2021-10-28 Redistricting Commission minutes (6th Session)

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District 6 really maintains its large portion of the southern half of the island. As we'll probably see on some of the other maps coming up later, that really the case. I think a lot of the Commissioners have seen the challenges with District 6 just because of the sparsely populated area and just the wide spread of individuals across a large tract of land, right? So, that's the challenge we have. Anything of note that the Commissioners wanted to talk about in where Ms. Ford has Council 4 and 5? KOSSOW: Mr. Lopez. LOPEZ: Yes, thank you. In trying, I have to go back to a statement I made earlier where, being on the west side of Hawaii, people talk about lower Puna, upper Puna, the town. I really have no concept of what they're talking about. Even in public hearings, when these statements are made, and I can't ask a question. So, when people say don't split up the town, you have to understand that it's pretty common to you, but from the outside looking in, I can discern what you're talking about. But I did notice, in this map, that, and this is based on comment I heard in the public hearing, about Mountain View and Kea`au. So, I guess I'm asking, and I noticed Ms. Ford put those in the same District 5, is that the area referred to as "town"? And is it intended that they should be together as this map portrays or does it just happen that way? Can anybody comment on that? The terminology and those statements to help me understand what we are trying to do here in this area. BATH: Commissioner Bath. KOSSOW: Ms. Bath. BATH: Thank you, Commissioner, for asking. I know it is challenging because there's such diversity geographically on our island and culturally as well, in some communities. I've lived in District 5 for forty years and have some connection with District 4 as well. There are a number of things. As far as the word "town," in my community, when people say they're going to town, that means they're going to Hilo. It doesn't mean that they're going to Pahoa. It doesn't mean that they're going to Kea`au. Mountain View is a tiny little historic village that offers—it doesn't offer much in terms of people going there to shop. In public testimony, there were a few testimonies that pointed out that Pahoa Village is split in half. So, the actual town of Pahoa is partially in District 5 and it's partially in District 4, which is problematic. The testimonies are steering towards having Pahoa as a town. If you can imagine Captain Cook or something being split down the middle, there might be concern there. The other thing regarding Council District 4 is that the Kalapana, the southeastern area that Ms. Ford has in District 5 is really part of lower Puna. It's really part of District 4. In order to get, pretty much anywhere, unless you use the Chain of Craters Road, you need to transverse through Pahoa. People in that area go to Pahoa to do shopping, to do various things. To put that in District 5-well, there's a question on whether that makes sense. The other that you might want to know, I mean if District 4 wants to talk about district, I would yield to her. Commissioner, did you want to give any input on District 4 for him or should I continue? 9