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Page 1 of 1 <br />Eoff, Karen <br />From: Deborah Chang [hkulaiwi @yahoo.com] <br />Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 11:42 AM <br />To: keoff@co.hawaii.hi.us <br />Subject: Testimony for the Redistricting Commission <br />Aloha Hawai' i County Redistricting Commissioners: <br />I don't envy your task. It must be difficult to weigh the population numbers against the splitting of <br />communities. In my view, community identity and similarities are more important to protect in the <br />redistricting process than lumping geographic areas together because the population numbers compute. <br />As a resident of Pohakea mauka in Hamakua District, I am against the "Plan A" proposal to separate the <br />current Council District 1. Lumping rural and agricultural communities like Honoka' a, Kukuihaele and <br />Waipi' o with Puako and Kawaihae will likely be detrimental to council representation of the more rural <br />residents. There are stark differences between the social, economic and environmental concerns and <br />interests of former sugar plantation communities and those who have chosen to live in arid, more tourist <br />and ocean - oriented areas. In that combination whose interests do you think will most likely get the <br />attention? Will rural communities be heard or will they be overshadowed by more urban and visible <br />voices? Is there enough common ground between comparatively wealthy, oceanfront dwellers who are <br />often relative newcomers, and those who have generational roots in sugar plantation communities? <br />Similar concerns can be raised with combining urban South Hilo communities with those of Hamakua <br />and North Hilo where the population is more spread out and extra effort is required to connect with <br />constituents. <br />Your task of drawing up Council District boundaries is key to our representation on the County Council <br />for years to come. Please do not politically bind us to communities that are not likely to share our rural <br />interests and concerns. <br />Thank you for your service and time on the Commission. <br />Sincerely, <br />Deborah Chang <br />COMM. 48.63 <br />11/2/2011 <br />