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r <br /> MR. ODA: Mr. Omonaka, presently there are 4 repre- <br /> sentative districts, just to clarify what you are saying, you <br /> are saying 5 councilman from the present house representative <br /> districts--2 from South Hilo, 1 from Puna-Ka' u, 1 from Hamakua, <br /> 1 from Kona and 2 at-large. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Would that meet the requirements of the <br /> law? <br /> MR. ODA: I 'm kind of concerned about the population <br /> in Kona which is really not reflected in the present setup. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: The problem that we have is what <br /> is the population in Kona. <br /> MR. ODA: According to the estimates that I just <br /> gave you, the population of this island is supposed to have <br /> increased by, at least, 20% to 30% since the last census. By <br /> between 17 to 20 thousand, so almost, I would say, at least, <br /> 25% increase. The question is, where has that increase been? <br /> And should any means be taken now to adjust, or should you <br /> leave it up to the commission to make an indepth study of that? <br /> MR. OMONAKA: I don' t think we can do it, we don' t <br /> have the time or the talent. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: What would we consider in readjusting <br /> that information? What do we have to do? Have an actual count, <br /> have a census taken? <br /> MR. ODA: You need a much more recent population <br /> count. <br /> CHAIRMAN ISHIDA: Based on? <br /> MR. ODA: It has to be on the census, that is the only <br /> acceptable criteria. Some states have used telephone service, <br /> the water meter hookups, that kind of thing. But, then , it <br /> takes an awful lot of legwork to get that kind of information. <br /> And even then, that is still an estimate, because some people <br /> just don ' t have telephones. Especially in some areas of Kona. <br /> MR. OMONAKA: Can that apply until we have a census? <br /> MR. ODA: I think so. I think it will be legal if <br /> you have kept it within the bounds of what we have said, <br /> subject to the reapportionment commission making an indepth <br /> analysis of the population changes based on the 1980 census. <br /> MRS. KOBAYASHI : Akira, basically, I agree with your <br /> concept of the districts plus at-large. Why are you saying <br /> 2 at-large? Instead of four which would keep the <br /> present number of nine? <br /> MR. OMONAKA: If you get 4 at-large, you would kind <br /> of defeat the purpose of having district representation. <br /> -6- <br />