gated communities and private estates, you know, it kind of leaves out the average people of <br />Kohala. So this kind of access to open space is important to the community, I think. So it’s, you <br />know, I think this project will make this land a resource to the community of Kohala in the way that <br />it will be available for anybody who wants to come down and practice meditation and spend time on <br />the land. <br /> <br />And also, you know, I just want to say real quickly about meditation. There is all these studies <br />coming out about all the benefits of meditation, you know; it’s scientifically proven now how <br />meditation especially reduces stress, as we know stress is almost chronic these days in some of our <br />communities. So to me that’s really important. It’s, like I said, scientifically proven to reduce <br />stress and creates wellbeing and possibly even prevent disease through reducing stress, because <br />stress is a component in a lot of diseases, is what people are finding now. So, yeah, I just, I really <br />like this project, and I think it’ll be a good resource for the community of Kohala and for the Big <br />Island and the State as well. And I hope you guys will support it. Thank you. <br /> <br />GIFFIN: Thank you for coming. Commissioners, any question? Hearing none, hang on just a <br />minute, I’m going to get your name. You must be William Bennington. <br /> <br />BENNINGTON: Yes. <br /> <br />7 <br />EXHIBIT A <br /> <br />