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choice. If we could, believe me, we would redraw the census lines so that it could be a <br />better County of Hawaii. And that is why we have this opportunity now to give some <br />written information to put together on what could have happened better or we talk about <br />census blocks and what could happen better. So don't believe this was a last minute change, <br />because it was not a last minute change. What we did the last minute for that district, was <br />on November 3rd when they had no clue we were going to come out with that change. And <br />that is when the testimony came in; like Hamakua. Hamakua didn't show up until that last <br />minute change and then boom, they came out. Not last minute change, the change we were <br />making. So know that we were working in good faith, and I just felt like it was a slap in the <br />face to read in the paper that they were trying to cast a shadow over our integrity; because I <br />have my values and I know we all share the same thing. So, I hope what I explained can <br />help you understand where and what we did as a Commission. So thank you for allowing <br />me to speak. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you. And I know, I'm pretty sure, that the other Commissioners <br />all have things that they would like to express to the public, and I think this is a good forum <br />for it. So, who wants to be next? Joseph? I'm looking at you. <br />MR. CARVALHO: Yes, please. I really agree with Val. Well said, well said. Now, it's <br />too bad that the little changes that we made as we were massaging the maps for the last <br />time, gave the impression that we were doing something improper. I really feel bad for that. <br />I assure you guys that we were doing our best to make sure the maps were fine, and that we <br />were listening to the people. If it came out looking improper, it's a bad thing and I am sorry <br />it happened. But we did not do anything out of sorts, thank you. <br />CHR. SIRACUSA: Thank you, Joseph. <br />MR. KAHAWAIOLA`A: I would just like to echo the other two Commissioners, but I need <br />to set the record straight. Because those testimony, like the newspaper said, Fresh got his <br />friends to do; I will tell you the content, if you don't know the contents of that testimony, <br />public testimony. The contents were they wanted totally different lines. We drew the lines <br />from the ocean back in. We took three bases of Hilo historically; Hilo Hanakai, Hilo One, <br />and Hilo Paliku. That is the cliffs, the ocean front, beach front, bay front, and back then into <br />Hilo. We took those three. They wanted the lines to remain how it's been for the last 30 -40 <br />years. That was the content of that testimony. And obviously the Commissioners from Hilo <br />said, it aint going to work, it can't work with the line that has been around for 30 -40 years; <br />which would have kept three Hilo districts. We lost a Hilo district and I will sit here and say <br />I was proud to lose that Hilo district because Puna came forth and said, "We want to be <br />Puna." People in Fern Forest were always a part of District 3. The numbers - - -I couldn't get <br />away from the numbers. So Puna became those two separate districts. Puna just has too <br />much people, so the overflow had to go somewhere. It couldn't go to - - -If the public would <br />just - -- <br />There is a lady that sits on the end. I want all of you to look at Commissioner Ugalde. Had <br />she not acquiesced, or stayed and fought to stay in Puna, we would have split Waikoloa. <br />We would have been all "hammajang" all over this place. But when she said, "Move me <br />20 <br />