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Puna's Future, and I also serve on the board of the Fern Acres Community Association. I am <br />supporting the revised Plan _40, alternate. It is the only plan that supports the needs of Puna. As <br />a resident of upper Puna, I want to acknowledge the work of our Councilwoman Brittany Smart, <br />who has been well informed about and responsive to the needs of our community. But seriously, <br />something as vast and diverse as our current District 6 is not of service to the constituents. The <br />communities from Volcano to Kurtistown are part of Puna. Puna is a district unique in our State. <br />It is mostly made up of subdivisions with their own community associations. Because of its <br />affordable land and homes, and rural environment, Puna is the fastest growing residential <br />community in our state. Its needs are unique. We have a Community Development Plan that we <br />are working to fine tune and implement. We have outgrown the capacity of our County roads. <br />And as to the state of our publicly accessed private roads, we need to be able to work with the <br />County Council to achieve responsible and mutually acceptable solutions. Because it is likely <br />that over the next ten years Puna will continue to grow at the highest rate in the State of Hawai` i, <br />the Redistricting Plan that we adopt must also take into account the growing needs of the Puna <br />district. We are not Hilo, we are not Ka`u, we are Puna. We ask that you give this revised plan <br />careful study and consideration; it is the only plan that addresses the requirements of Puna; one, <br />that we are divided into no more than two Council districts, that the Puna districts include the <br />towns of Volcano, Kea` au, and Pahoa, and that none of our subdivisions are divided. Mahalo. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Our next testifier is Elizabeth Weatherford. <br />ELIZABETH WEATHERFORD <br />(At this time Elizabeth Weatherford came forward to address members of the Commission.) <br />MS. WEATHERFORD: Aloha to everyone, and thank you very much for coming and for your <br />responsiveness to the public. Puna has a number of incorporated subdivisions. I am Elizabeth <br />Weatherford, I live in Hawaiian Paradise Park, and I am on the board there. I am speaking for <br />myself, but I do know that it is absolutely critical to keep the subdivisions together because of <br />their common interest, which includes ownership of assets and indebtedness. We have to be able <br />to have a unified and an undiluted voice of representation; and that is essential. Also, I like what <br />Friends of Puna' s Future have been doing, saying that the three major Pahoa towns need to be <br />included, and that none of the subdivisions should be divided for the same reason. Our <br />incorporation and our common indebtedness means that we need to be able to speak with one <br />voice. Mauka of Highway 130 is part of Hawaiian Paradise Park, and also there are some lots <br />that are currently in District 3 that need to be rejoined. Maps that do this I definitely favor. I like <br />what is coming in the continued collaboration. Thank you very, very much. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you, Elizabeth. Our next testifier is Nancy Kramer. <br />NANCY KRAMER <br />(At this time Nancy Kramer came forward to address members of the Commission.) <br />MS. KRAMER: I don't pretend to be as knowledgeable about all the maps as everyone is, but <br />there is a real strong sense of those of us who are in Puna that that is where we live. I can't <br />imagine the problem that you create by dividing any subdivision, even though my subdivision <br />10 <br />