Exhibit 7 - Letters from the Chairperson

Home

BRONSTEN-GLENN KOSSOW Chairperson JAMES HUSTACE Vice Chairperson 2021 HAWAI`I COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO: Jon Henricks, County Clerk Diana Mellon -Lacey, Corporation Counsel FROM: Bronsten Kossow, Commission Chairperson DATE: December 23, 2021 SUBJECT: Inclusion for the final report. Aloha Mai Kakou, MEIZHU LUI DWAYNE YOSHINA LEHUA AH NEE JENNIFER YADAO STEPHANIE BATH AINA AKAMU STEPHEN LOPEZ The following notes are experiences for which the 2021 Hawaii County Redistricting Commission had faced. To resonate the similar tones from past commissions on learning curves as we complete the final plan, while also recognizing our ability to best serve our communities across Hawaii Island in an impartial manner. The commission had faced an unusual year that will be forever marked in our history. Due to the pandemic, much of our data had been delayed by as much as eight months by the United States Census Bureau. Most of the commission's work began in the month of September and progressed to complete by December 31s', along with mandated eleven public hearings. The commission found it a learning experience, especially to that within the Hawai `i County Code and Charter, the use of the software program platform, ESRI, and overcoming the Census Block irregularities. It was important for the commission to hear the community and with the help of the public hearings it gave the commission an opportunity to grow in intellect on the county's issues. However, the commissions concern stemmed toward the language of Hawaii County Charter Section 3-17 (e), which is an important section to go through the democratic process. The commission recommended that based off the language it be reversed, that the east Hawaii and west Hawaii meetings be first, and the nine public hearings at the council districts be after the completion of a single draft plan. Hawai `i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer