2013-06-20 Leeward Exh A - Vipassana

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GIFFIN: You may begin your testimony. BENNINGTON: I, too, am speaking in support of Vipassana Hawai‘i and the retreat center. I have been a meditator for a couple of years now, and have known Steve and Michele for 25, and long have cherished the idea of having a silent retreat center on the island like this. Especially now that I’m in the era of Social Security, traveling off island to go to a retreat center on the mainland, and even now at this point even on O‘ahu, is becoming cost prohibitive. It’s, I know personally the level of their integrity. This is a teaching that is given freely. There is no cost for the teaching; it’s just for the minimum cost for accommodations while you are there. So I think it’s an asset not only to individuals but to the community and to the island as well. Thank you. GIFFIN: You’re welcome. Commissioners, any questions? Hearing none, thank you very much, the three of you. Could you please step back. And I’m going to ask Tom and Sophia to please come forward again. YEH: And Madam Chair? GIFFIN: Yes. YEH: I made a bit of a faux pas because, you know, some of the testimony in support have mentioned a couple of names, Steve and Michele, you know, so you may -. GIFFIN: Yes, that was going to be one of my questions. YEH: And actually, they are both here today. We have Michele McDonald, she is a secretary of Vipassana, and then Steve Smith is on the Board, and then we have Trent Cornell who is the president of the Board. And basically, Steve and Michele, as I understand, were very, very instrumental; this is kind of their brain child and their vision. And so they’ve been able to bring this into fruition as has been discussed. So, thank you. GIFFIN: Thank you. That was going to be one of my questions. But was there anything else, Tom, that you wanted to add? YEH: I don’t think so, unless there are any questions at this point. GIFFIN: Commissioners, any questions of the applicant? I have a question or two, Tom. Looking at the aerial photo then, and earlier, I can’t remember if that was one of the public testifiers or you in what you presented, if I wanted to access the bay, and it has a Hawaiian name, I cannot remember it, but -. YEH: Kapanaia. GIFFIN: Yeah. If I wanted to access the bay, do I have to trespass over said property or is that already established as public access? YEH: Yes. The mauka-makai access is, and Daryn is pointing it out, you enter off of the same main entrance off of Akoni Pule and then you run down, I think it’s a County, it’s a dirt road and is very passable, and then it runs you to Kapanaia – Point? 8 EXHIBIT A