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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-16 Redistricting Commission Public Hearing minutes (Final 2 of 2) 2021 HAWAII COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING Thursday, December 16, 2021, 6:30 p.m. County Council Chambers East and West Hawaii CALL TO ORDER/ OPENING REMARKS: KOSSOW: Aloha and good evening, everyone. I apologize for the technical difficulties here. My name is Bronsten Kossow, Chair of the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission. Thank you for being with us this evening. We're calling the draft plan hearing meeting to order. I am in Kona, along with Commissioner Lopez. If the Commissioners in Hilo can go ahead and state their name into the record. LUL Commissioner Lui, District 1. BATH: Commissioner Bath, District 5. YOSHINA: Dwayne Yoshina, District 2. KOSSOW: Mahalo. And then over onto Zoom. Commissioners? YADAO: Jennifer Yadao, District 4. AKAMU: `Rina Akamu, District 6. AH NEE: Comissioner Ah Nee, District 3. HUSTACE: Commissioner Hustace, District 9. KOSSOW: Mahalo, Commissioners. Staff, can we get an update of—Excuse me. Thank you, Comissioners. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC KOSSOW: Testifiers, the public hearing is an opportunity for you to provide your thoughts, views, and feedback on the draft plan that was selected on November 29h. We will take all the comments received and the Commission is then required by the Charter to submit our final plan by December 31". You will have three minutes to provide your testimony. When your time has passed, we will ask you to summarize then move onto the next testifier. Note, we will not be answering any questions during the hearing this evening or making any decisions. We'll be alternating testifiers between the Hilo and Kona sites, and then those on Zoom. Thank you. Let's begin with Kona. KAUKA: Chair, there are no testifiers in Kona at this time. KOSSOW: Thank you, Mr. Kauka. Hilo? ARACELEY: Testifiers, if you could please state your name before you begin. ISHIBASHL Aloha mai kakou, Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity. Wallace Ishibashi. Born and raised in Keaukaha. Ewaliko Street. That's the last street. We was the original of the backstreet boys. I like talk about submersion. We got relocated, cut out of Keaukaha to move—One of the first families in Pana`ewa. So, I arise in opposition on the redistricting and cutting up of Pana`ewa, District 3. I always considered our family as Keaukaha. The only thing separating Keaukaha from Pana`ewa was submersion. What is submersion? We have the rubbish from everybody, ended up on Hawaiian Homelands. We have the sewers, ended up in all on Hawaiian Homelands. We have the airport, which caused our dislocation and relocation to Pana`ewa. Which was a hurt. So, we get buried with all of this kukae all over on Hawaiian Homelands. The wharf. Our oceans. Everybody coming down there and taking food from our icebox. Why I raise this issue is because I object to splitting the homestead and Hawaiian Homes lands into different districts. We have different and unique problems facing the Hawaiian community. The hundred years of tears, the broken promises is real. We've been waiting on the waiting list since 1976me, I've been waiting. And I still don't have no homestead. So, the problems facing the homelands is unique. And now you guys want to carve out a piece of our families and throw them to District 5. Which again, possibly they could be not even heard `cause the issues is different. So, I just come to you today to ask the Commission to keep DHHL lands together because of our unique problems that we face. And we must be united as a family, as a nation, to address the problems that our people are facing. And it's the broken promises that we still continue to fight every day. We facing with taking forever to fix our roads again. Just repaving the roads in Keaukaha. That's all part of submersion. And by redistricting some of our families, is all part of being buried in District 5. So, I thank you for the time and I appreciate all of the work that you have done. I not here to shoot any messengers, but I think you guys smart enough to realize how we move forward from here. Thank you. KOSSOW: Mahalo, Mr. Ishibashi. I'll move over to Zoom. Relley? ARACELEY: Mahalo, Chair. Your first testifier via Zoom tonight is Glenn Oshiro. Glenn, if you could unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you have three minutes starting now. (Pause.) Glenn, I'm sending you a message now to unmute your mic. If you could unmute your mic by pressing star (*) 6, you can begin your testimony. (No response.) Chair, it seems like he may be having some issues, so if you'd like me to move onto the next testifier. 2 KOSSOW: Go ahead. Thank you, Relley. ARACELEY: Thank you. Your next testifier in the Zoom room is Mary Marvin Porter. Ms. Porter, if you could unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you have three minutes starting now. PORTER: Aloha. I live in Hawaii Paradise Park, and I would appreciate if we could be kept together in the same district. I realize it's very complicated, however, to do the mapping. I have attempted to look at it and the maps seem to grow larger and smaller on their own on the computer. To where it's hard to keep—It's very hard to work with it. But the main thing isI really, I think, Brenda Ford had an excellent map, and I support her proposed map. I also did sit in on the meeting two nights ago. And I was really happy to see all of the strong women office holders, and former office holders, that were attempting to deal with this and giving their opinions on it all. I haven't really been able to study it all in detail, but the main thing is I ask that we keep Hawaii Paradise Park together. Thank you very much. KOSSOW: Mahalo. Now we'll go over to Hilo. ASAM: Aloha mai kakou. I'm actually considered to be konohiki of `Iolani Palace back in Honolulu. And as far as I'm concerned, my turf is all of Hawaii. He Hawaii au. Hawaii is a temple and simply that. So, for those that can understand that, and realize this is a very special place in the universe, and multiple universes. So, simply to be here on behalf of the original people of this land, simply defined as kanaka maoli `A`ole. That's a haole termlimitation. We are of God. We are `i`o maoli. We're authentic, one in the same. We reflect all those that are welcomed here to understand simply how to be of `i`o. So, my necessity of being here is to simply make people aware, any kind of altering is not acceptable to the original people of this land never ever has been. And those never ever needed to be a discussion. As it is no different than what Grover Cleveland, President Grover Cleveland, did back whence to say simply, put the queen back on the thrown where she belongs. And for me to have been blessed to be a person that was personal chaperone to President Grover Cleveland's grandson. A couple of years ago, I was with him for a week, and for the blessing of being connected and educating him as to the significance of the magnificence of what President Grover Cleveland stood for. To me, for myself, he had to be part Hawaiian. He had to be. For him to have that kind of connect, that there has been never ever anyone to represent on behalf of the United States in honor, in pono, to be that level of the magnificence that I was blessed with. To be honored to be in the presence of his grandson. And for his grandson even not to realize or fully comprehend the significance of just simply his existence as the seed of President Grover Cleveland. To have my people come surround him at `Iolani Palace and to show him—and in tears, always in tears—as to him not realizing the significance and the magnificence of what his grandfather did on behalf of Hawaii. So, I am truly blessed to be honored to simply know that there is `i`o. The one and only that is paying attention. And it is necessary to simply understand what truth is. I need to say this, I am physically located in the kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, that I call the "kindom" of the Hawaiian Islands. A country in continuity and not in the State of Hawaii or the United States. 3 Thus, I am under the jurisdiction of the laws of my country called Ko Hawaii Pae `Rina, the Hawaiian Islands. And not the foreign jurisdiction of the State of Hawaii or the United States of America. So, anyone that dares comes forward on behalf of this sacred place, this is the way they should be addressing and honoring and humbling themselves to realize you're actually in the most magnificent spot in multiple universes and waiting to be realized for those that must understand. There is no more time for what I call kukae kukae discussions. As much as I know the significance of when I participate in anything, I enjoy kuka kuka sessions that is pono. So, aloha. Mahalo for allowing me simply to be the truth and be the voice of the original people of this land and multiple originals throughout the world. Mahalo. KAUKA: Aloha, this is staff. May we have the last testifier state your name for the record, please. ASAM: My name is Kalani Asam, konohiki of`Iolani Palace. KAUKA: Mahalo. KOSSOW: Mahalo. We'll go to Relley, over Zoom. ARACELEY: Mahalo, Chair. The next testifier you have in Zoom, is Ms. Shannon Matson. Ms. Matson, if you could unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. MATSON: Aloha! Mahalo, Commissioners. Mahalo, staff members. I was debating whether or not to even testify. I know I have provided some input at some of your meetings, and initially I was feeling like, you know, what you guys have created and worked so hard on—I don't think I can improve upon it. So, as much as there's parts I really don't like, that I was just going to let it lie. But after listening to testimony on Tuesday, I thought of a couple different solutions that I wanted to suggest for your consideration. And I'm hoping that you can play around with these numbers yourself, and these lines yourself, at your next meeting and see if you agree. Let me start with what I do like. What I do like is, I actually like Council 4, in lower Puna. I think that it makes more sense than our current map has been. I mean, Council 5 was having to Councilperson 5 was having to represent upper Puna and then all the way down to lower Puna. It was complicated. This seems much more clean to me, with the lower Puna area all being together. While I agree with a lot of the testimonies that have come before me about not splitting up communities, and I was a big advocate from that from the start, I don't see anyway around it, with Hawaiian Paradise Park at this point. So, my recommendation would actually be to split Hawaiian Paradise Park further. Right now, it's just like a corner is being cut off, and it seemed like maybe what you guys were trying to do is cut the least amount possible to make the numbers work out. And my recommendation would be, cut it further. Go further down. If we're going to split it, let's split it and then let's have a representative, a council member that's representing half of HPP, and another council member that's representing the other half. If you made that choice to go further down the line thereI think it's almost another thousand bodies that 4 you could grab there, to make the numbers balance out. Because if we're already splitting it, let's just split it a little bit further. I know some people aren't going to be happy about that. I admire how much you're trying to do to please as many people as you can. But I know at some point the lines gotta shift somewhere. If you made that shift, and put more of HPP into Council 5, there's multiple different ways to cut that pie. But, keeping moving those folks up into Council District 5—Then you are able to make the other shifts that I am recommending. So, the other shifts that I'm recommending is—And I, again, I grew up in Kona. So, I grew up on Ahikawa Street. And to see Ahikawa Street, which is just north of Kona Palisades, being lumped into Council 9, that then goes all the way up to Haw!, Kapa`au area,just really doesn't make sense to me. So, I'm thinking maybe you could shift Council 9's boundary further north. Kuki`o, seems like that area could all be with Council 9. It would make a nicer picture on the map, as well as keep the deviation numbers where they need to be. It just makes more sense. And then you could shift the line between Council 8 and Council 7, could come further south to make up for that. And then shifting Council 7. There's like a weird finger happening there, that I'm seeing on my end too, towards Kealakekua Bay. You can eliminate that finger and go further down and take some of Council 6 into Council 7. So, I think if you start making those shifts, if you look at it—Again, once you shift everything, you have to shift everything. But I think that those lines will make more people happy after hearing all the testimony that I heard on Tuesday. So, I'm hoping you're willing to put more work in it. I know you guys have already done a lot. But I feel like it's so important not to rush this. It's important to get it right. We're all going to have to live with this for the next decade. So, as much work as you've already put in, and as much as I appreciate that, and I know a lot of us do that I think there's still some big problems that could be fixed by making some of these choices. That's basically my mana`o. I'm happy to discuss further. I know you can't ask questions now, but. Kailua Bay too, is being split into two districts which is just ocean. Doesn't matter. There's no bodies in there, but it just makes sense to me to keep the bodies of water in one district or the other as much as possible. Especially those areas like Kona Bay, Hilo Bay. Really seems like those should be in one person's jurisdiction. Just so one council member can be focusing on those areas, even though they don't have to make too many decisions around those areas. Did the buzzer go off and I just didn't hear it? I can't believe I'm still talking. Nobody's interrupted me yet. So, I have one more note. I don't know if I can fit that in. No, I think I covered most of it. Anyway, I appreciate all the work you're doing. And yeah, I would highly recommend you look at that. Taking more of HPP into Council 5. And then from there, I think you can make a lot of the other changes that were suggested by previous testifiers. Okay, and that's it. Mahalo nui. Have a good night. KOSSOW: Mahalo, Ms. Matson. We'll go over to Hilo. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. The next testifier you have in the Hilo Chamber is Alohalani Hope Cermelj. And I apologize to the folks in the building if I butcher your name. Please correct me. CERMELJ: Aloha kakou. District 5. Alohalani Hope Cermelj. Comes from Yugoslavia. I asked for these maps, the five that were supposed to be proposed, for us to look at. Never 5 happened. I got so out of it, I have emails, voicemails, talk story with Dennis, who's supposed to be running this Redistricting Commission for Jon, who is his boss, County Clerk. I just got this information two days ago. So, where are the other five potential? That I believe that people should have had the chance to see. The voting constituents. The tax paying constituents. Why didn't we get a chance to see these? Where are they? Number 2. Rene did such a great job with her redistricting commission. We still miss her deeply, and now we're cutting into her hard work as well. How did you change 4 to 5? I've been in 5 for ten years. Now I'm going to be moved to 4. I agree with what young Ms. Matson said. She's had some real good kuleana about the Kona side. But breaking up water areas? That's major. And I also concur with Mr. Kalani Asam. This is our kingdom lands. You have no jurisdiction here. We want our country back, and we're going to get our country back. It's just a matter of time. God bless Hawaii. KOSSOW: Mahalo. We'll go over to Relley on Zoom. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next testifier via Zoom is Ms. Arlene Kimata. Arlene, if you could please unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. (No response.) Arlene, I just sent you a message to unmute your mic. You could either click that, or if you're on a phone, hit star(*) 6. And you'll have three minutes to provide your testimony. (No response.) Chair, it seems like Ms. Kimata might be having some difficulty. We can come back to her. KOSSOW: No problem. Thank you, Relley. ARACELEY: Thank you. Your next testifier via Zoom is Patti Pinto. Patti, if you could please unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. PINTO: Aloha. My name's Patti Pinto. I live in Fern Acres in upper Puna. Want to thank all of you for all the tremendous hard work you've been doing. I know it's very difficult. I am very concerned with the harm that will be the result of the proposed District 6. And I'm concerned more with the quality of the representation that will be afforded than keeping communities together or splitting subdivisions. When you keep like-communities together, or split them apart, or divide a subdivision, they still have adequate representation. But what will be created in District 6 is an area of more than 1,600 square miles, that takes two hours to drive across. And it has so many diverse and different communities. It is not possible to represent these populations equitably and to any standard of excellence at all. Imagine if the representative for Hilo lived in Pahala or Ocean View or Haw!? What if the representative for Kailua-Kona lived in Honoka`a or Discovery Harbor? What District 6 proposes to do is even more extreme than those distances. We've basically disenfranchised the people of upper Puna. Or in the event that we elect a representative from upper Puna for the next term, it would disenfranchise the people in South Kona. These communities are too far apart to be served by one representative. The upper Puna subdivisions are the lowest income people on this island. Mountain View Elementary School is more than ninety percent subsidized lunches. The subdivisions have substandard infrastructure. Very few County facilities. Low to no 6 broadband access. And these people are one hundred percent on catchment water. This is not a population that should lose its representation. This is a population that needs a strong, understanding, and committed representative. In the last, before 2010, we had a representative that lived in Ka`u. He visited Mountain View once. We in effect had no representation. We know what it feels like, and we really don't want to repeat that. The last redistricting, from Volcano Village was cut out and separated from Puna. We said, next time we'll try and get you back in Puna. And I understand that's a bridge, maybe too far. But please, we need to keep all the current upper Puna subdivisions in the same place, District 5. Where they have been for the last ten years. This has afforded us, for the first time in a long time, to have really able representation for our people. I understand that this suggestion would mean that nearly all borders would need to require an adjustment. But work done now will alleviate a decade of inequity. Please have some compassion for this beautiful, big, wonderful district. And to hear my testimony and hopefully go back to the drafting board. I really appreciate all you've done. Thank you so much. KOSSOW: Mahalo. We'll go over to the Hilo Chambers. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next in-person testifier is Mr. Matthias Kusch. KUSCH: Thank you. My name is Matthias Kusch. I live in District 2. I appreciate all your efforts and I recognize the difficulty and listening to the testimony tonight, that you face. I will be reiterating information you heard, but I just want to put it out there for you. KOSSOW: Excuse me. Can you put your mic closer to you, to your mouth? KUSCH: I'm sorry. KOSSOW: Thank you so much. KUSCH: It's rare my voice doesn't carry. So, I want to point out a few areas for your suggestion. One, it's already been brought up. That HPP is a large community. It's 6,500 lots. It really is an entity that should be kept together. It's a big community and it has its own individual needs and should be represented as such. As the first testifier pointed out, Pana`ewa is another unique community that needs to stay together in District 3, where the rest of the community lies, Keaukaha. The other suggestions I had was in District 2. Especially since it's short almost 600 people. Is to extend the line north to Pahoehoe Stream. Which is kind of the split at the north end of Pauka`a and where Pueopaku is in Papa`ikou. And then, the last one that's been brought up as well, is in Council 8. Having lived in Kona in the 90s, it's really the northwest ridge of Hualalai would be a good dividing point. You'd capture all the community that is Kona proper and not in any way really related to District 9 issues. Which is Waimea, North Kohala, and Waik6loa—are much more similar communities. So, you have a tough task and I appreciate your time. I just wanted to place those items on the agenda as a further—another additional testifier in favor of keeping those communities intact. Thank you. 7 KOSSOW: Mahalo. Relley, we can go over to Zoom. ARACELEY: Our next Zoom testifier is Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba. Mr. Inaba, if you could unmute your mic, you have three minutes to provide your testimony starting now. INABA: Aloha ahiahi, Commissioners, and thank you so much for all of your hard work thus far. And I know there's more work to be done. So, I just wanted to chime in real quick and share my mana`o. I did write in via written testimony, but as a representative for District 8, I'm finding it perhaps a little bit difficult to see that 8 is now taking part of Alii Drive. Alii Drive and those businesses in that area, that is a Business Improvement District. And currently, it resides all in District 7. I think that is something that was mentioned by Shannon earlier, and something we should consider to keep in 7 in its entirety. With that in mind, another priority, at least for West Hawaii, is keeping the northern Kona communities of Kalaoa, those streets, Ahikawa, Ka`alele, Mahilani, all still in District 8. Since the proposed, or the draft map, currently has it in District 9, which encompasses part of Waimea, all the way out to North Kohala. And I know by making these changes we might see small shifts north and clockwise around the island until we get to District 3, which currently has a positive deviation. But, in having to take all of the information that everyone is sharing this evening, I would just ask that even if within Kona between Districts 6 and 7, certain boundaries need to be amended to allow 8—or 7 and 8, excuse me—To allow 8 to encapsulate all of Kalaoa and none of Alii Drive. And that Kailua Village Improvement District, I think, would be most beneficial for, not just the constituents residing in those districts, but for us as representatives who are very familiar with certain areas and the constituency in those areas. And some of the problems, especially in Kailua, Council Member Villegas has really gotten a handle on, and it would probably be best to continue that, having that one person be the representation for all of that Kailua Village Improvement District area. So, with that, again, mahalo for this opportunity to testify and good luck in the remaining meetings and working on a final draft of this map. Aloha. KOSSOW: Mahalo, Mr. Inaba. We'll go back to the Hilo Chambers. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next in-person testifier is Laverne Lucero. Laverne, if you could come up and present your testimony, you'll have three minutes. LUCERO: Aloha ahiahi. My name is Laverne Lucero. Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you. I'm here representing, I would say, six generations. I'm number three out of six. So, and speaking to you, and considering the redistricting of Keaukaha and Pana`ewa areas, I strongly recommend against it for various reasons, as was presented earlier. The more we talk about families. You know, families fall when they're divided. Not to sound negative, but it's true. You know, families relate to, or identify themselves, with where they were born and raised. And that holds true for many families in other districts of the Big Island. I consider myself Big Island grown. I was raised by my maternal grandparents. And I can't speak before you without acknowledging them. So, my roots go back to Ho`okena, as well as Wai`6hinu in Ka`u. So currently, I've been raising my family and grandchildren in Keaukaha, as well as Pana`ewa. I find it very 8 offensive, and I find it somewhat disrespectful if, you know, the consideration to split this district apart in such a way where, to me, would be detrimental in generations to come. So, as I speak from those that came before me, and those that come after me, my na `opio's, my mo`opuna's. I strongly hope that you will reconsider and keep this Hawaiian Homelands trust lands together. It's already been divided by an airport. How much more, you know, would you want to separate these districts? Thank you very much for your time. KOSSOW: Mahalo nui. We'll go over to Relley on Zoom. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next testifier via Zoom is Patti Cook. Patti, if you could unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. (No response.) Patti, I've sent you a message to unmute your mic. If you could click on that message to unmute your mic, you'll have three minutes to provide your testimony. (No response.) Chair, it seems like Patti may be having some issues, so I'll move on to your next testifier. KOSSOW: Go ahead. Thank you, Relley. ARACELEY: Your next testifier is Patrice Macdonald. Patrice, if you could unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. MACDONALD: Can you hear me? ARACELEY: Yes, we can hear you. MACDONALD: I did testify the other night. But we're still concerned that District 5, which sort of has no mauka or makai. We don't know which map you're using. When we go to the maps there's previous working draft, Working Draft 1, 1.1. But anyway, they all have one thing in common. And that is that Kea`au, which is Shipman, and HPP, which is urban, we believe should be in the same district. District 4 should have Kea`au. Now when we talked to everyone in Pahoa, District 5 has been very affiliated with Pahoa. We use their DMV. We use their mechanics. We get our gas there. The main road runs through the middle of Hawaiian Acres. And it is very disenfranchised as far as there's no services or financial support for our district now. But many of the lava affected people moved to District 5. We have more affiliation with Pohoiki and Kapoho. And, you know, it just appears to be a big square on the map. It doesn't appear to have a mauka and makai. I'm not quite sure why Council District 3 continues to be extended into Puna districts. I have much respect for the previous speakers about not dividing Hawaiian Homelands. The people that we talked to in Pahoa were in favor of it being two districts, like it had been previously. And once again, all our services such as the Fire Department, our drinking water, our DMV, our shopping is far closer to Pahoa side than it is utilized by Kea`au. Kea`au has traditionally been HPP. So, I guess I can't ask the question of which map you're using. But if anyone can enlighten us, we would really appreciate it. And I really appreciate the work of the commissioners. I think this is a very hard job that you have to do. And that's about all I have. Thank you. 9 KOSSOW: Thank you. We'll move over to Hilo. ARACELEY: Chair, your next in-person testifier is Ariel Murphy. Ariel, if you could please come to the mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes. MURPHY: Aloha mai kakou and good evening to everybody. I'm Ariel Murphy, and I'm from Puna. I came here to basically ask the commission—Well, first I want to thank the commission for doing all that work. Very hard work. It's really very hard having to make sure the deviations are all kind of more or less the same. And at the same time, trying to keep communities together. But I came here to request that when you redraw the map based on our feedbacks, you consider, number one, not splitting up communities. And number two, not lumping Puna communities with Hilo. Because the needs are very different. Very, very different. For one, there are no substandard subdivisions in Hilo, that I know of at least. I'm not saying anything new tonight. I'm just saying in different words, this has beenI'm just reiterating what others have said. And so,please, there are already many divisions that are happening now. Let's not aggravate the situation. Thank you very much. KOSSOW: Mahalo. We'll move over to Relley over Zoom. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next testifier in the Zoom room is Helen Hemmes. Helen, if you could unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. (No response.) Ms. Hemmes, if you would like to provide your testimony, I've sent you a link to click on to unmute yourself. You'll have three minutes. HEMMES: I do not have personal testimony. Thank you for inviting me. ARACELEY: Oh. Thank you so much. Chair, I think it would probably be best to go into our in-person folks, if you don't mind. KOSSOW: No problem. We'll move over to Hilo. Thank you. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next in-person testifier is Floyd. Floyd, if you could come to the mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes. EAGLIN: My name is Floyd Eaglin and I live in District 3, Waiakea Uka. I'm here to support that the two Hawaiian communities, Keaukaha and Pana`ewa, stay the same. I know you all, everyone, is familiar with gerrymandering. And it seems that this could be touching on gerrymandering. `Cause you split communities in order to do, or to control, what you want. You put`em in different districts and they don't have the support that they need. I think it's very important. And not to be seen like Texas or one of those States in the mainland. And I was born and raised in the mainland. And I know how that stuff works. So, the Hawaii community have unique problems. It's like, Kalaniana`ole Highway. I mean, look how long it's taking just to get that over with. If it was split, they don't have the support of Pana`ewa. I've been here long enough to see Keaukaha and 10 what happened. There was about five or six people in Pana`ewa when I first got here in the seventies. So, let's not take `em farther down the road than they are now. Let's try to help `em. Not hurt`em. And we don't want to be seen like we practicing institutional racism, right? So, let's keep the community together so they can have a say in where they're going, and what they're doing. Okay? Thank you very much. KOSSOW: Mahalo. Relley, we can go ahead and do a Zoom or Hilo. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next testifier, or the next person in the Zoom room, who maybe wishing to testify is Brenda. Brenda, if you'd like to unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes starting now. Thank you, Ms. Ford. FORD: Thank you very much. I testified quite a bit last night, and I'm going to skip tonight unless I hear something I really can't handle. So, thank you for acknowledging me. ARACELEY: Thank you so much for your testimony. Chair, I believe those are allOh, actually, kala mai. Let me check with one more person who signed into Zoom. We have a person signed in named Mapuana. Mapuana, if you'd like to provide testimony tonight, can you please unmute your mic and you'll have three minutes. MAPUANA: No. No testimony. Mahalo. ARACELEY: Mahalo. Chair, your next testifier, we'll go back into the Hilo physical chamber. I apologize if I say this incorrectly, but Luahiwa? If you could please come up, you will have three minutes to provide your testimony. Mahalo. NAMAHOE: Thank you very much. I'm Luahiwa Namahoe. I live in District 3. And this desk is all wet now. Please excuse me. (Pause.) And I'm here testifying on behalf of the proposed cookie bite into District 3 and pushing the other half of we in the ag lots, in Pana`ewa Ag Lots 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. It has allowed us a strong minority voting bloc with important heated vocal strength. We physically sit as guardians around our public refuse and waste, our ports, our airport, and commercial centers. The only way we meet our entire community's challenges is by how we collectively rise to address them. District 5's challenges are not District 3's. So, if anyone asks for a solution I immediately and humbly say, take the Puna side of Haihai instead. It is more congruent to the State House District. Those neighborhoods turn residents over faster than we do on DHHL. They are—They have a similar fee simple opportunity. They have USDA and HUD money opportunities that we do not have in Pana`ewa. And when you look at this map, we talk about Keaukaha and Pana`ewa being divided by an airport. But if you were to look at where Hilo Hanakahi starts. So, Hilo One, as the great district of where we know that's Bayfront, and then you go mauka, that's Hilo One. But if you think of where the beginning of Banyan Drive is, and you take the whole beach cruise down to the end of Keaukaha, and then you come 11 back. That's really the beginning of Hilo Hanakahi, which then becomes the Pana`ewa Forest—the great Pana`ewa Forest. I understand, although I did find it amusing, that an earlier constituent had said, I don't understand why Hilo is in the Pana`ewaor in the Puna district. And that's because most people don't understand where Pana`ewa ends and Puna begins. We have modern landmarks in the twentieth century that blurred these lines. For those of us in Pana`ewa, there is a flood control that came whipping right through the middle of what is the Pana`ewa Ag Lots. Behind us, a quarter mile by the—as the bird flies they put the Pana`ewa Drag Strip into us, the rubbish dump. If you count houses, there's only sixteen other farmers closer to Hilo's waste than me. And where I grew up on [redacted personal information] Kalaniana`ole in Keaukaha, we lived eight hundred yards from the sewage. But the sewage, we were all on cesspool. That was Kaumana waste. That was Waiakea House Lots' waste. So, ten years ago we lost a district. We yielded as good neighbors and good co-constituents on this island. Hilo used to have three districts. I lived in District 4 at the time. Now District 4 is in Puna providing parody where Puna gets two districts. Hilo now has two,which is Districts 2 and 3. But when I look in these last two map iterations, and what you folks are tasked with, District 3, our area,just keeps getting smaller and smaller, and I don't understand why. District 2, respectfully, stays pretty consistent. District 5, there's some growth that I could see for you that would be much more congruent with what's on the Puna side of Haihai and the growth of Ainalako and all of those quiet developments from Stainback. Where you should be growing humbly, I say and respectfully, I say, they share more in common with you. Go work on getting the federal monies to grow Stainback into Komohana. Take the growth that you need to help alleviate some of that Puna pressure. Recognize that you are the same ecological moku from Mountain View to Waiakea Uka. Develop your strength and your partnership and your community identity via Stainback. Because you only have Highway I I and Stainback, but you all have that more in common. You do not want us occupying your time, your Council Member's time, to now fight our issues. You don't need that. You need strength, and you need unity, and you need focus for what's right for District 5. For we in District 3, we represent a strong minority voting bloc. But as I see this, we keep getting smaller and I am concerned about it. With that, thank you very much. KOSSOW: Mahalo. Relley, we can go over to Zoom if there's anybody there. If not, we can go back to the Hilo Chambers. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. I apologize. I believe I must have missed Mr. Jacob Aki on Zoom. Mr. Aki, if you'd like to provide testimony, you'll have three minutes to provide that testimony starting now. (No response.) Mr. Aki, if you'd like to provide that testimony, you'll have three minutes. (No response.) Chair, hearing none, I'll go back to our physical room here in Hilo. Your next testifier is Patrick Kahawaiola`a. I believe Uncle Pat is outside. He is coming in right now. AKL Aloha, Chair. Can you folks hear me? Sorry about that. ARACELEY: Hello, Mr. Aki. We can hear you now. 12 AKL Okay. We did submit written testimony, but we just wanted to stand, and to once again, thank you folks for your guys' work. Thank you. KOSSOW: Mahalo, Mr. Aki. We'll go over to Relley. Thank you. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your next testifier is Uncle Patrick Kahawaiola`a. You have three minutes to provide your testimony starting now. KAHAWAIOLA`A: Aloha mai kakou to all of the Comissioners. Chair, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak on behalf of a community that raised me. And that community is the Homestead of Keaukaha. Keaukaha and Pana`ewa historically are lands trust lands created by our Alii Maka`ainana, Prince Jonah Kuhio, in 1920. A non-voting member of Congress was able to set aside 200,000 acres so that we can use putting us back to the land, and these are the generations that are here. Keaukaha will be a hundred years in existence in 2024. So, we are prepared for that centennial celebration. The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act has been around for a hundred years. That's longer than the Kingdom of Hawai`i's been around. So, I need that for you to understand that. However, the reason with this redistricting, moving a portion of Pana`ewa, as was articulated all night long, I am truly blessed just to be someone just to lend my voice to that too. It's for all of you to understand on the redistricting, I had that dubious honor of being a member here ten years ago. So, I would just like to reiterate to some of the facts. Some of it was, as a Redistricting Commissioner, was to look at natural topography to divide those things. Puna, and as was articulated by the previous speaker, Puna separates Hilo by topography is the mac nut—excuse me the Shipman mac nut road. That breaks Puna into Hilo, and that's the end of Pana`ewa. However, the encroachment, the natural topography that's being used now, is the flood control. The flood control is not a natural topography. It was created by taking 25 acres of Hawaiian Homelands. Displacing Hawaiian Home farmers that still live there. And now you're going to displace them again when you move that part of the flood control over into District 5. So, I would strongly urge you to look at that. We do have a historical reason for being here as a people. I am not special. The lands that I am attached to are special. Because none of you, if you're not 50, I think there's only one of you that sits on this Commission, is able to live where I live. And that's on the Homestead. And that is because Congress created by one half the blood of the race, prior to 1778, allows us to be there. So, by all stretch of imagination, we're not very rich people, but we're rich in what we have as a people. So, I would want you to truly understand, it is necessary that we stay together. Keaukaha, Pana`ewa, has given everything to this for the general public. If you continue to fly into Hilo, that's our airport. Half of our community used to be there on the runway. The sewer plants are there. The majority of the sewage comes to that plant, not from us. The airport is there. I can't get a loan because of the airport noise. The sewer plants are there. The rubbish are there. Solid waste is there. Everything's there. However, all the commercial area in Hilo are all Hawaiian Homelands that people enjoy, from all over this island. Walmart, Safeway, Target, Home Depot, Prince Kuhio Plaza, the commercial area down Maka`ala, the commerical area down Wiwo`ole, the commerical area down Holomua, are all Hawaiian Homelands. And you'd be very surprised if you was to go and look, that— and hatand I will leave this with that, the flood water that have been created at the upper 13 Kaumanaexcuse meWaiakea Uka, is then funneled down to the flood control, through our properties and it ends at our properties. And that properties are all there at Prince Kuhio Plaza, the aquifers, where ever the flood water goes. So, I leave you with this, to look at why we should be together. And that is based on the fact that there is a state law that says you cannot take water from your property and flush it off to somebody else. You gotta get rid of it on your own property. So, this being said, I again would ask your hard work, which you need to do, but look at it. The Census tract is a problem. We had a serious problem. COVID did throw a wrinkle into the Census tract. So, to say that the Census tract is correct, everything came out late, connectivity for the Hawaiian communities is almost notwithstanding. We can't get it, so it is a problem. And I will leave this, I would ask that since we can't ask questions, but I will leave you with a question, and would reserve our right to get an answer from the Chair. Any my question would be this, is tonight's public hearing under HRS Chapter 91 or Chapter 92? That is my question. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. (Pause.) The question is whether or not this public hearing tonight, is under Chapter 91 or Chapter 92? Your website tells me what it is. I just need for all of you to answer that question. Thank you. KOSSOW: Mahalo. Relley, is there anything else over Zoom? Anybody else over Zoom? ARACELEY: We have one more registered testifier in our physical Chamber, and few folks who were weren't able to connect on Zoom. With your indulgence, I'd like to finish the testifiers in-person if that would be allowable, Chair? KOSSOW: That's great. Thank you. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. Your last testifier registered here in person is Kiana. Kiana, if you'd like to testify, you have three minutes starting now. PERREIRA-KEAWEKANE: Aloha mai kakou. `O wau no `o Kiana `Ihilani Ku`ulei Perreira-Keawekane. No Hawaii Island mai au. Ka moku o Hawaii. Kalamai. Ka mokupuni o Hawaii ka moku o Hilo i ke ahupua`a o Waiakea i ka ili `aina o Pana`ewa. My name is Kiana, and I go by Ku`ulei. I live on the island of Hawaii in the moku of Hilo, in the ahupua`a of Waiakea in the ili `aina of Pana`ewa. And so I'm introducing myself in a way that is in alignment with my cultural practice of pilina `aina, of relationship to land. And that cultural practice goes hand in hand with my relationship to the people that surround me on that land, like Uncle Patrick, which we just heard from. And so, I wanted to bring this beautiful map to you here. It's upside down. Anyway, one of the aunties earlier said the word moku. And moku are these big chunks of land here. Like Puna is a moku, and Hilo is a moku. This is a 1921 map, but this is the map that is most in alignment with my practice. Knowing my ahupua`a. Knowing my land. Knowing the waters that come out of my pipe, like knowing the water sources that come from there. And using that information to hold me and keep me composed in my life. That's part of my cultural practice. And so,pilina `aina, relationship to land and relationship to people are undeniably cultural practices. And the term moku also refers to like a cut, like a decisive cut. And moku ka piko is when you like cut the umbilical cord and shun away a person. And so, when these redistricting, this redistricting happens, it impedes on that 14 cultural practice that I have of pilina `aina. And that comes from the constitution of Hawaii. And I think it's maybe section 8, section 7—section 7, I believe. But yes, and that mokuSo, when you take District 3, especially a Hawaiian Homelands community and chop the moku, literally Puna is a moku. So, you're taking part of Waiakea, taking part of Pana`ewa, the ili `aina in the ahupua`a of Waiakea, and lumping it into a different moku, chopping it off from the rest of its moku. My grandfather and Uncle Pat have spent lots of time, hand in hand literally, in issues that pertain to our land and the ea o ka `aina. You know, ua mau ke ea o ka `aina i ka pono. They spent lots of time dedicated to that practice. And now, Uncle Pat, who I believe lives on the other side of Auwae Road, and/or others who live on the other side of Auwae Road will be cut. The moku ka piko, our relationship and tie will be cut by a State boundary, which is that district line. And so, I ask that the commissionI know you are set to meet tomorrow, and I'm hoping that you can consider maybe Working Doc 1. Which does not I don't believe that that document separates the Pana`ewa community. I hope that you consider revising the maps, not to impede on that right that we have to our cultural practice of pilina `aina and pilina kanaka. So, I just really thank all of you for listening. This is a really important issue for me because it has everything to do with my identity. I identify with my district. I am active in testifying and I don't feel comfortable and I don't feel culturally safe. I don't feel safe at all identifying with a district that is Puna because Puna is not my place. And I am protected by my place. And so, this is my testimony to you. I highly hope and pray that you consider not dividing, not cutting the umbilical cord that exists between one part of Auwae Road and the other part of Auwae Road. I hope you consider other options to redistrict that are more appropriate and in alignment with the law to protect our cultural practices. Thank you all. Aloha. KOSSOW: Mahalo. Let's go over to Zoom. ARACELEY: Thank you, Chair. I'm going to call out some of the folks that may have had some issues signing in. The first off is Mr. Glenn Oshiro. Glenn, if you could unmute your phone, I've sent you a message to unmute. Or you can hit star(*) 6 to unmute your phone and provide your testimony. OSHIRO: Hello? ARACELEY: Hello? OSHIRO: Thank you very much. I will not be testifying this evening. ARACELEY: Okay. Thank you so much, Mr. Oshiro. Chair, the next person that I would like to call is Arlene Kimata. Arlene, if you'd like to testify, could you please unmute your mic and provide your testimony. You'll have three minutes. (No response.) Arlene, if you'd like to testify, you could please unmute your mic and you'll have three minutes. (No response.) Chair, the next person is Patti Cook. Patti, if you could please unmute your mic and provide your testimony, you have three minutes. If you're using a phone, you could hit star (*) 6. (No response.) Patti Cook, if you would like to provide your testimony, you'll have three minutes. (No response.) Chair, it seems like those are all the 15 testifiers you have on Zoom. We have one more registered in-person testifier. Sandra, if you'd like to testify, could you please come up to the testifier table. You'll have three minutes. CLAVERIA: Aloha. My name is Sandra Keonaonaokamaileopana`ewa Claveria. I have lived in Keaukaha for over 70 years. I have seen the changes that have happened. In my na`au I ask, so what is the purpose of all of this? Why is it necessary to do this? Who will benefit from it? Was anyone in the community involved with the planning? The underlying reason usually has to do with politics. Can anyone be honest enough to say, how will it benefit the community when you're trying to split up the voting power? We already feel like second rate citizens in Keaukaha when it takes almost the same amount of time to fix the road, which is not done yet, going into our community, as it was for them to build the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. So, how are we to trust that what you propose to do will affect all of us? I just ask you and I pray, that you dig deep inside of you. And it's not about lines, it's about people. It's about the `aina. Please take it into consideration. I really sat back here, and I've heard many speak about the splitting of different places. And as I look at the map, and I teach at the college. So, I don't think I did enough homework, but I really ask each one of you to take the time to look at yourselves. How would you like it? How would it affect you? You know, I feel that many times we are second rate citizens in Keaukaha, we got it all. It was explained. So, why would we want to split the power that speaks the loudest if we're together? Yes. I really thank you for all the work that you're doing. And I'm sure it takes time and effort. I love hearing. But you know what my tutu said, if I no live in Kona, why I going maha`oi over there. So, if you don't live in Keaukaha or Puna, why would you even share anything. You gotta look at the people that come from the `aina that it is. Mahalo for your time. Mahalo for your efforts. I will keep you definitely in prayer. Thank you. KOSSOW: Mahalo. Relley, is there any other testifiers? ARACELEY: Going out to anyone left here, near the Hilo Chambers, if there are any testifiers who would like to register. (No response.) Chair, it seems like we have exhausted those who have registered to testify. And it does not seem that there are any other testifiers on the Zoom room as well. KOSSOW: All right. Thank you, Relley. We're going toSo, since we're kind of waiting, we'll wait fifteen minutes after the last testifier. We do have a meeting tomorrow,just for everybody to know. It will be at 9:30, and I believe we have it scheduled to about 3 or 4 o'clock. If you want more information, please email redistrictingcommission@hawaiicounty.gov or you may call 808-961-8020. Again, that's 808-961-8020. But, as of right now, we'll go ahead and wait fifteen minutes for anybody that wants to come in and testify. Mahalo. Please note that during this time, Commissioners and support staffwere on stand-by. ANNOUNCEMENTS / CLOSING REMARKS 16 KOSSOW: Relley, is there any more testifiers via Zoom or on the Hilo Chambers? ARACELEY: Chair,you have no new testifiers. KOSSOW: Thank you. And there is no testifiers here in Kona. I'm going to go ahead and adjourn the public hearing. We'll see you all tomorrow at 9:30 for the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission meeting. Aloha and have a good evening. Respectfully Submitted, Nicole Bello, support staff to the Commission 17