2021-11-12 Redistricting Commission minutes (7th Session)

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CALL TO ORDER: KOSSOW: Aloha and welcome to the 6h [sic] Session of the County of Hawaii Redistricting Commission. Today is Friday, November 12'', 2021. My name is Bronsten Kossow. I'm the Chairperson for this Commission. First, I would like to express an announcement here. Because of the Coronavirus emergency and State and Federal guidance on large meetings or gatherings and pursuant to the Mayor's proclamations regarding COVID-19, the Redistricting Commission meetings are currently not open to the public to attend in person until further notice. Members of the public may view or provide oral testimony via the Zoom platform by requesting for the information as noticed on our posted agendas. Thank you for your understanding. I'm calling the meeting to order. The time is 9:36 a.m. ROLL CALL Welcome new Commissioner Lehuanani Ah Nee, representing Council District 3. Commissioner Ah Nee was appointed by Mayor Roth on October 14, 2021 to fill the District 3 vacancy and confirmed by the County Council on November 3, 2021. The Commission will welcome its new commissioner and Commissioner Ah Nee may offer introductory comments on her background. KOSSOW: Now, for roll call. We have a newly seated Commissioner, Ms. Ah Nee. I would like to take this moment to congratulate her for coming on to the Commission. If she wants to take two minutes just to introduce herself. I will give the floor to her. AH NEE: Aloha mai kakou. My name is Lehuanani. (Commissioner Ah Nee began her introduction in `olelo Hawai`i) Mahalo nui for having me here today. Aloha, my name is Lehuanani Waipa Ah Nee and you can call me Lehua. I am born and raised in Keaukaha, the Hawaiian Homestead Village of Keaukaha. I am currently a teacher at Ke Ana La`ahana Public Charter School, teaching both photography and navigation, along with genealogy of place and space, as well as historical preservation of our coastal areas in Keaukaha. Born and raised here in Hilo, and forgive me, I stepped away from my classroom because it is a school day for us. I was a Keaukaha Elementary student, then went to Hilo High. So,proud graduate of Hilo High School, Class of '99. Graduated from the University of Hawaii at Hilo with a degree in Anthropology. And then went on to get my Master's in Photography and Fine Arts at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I'm very proud to be where I'm from. This is a very new space for me. So, I've been trying to catch up on what the redistricting committee is about. And looking through Chapter 23 and trying to understand and bring myself up to date on what's already been in the role since prior to me coming on. I still have a little bit of catching up to do. Still want to make sure that I have all my ducks in order and that I do proper research on what this commission is about and what we can do to contribute to the whole of Hawaii County. I hope that my service and my seat here at this redistricting committee serves my `ohana, serves by kaiaulu, my community, and serves my Moku o Keawe, so here on Hawaii Island. Aloha. Nice to meet you all. 2