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. Masayuki Kawasaki <br /> P. 0. Box 81 <br /> Capt., Cook , Hi. 96704 <br /> May 22, 1979 <br /> Mr. Chairman and Members of the Charter Commission. <br /> My name is Masayuki Kawasaki . I am a resident of Capt. Cook , <br /> Kona and I speak for myself as a voter with the power of one v.�te <br /> in the election of the Councy Council. I am here to defend and <br /> enhance the power of my single vote and the votes of the thousands <br /> of other Kona voters , whose only claim to power over the County <br /> legislative process is the. power of their votes. <br /> As you know, the County of Hawaii is a large land mass , which <br /> is divided by mountains and other geographic features, so that <br /> there are chiefly two areas of activities and population. These <br /> two areas are centered around Hilo in East Hawaii and Kona in West <br /> Hawaii. The population of East Hawaii is the much larger of the <br /> two areas. In many kinds of activities , these two areas are <br /> competitive. <br /> Previously, Hawaii County was divided into two areas . During <br /> the pre-charter days of the Board of Supervisors, there were three <br /> supervisors for East Hawaii and three for West Hawaii with the <br /> County Chairman who was elected. at-large, holding the ultimate <br /> power balance between the East and the West. And it is the reality <br /> of history that even tho the population of East Hawaii was far <br /> greater than the population of West Hawaii , West Hawaii had an <br /> effective voice in the County legislative process because the <br /> at-large office could be won or lost by the few thousand West <br /> Hawaii votes. Old-timers will recall that about 30 years ago, . <br /> one election was won and lost by one vote. The at-large elected <br /> official balanced the fulfilling of the needs of the East and the <br /> West most objectively because he needed the votes in both areas <br /> in order to win . The voters of West Hawaii voted for 4 members of <br /> COMM. , � <br />