2021-10-21 Redistricting Commission Public Hearing minutes (District 4)

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communicate with the Commission. We also have a couple of Commissioners on the call this evening, listening in. And we hope to have testimony from the public. So, we will give it about half an hour, like we've done with our previous public hearings, to see if we have guests from the public join us and provide testimony to the Commissioners. So, thank you for joining us and we will wait patiently until we have someone join us here, either at the public site or online. Mahalo. Please note that during this time, Commissioners and support staff were on stand-by. ARACELEY: Hi, Vice Chair. Just informing you that we have a testifier here. HUSTACE: Thank you, Relley. Ma'am, if you could introduce yourself and your location of residence. I believe we'll allow you three minutes to provide testimony to the Commissioners. Is that correct, Relley? (No response.) O'HARA: Hi! My name is Eileen O'Hara. Thank you. I live in Hawaiian Shores, [redacted personal information]. That's District 4, Council District 4, and it's Senate District 2 and House District 4, at this time. My suggestion, since there has to be some changes to Districts 4 and 5 to meet with the required amounts is, if possible, don't split Pahoa town proper between two districts. Right now, the line runs down the main street of Pahoa. And could we find another designation to include all of Pahoa town in either 4 or 5. That's what I'm asking, if we could figure out a designation that would allow the town of Pahoa to be represented by a single councilperson. It's represented by a single House member and a single Senator, but it's represented by two council members. And that has been a little problematic in getting things done. So, that's my testimony, is to consider that when you're divvying up the districts. It looks like District 5 has to be shaved down a bit. And District 4 can't take too much addition of population and still meet the variation that you allow. So, I realize these are challenging things to do, but please find a way to keep the town whole. That would be something that the constituents around here have been asking for for a while. Thank you. HUSTACE: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara. Appreciate your testimony. Please note that during this time, Commissioners and support staff were on stand-by. HUSTACE: Aloha, Relley. Just checking in with you. ARACELEY: Hi, Chair. It doesn't seem like we have any more testifiers for tonight. HUSTACE: All right. Well, thank you for your patience. I just want to thank the County staff that joined us to support this effort and setting up the satellite site in Pahoa this evening. I'd like to thank the Commissioners for joining us. Do we have a testifier wishing to speak, Relley? ARACELEY: Yes. Yes, Chair. We have one more testifier. 2