Response to Ms. Millie Tanaka's ltr to Editor

County Split-Get the FACTS:

This is in response to Ms. Millie Tanaka’s letter to the editor. I don’t need to rally the west side of Hawaii, the county council’s actions do that nicely.
If she hasn’t noticed that the reason people want their own government is because something is wrong with ours.
Yes I had a meeting at Hualalai after numerous calls and emails pleading to take action. Here are a few facts for Ms. Millie,
1. We cannot split the county or any other county of the State of Hawaii without a Constitutional Convention to change the State Charter. This (Con Con) Constitutional convention only comes about every 10 years. We have not had a con con in 30 THIRTY YEARS. So we can’t split the county nor can east Oahu or west Maui or any other group seeking to split and become their own county.
2. We have looked at the idea of 2 City Managers. One for the east and one for the west, but we would need 25% of the voters to sign a petition to bring it forward, and a majority of votes on election day. This would at least give us some say over our community.
3. We are currently trying to create an umbrella group for All of the districts around the island to address County issues that are not being addressed. Yes voters registration is a problem. We do have a group forming now to get their voters registrar cards to set up around the island to register voters. West Hawaii was at a disadvantage when east Hawaii had a store in the Hilo mall just to register voters for the east side. Fair play isn’t something the west side has experienced.
4. Let’s look at the parcels/lots/taxes for the island of Hawaii. The tax assessor’s gross valuations ($1,000) These records are from the Real Property Tax Division, Hawaii County Finance:
a. Puna: district 1 56,414 parcels $3,670,725.50
b. South Hilo: district 2 20,198 parcels $3,990,672.30
c. North Hilo: district 3 1,393 parcels $192,253.60
d. Hamakua: district 4 3,602 parcels $424,724.40
e. North Kohala: dist. 5 3,317 parcels $863,959.40
f. South Kohala: dist. 6 9,910 parcels $5,830,808.60
g. North Kona: dist. 7 19,127 parcels $10,029,269.40
h. South Kona: dist. 8 5,909 parcels $1,089,863.30
i. Kau: dist. 9 16,742 parcels $795,035.30
Here are the 9 districts for which each has one County Council person. Does this look fair to you? Where does the money come from and who decides where the tax revenues go?
Gee it isn’t brain surgery. I wonder why the west side doesn’t have the same services as the east side? 2.5 districts are controlling the money for the other 6.5 districts. No wonder people are anxious to get their own government.

My own goals? No I am not making any money fighting for equal rights. No I am not planning or plotting anything. It is the people of the community who have come forward asking for help.
Look Ms. Millie Tanaka I really don’t want to do this volunteer work. Your bad taste in your mouth of “Community Organizer” can be handled simply by brushing your teeth and volunteering to better your community rather then cut down those trying to better our quality of life. It is short sighted people like this that leave us in the dark.
If you want to volunteer: contact me at: westhawaiicounty@gmail.com
Mrs. Susan McGeachy