(BIVN) – Two long-time Pepeʻekeo residents spoke out at the Windward planning Commission meeting in Hilo on Thursday, expressing their concern about an application for a special permit to establish a spiritual wellness center in their community.

Megan Ugalde Silva and Jaerick Medeiros-Garcia testified in opposition to the application from “The Office of the Master Visionary” seeking to establish a spiritual wellness center “offering 15 wellness retreats per year with overnight accommodations for up to 12 guests, and 2 weddings per year for up to 30 attendees” on 8.063 acres of land in the State Land Use Agricultural District.

According to the Planning Department, the subject property is located at 27-996 A Old Mamalahoa Highway on the makai side of Old Mamalahoa Highway, about a quarter of a mile south of its intersection with Kulaʻimano Road in Pepeʻekeo.

There was no presentation or discussion on the permit, and commission continued the matter to a future date. However, the commission did hear public testimony on the application.