Issues raised by two Senators

Establishing West Hawaii County:
1/5/6
Infrastructure: Hilo has the biggest port and Kawaihae is not fully developed as of yet to handle similar imports. Most of all of the fuel arrives in Hilo and trucks to Kona.

According to the County of Hawaii Data Book 2004 on table 14.21 page 406 Freight Traffic for Hilo and Kawaihae Harbors:
Year: 2003 short tons: Hilo Harbor: 1,850,000 and Kawaihae Harbor: 1801,000

Fuel is not able to unload at Kawaihae as of this time. No storage facilities are built. Many Counties and States in America have no port yet they are able to operate and purchase what they are lacking. The west side of the island is already paying up to .15 more per gallon of gas for this service.

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,,, How is the government going to separate these fundings?

Demographics of the population will determine where the funding will go. The current programs know where the funds are currently being allocated to and will need to separate the funding by dividing the current funding by location and number of people that are currently benefiting from the various programs. Federal and State grants will need to be applied for by each County and reassigned by population needs. Federal highway funds will continue to maintain the two State roads we have on the island of Hawaii.

West Hawaii has no Administration Building such as a County building with all of the services. Such as Fire, Civil Defense, Administration…

According to the Data book table 9.15 Filled position count, by Department, County of Hawaii: 2004 is 2,326 positions. Including (The semi autonomous) Water Supply 162 positions.
The government in West Hawaii is currently housed in a rented location. The cost is far less then the major repairs/ renovations/ mold removal then the building the County purchased in the old JC Penny mall in Hilo. The purchase of a building is not required to establish a government.

Is there enough population to warrant a second county?

According to the Data book table 1.1 Resident Population, State of Hawaii, by Counties: 2004 Population 162,971 full time residents. And table 1.2 De facto population, State of Hawaii, by Counties 2004 (The de facto population is defined as the number of persons physically present in an area, regardless of military status, tourists, etc…) 180,226.

Is there a magic number? The other island populations as of 2004 are as follows: Oahu 899,593 and Hawaii 162,971 and Kauai 61,929 and Maui 138,221. The County of Kauai has a smaller population then the west side of Hawaii.

Susan McGeachy