Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye [seninouye@Capitol.hawaii.gov]

Aloha Susan,Thanks for your persistance and asking for input on a proposal to have separate counties on Hawaii Island.Here's my input: I do not support the separation of dividing our county into two parts because of the following reasons: Infrastructure: As you know the biggest port for Cargo is in East Hawaii. Kawaihae is not fully developed as yet to handle similarImports. Most or all the fuel arrives in Hilo and trucks to West side, I.e. to airport,etc. As well as other cargoes. Federal and State Grants: County of Hawaii receives funding some direct, such as the TAT tax to Hawaii County, as well as federal highway, federal grants for other programs such as Health, Hawaiian Programs, University Research, Schools, Agriculture, Astronomy, and the list goes on and on. How is the government going to separate these fundings? West Hawaii has no AdministrationBuildings such as a County building with all of the services as yet. To includeother agencies as Fire and Civil Defence, etc. and other divisions. How is the population or district to be divided: If the line, as an example, to be split to include North Kohala, all of Hamakua,to Kau, It will outway the population from the West side. And Kona's residential population has the highest part-time residents, how will that be considered into the equation. Personally, I believe this measure will not have the votes from the legislature. However, I presently chair the Government Relations committee and Transportation and will consider hearing such proposal if it can get approval from the county level, which I believe will not be successful, I predict. I could be wrong. Until such time as West Hawaii has all the infrastructure in place and the population reaches close to or over a million residences it could perhaps have to municipalities. A forum of such debate could be of interest and please call me if I can be of assistance. Aloha, State Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, Ist district- former Mayor and former county council member-at-large.--------------------------