HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 48.77 from C. King re Support Plan 40 revisedTo: County of Hawaii Redistricting Commissioners
From: Cheryl King
Subject: Testimony for Redistricting Commission
Date: November 1, 2011
Ten years ago, a great wrong was done to Puna when it was parceled out into
several council districts by the previous Commission.
This Commission, in considering the various maps that have been submitted,
has been trying to make up for that injustice by listening to the public testimony
from Puna and providing for a mauka /makai Puna that also included Volcano.
I myself, having either attended all the Commission meetings or at least having read
the minutes when I was off island, was in agreement with this principle and looked
for an intact Puna when I examined the various maps that were on display.
Unfortunately, the genesis of what is now Plan A was not introduced until after the
public hearings. Although Volcano was kept in a Puna district in Plan A, I watched
with disbelief as Waikaloa was separated from Waimea; Honoka'a was divorced
from Hamakua; and the rest of Hamakua was married to part of urban Hilo. Closer
to home, a chunk of Keauhou not far from where I live - including the subdivisions of
Keauhou Estates and Bayview Estates was thrown in with an area to the south
that has nothing to do with the everyday life of its citizens. That area in the triangle
formed by Kamemhameha III and Kuakini has been separated from its community.
For those reasons, I have had to rethink whether Volcano should remain in a strictly
Puna district if making up for an injustice that happened ten years ago causes equal
injustice now.
I now believe the Hybrid Plan 40 just introduced by Margaret Wille stands the best
chance of providing fair and balanced county council redistricting for Hawaii Island.
With the exception of retaining Volcano in District 6, the redistricting concerns I
have heard most citizens express have been dealt with in Plan 40.
Please give as much consideration and time to examining the latest version of the
adjusted or Hybrid Plan 40 in detail as you did to Plan A at the last meeting. I don't
believe a final map can be readied today and hope you will work on it next week as
well. An apathetic public is finally waking up now that you have more solid plans to
display and it would be advisable to allow them to testify next week as well before a
final plan is pronounced ready to take to the public hearings
Cheryl King Kailua -Kona
COMM. 48.77