HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. 051 - 2021-12-14 (testimony) Kahawaiolaa, Patrick L, Keaukaha Community Association: testimony for public hearingCOMMUNICATION 051
HILO, H196720
Email: Phone:
December 14, 2021
Redistricting Commission Chairperson
Bronsten-Glenn Kossow
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
NOTICE
Aloha e Chair Kossow & members of the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission,
I am Patrick L Kahawaiolaa, a native Hawaiian as defined pursuant to the Hawaiian Homes
Commission Act, 1920, as amended July 9, 1921 (HHCA, 1920, amended July 9, 1921, c.42, 42
stat. 108, 67th Congress) an the current President of the Keaukaha Community Association,
which will be celebrating its Centennial Celebration on December 16, 2024, and as the largest
native Hawaiian homestead community on this island an here to RAISE an OBJECTION to the
Draft Proposals that we believe will impact our native Hawaiian communities in East Hawaii...
I hope this Commission allows me the latitude to briefly explain our Objections to you, but
before I proceed and need to know whether or not this Public Hearing of this Commission is
being held under HRS Chapter 91 or Chapter 92? PLEASE?
You May hear in the next several days while conducting your Public Hearings that many of us
will have our various issues on this Subject, but here below is our thoughts on the PROPOSED
CUTTING PANAEWA IN HALF AND PUSHING THE SAME INTO DISTRICT 5!
Currently District 3 is one of the major urban districts on our island, and most importantly, the
Majority of DHHL-East Hawaii Lands are in this district and that has allowed us a strong
minority voting bloc with important, heeded vocal strength. We physically sit as guardians
around our public refuse and waste. Our Port, Our Airport, and Commercial Centers. The only
KCAI
A native Hawaiian 501(3)(c) non profit
PO BOX 5146 HILO, H196720
Email: kcaiprez@gmail.com Phone: (808) 937-8217
way that we meet our entire community's challenges is by how we collectively rise to address
them. District 5's challenges with due respect are not District 3"s.
Personally I have a problem when one of the processes of moving districts line beside the
population based on the Census tracts with trying to keep equal amounts of people in each
district, was to at least follow NATURAL landmarks when doing so. It disturbs me is when this
Commission uses as a natural landmark the Hawaii County Flood Control Channel. This Flood
Control Channel is NOT A NATURAL LANDMARK AND STILL is a major bone of Historical
Contention within the native Hawaiian Community of Keaukaha Panaewa Farmers Association
(KPFA) as a lawsuit was filed when this County ENCROACHED AND TOOK THOSE DHHL LANDS
and Displaced Farmers whose families still lives there and now a second "taking" is about to
occur again with REDISTRICTING.
We are prepared to offer a reasonable solution so as not to be split into district 5 if we were
asked:
1, Take the Puna side of Haihai Street instead, as it is more congruent to the State House
District. Those neighborhoods, turnover resident faster than we do on DHHL lands because
We are people of a community that because of the "Special Trust" lands set aside by Congress
in 1920 received a 99 year lease and most generations of native Hawaiians continue to live
where we are able to practice our culture. Like using an imu (earthen that are sometimes
frowned upon when we live in other communities.
If further information or clarifications are needed I can be reached at
'Owau Patrick L Kahawaiolaa
KCAI
A native Hawaiian 501(3)(c) non profit