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noisy as some of the other outlying areas, but I would like to let you know that from a <br />standpoint from myself, I lived in Lakeland for ten years on the preceding ten years when <br />we were part of Waimea. I then moved into town, so I stayed in District 9, and I've been <br />able to observe over the last ten years what a split in a community has done. As the <br />immediate past President of the Waimea Community Association, I am going to be pretty <br />frank about this, and I don't mean any disrespect. I can only remember once when the <br />District 1 council member came up to meetings in Waimea, or sent a representative. That <br />means that from White Road, out to Lakeland, pretty much not a lot of support. I can tell <br />you that when I was in Lakeland, I lived there for thirteen years, our issues were all <br />Waimea- centric, they weren't Hamakua- centric at all. In fact, if you take the geography of <br />Waikoloa and Hamakua, they are about 20 miles away from us, give or take cattle, turkeys <br />and goats. <br />I have presented my full testimony, so I will keep it brief here. I want to let you know that <br />I would prefer to see communities stick together regardless of what district we end up in. I <br />would love for Waimea to be like Kohala and Hawi. There is one way in and one way out; <br />you are not a road stop on the way. So really what happens is you know exactly what your <br />community is and what your boundaries are. Interestingly enough, Puako and Waikoloa <br />align themselves with Waimea, but we have been split for ten years, and I haven't seen any <br />valid testimony from the Council people from either side advocating for Waimea as the <br />mother ship to actually be whole. Thank you very much for the work that you do. Aloha. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Let's go back to Waimea. <br />MR. KAHUL Madam Chairman, I just wanted to notice you that we have another testifier. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Waimea. <br />MS. HANANO: Thank you. Our testifier here is Jo Kim. She is representing herself. She <br />is also speaking in support of Plan B, opposing Plan _A and commenting along with the <br />registration, I am submitting five sheets of petitions of those also in support of Plan—B. <br />JO KIM <br />(At this time Jo Kim came forward via videoconference from Waimea to address members of the <br />Commission.) <br />MS. KIM: Good morning Commissioners. I am Jo Kim. I reside in Pauilo, rural <br />Hamakua. There are a lot of people who would like to be here today to testify in support of <br />keeping the Hamakua region as a single council district; but they were not able to come. <br />They have signed a petition and I have given it to the Clerk here to present to you. We <br />would like to keep the Hamakua region together. It is very important that rural Hamakua <br />speak with one voice; that we not be enclosed with another district that may not have the <br />same considerations. I don't know the variations of the plans that are being proposed, but <br />the plan that keeps the Hamakua district together, from North Hilo going up through I <br />14 <br />