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process. We need to be thinking about future generations with this planning process. We need to be stewards to create an abundant Hawaii island for our keiki. If there is a time to make decisions based on sustainability, social, environmental, and economical; now would be that time. Let's make our decisions knowing we are doing some good for the next generation. The ones that couldn't be here, the ones that don't have the voice to speak to this yet. I think it is important to remember that we were all that next generation at some point and how decisions that others had made had affected our lives. We have a great opportunity here to make decisions here we can feel good about for the next ten years, and the rest of our lives. The current law, along with Ordinance 11 -29, is too ambitious, and I think it has the potential to hurt our communities by putting a greater value on minimum deviation than on community continuity and community cohesion. I see the intent of the Ordinance is for fairness of population representation, which is a good thing; just not at the cost of splitting our communities. Please consider community continuity and community cohesion before population numbers, and with the Charter mandate of 4.99 %, it is a tough task. To have all, or most of Puna represented by two council members that live in the Puna district will help our community be strong. To have fair representation of our districts will increase and help foster a positive moral in our community. These days, with such a weak economy and high unemployment, we need all the positivity we can get. In addition, I believe having fair representation will increase our voter participation, and I think that is a great thing for our communities. Regarding the boundaries for the Puna district, I will support just about any map that keeps Puna whole; that keeps Puna with two council members. Growing up in Puna, there has always been a Puna mauka and a Puna makai, and I would like to see that as the basis used to create the final boundaries for the Puna council districts. For the sake of being very clear, Puna, as a whole, as a community, we should have two representatives; one representing Puna makai, one representing Puna mauka. In closing, I urge you Commissioners to push the plus or minus 4.99% deviation to keep our communities voting together, which will in turn create stronger communities around our entire Hawaii island. I humbly ask that each one of you do your best to have our communities vote together and keep our communities strong. Mahalo for your time, and I wish you all the best and clarity in your decision making process. Thank you. CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you, Zendo. MR. MIDDLESWORTH: Zendo, I have a question. How do you define mauka and makai Puna? MR. KERN: Pretty much the way I have always seen it, and there is a little bit of room here, because I know that Paradise Park straddles both sides of Highway 130. Pretty much, Highway 130, mauka of that to `Aina Loa, and moving all the up to Volcano, is pretty much Puna mauka. Then, makai of Highway 130, going all the way out to Pahoa, to Kalapana, is Puna makai. CHR. SIRACUSA: Are there any other questions for the testifier? Thank you, Zendo. Kona, do you have any testifiers over there? MS. WESSEL: Good morning, we have no testifiers in this location. 3