Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 8, 1 August 2011 — Census 2010 impacts State Legislature (final of 2 parts) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Census 2010 impacts State Legislature (final of 2 parts)

Eo ē nā 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Haloa, mai Hawai'i a Ni'ihau, puni ke ao mālamalama. Every 10 years the U.S. Census is taken. The U.S. Census

results in fresh data on regional demographics and needs of populations. For Hawai'i the decennial census, in this instance the 2010 Census, triggered an important process relating to the upcoming elections in Hawai'i for 2012. Hawai'i State Constitution and statute require that a bipartisan Reapportionment Commission be constituted to conduct reapportionment before May

1 of the reapportionment year. Leaders of the Legislature's majority and minority parties name four members eaeh to serve on the Reapportionment Commission. My June 201 1 KWO eolumn provided early information on membership and organization of the commission. Following the certification on April 29, 2011, of Reapportionment Commission Chair Victoria Marks, the commission amended its rules. The Notice of Meetings of the Commission had been of particular interest to community and puhlie advocacy groups. Rule 7 of the Reapportionment Commission currently reads: "Notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meetings of the Commission shall be posted at least six days in advance of the meeting on the State of Hawaii's website, the website for the Office of Elections and in the Commission's office at 802 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice shall be required with respect to the reconvening of a Commission meeting that is recessed, provided that prior to recessing the meeting, the time, date and location of the reconvening of the meeting is announced. All notices shall state the time, date and location of the meeting and shall include an agenda listing all the items to be eonsidered at the meeting. ..." The Reapportionment Commission rules, a total of 15 pages, ean be accessed on the Reapportionment Commission web site. Three steps ean take you to the Reapportionment Commission web page. First, input ehawaii.gov and go to menu bar item Government. Second, eliek on Voting and Elections. Third, eliek on Of-

fice of Elections, scroll down and you will find Reapportionment Commission items specific to Redistricting and Reapportionment to examine. You will find contact information and buildina

redistricting plans online. Relating to redistricting information you will find 2011 Reapportionment Commission Members, 20 1 1 Reapportionment Advisory Councils, Introduction Guide to Redistricting, Criteria for Reapportionment, Rules of the 2011 Reapportionment Commission, Reapportionment Frequently Asked Questions and the Reapportionment īimeline. You will also find Reapportion-

ment Online Maps that include 2000-2010 Population Changes - by 2001 Senate District, 2000-2010 Population Changes - by 2001 House District, and Hawai'i 2010 Blocks with Population. You will find the laws goveming redistricting, previous reapportionment information and relevant links. You ean track the decision-making progress of the eommission by clicking on Reapportionment Commission meeting materials to review eaeh agenda as well as the minutes of eaeh meeting. The Reapportionment Commission web page timelines notes: Aug. 4, the Congressional, State Senate and State House plans will be presented to the eommission. Aug. 7, 2011, is the statutory deadline for the commission to publish the proposed plans. Aug. 9, 2011, eommission adopts three proposed plans. Aug. 30, 2011, the first puhlie hearing on the proposed plans held, and Sept. 16, 2011, the last puhlie hearing on these plans held. Sept. 26, 2011, by statutory deadline the commission adopts final reapportionment plans and files with the Chief Elections Officer. Oct. 10, 2011, by statutory deadline the Chief Elections Officer publishes final plans. Dec. 29, 2011, is the statutory deadline to submit Reapportionment Commission final report to the Hawai'i State Legislature, whieh convenes Jan. 18, 2012. Ēalakākou. 32/48 M E kaīa mai, īast month 's eolumn had an incorrect heaāīine. The heaāīine should have read "Honoring King Kamehameha: Washington, D.C., to Hawai'i." KWO regrets the error.

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Haunani Apnlinna, MSW Trustee, At-large