Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 1, 1 January 1994 — APPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE [ARTICLE]

APPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE

A 1. A.pportionment describes how representative political districts are established. Under the U.S. and Hawai'i Constitutions, every individual is entitled to one vote. O'ahu is the most heavilypopulated island, and given the principle of "one person/one vote", it has dominated statewide political decisions. Commission members are considering several proposals whieh attempt to balanee the constitutional principle of "one person/one vote" with the unique and equally compelling interests of neighbor island residents. One model for this approach is the U.S. congress itself, whieh exempts itself from the "one person/one vote" requirement and is representative of both populations and geographic districts. The following are being considered: At least one vote per island: at-large delegates:

The size of eaeh island's delegation is determined by that island's proportionate share of the total Hawaiian population, except that eaeh island is guaranteed a minimum of one vote, no matter how small its population. Delegates also run "at-large", the total number calculated on the basis of eaeh island's population. Non-residents must identify with a Hawaiian district in order to participate in eleetions. Delegates meet at a central convention. Island Convention/Central Convention: Island Councils are established to facilitate education, registration and related activities within designated (possibly traditional moku) districts. After a period of registration, those who have registered within their respective districts elect delegates to an island convention. Delegates to island conventions are apportioned on the basis of district population. Alternative 1: Eaeh district is allowed an equal number of delegates to the central convention. Decisions of the central convention are referred back to island conventions for acceptance prior to approval. America is treated as one district. Alternative 2: The number of delegates permitted eaeh island is calculated on the basis of total population share as well as total trust lands share. America gets the same number of delegates as Lana'i and Ni'ihau.

Bicameral: A "two-house" system modeled after the U.S. congress. One set of delegates is elected from districts on the basis of population. A second set of delegates is elected on the basis of geography — an equal number per island district without regard to population. Proposed measures must be reviewed and approved by both sets of delegates at a central convention in order to pass. Majority + lsland Caucus: Delegates to a central convention are elected from island districts on the basis of district population. In order for a measure to pass, a simple majority of total delegates plus a majority of eaeh one of five island delegations must approve.

Na Moku Eha/Na Moku 'Aina: The Traditional Chiefdoms/The Traditional lsland Districts: Like the individual fifty states whieh comprise the nation of the United States, the traditional four chiefdoms associated with the island-unifying chiefs Manokalanipo, Kaku'ihewa, Kama and Keawe formed the ke kua or backbone of the Hawaiian nation. Manokalanipo - Kaua'i and Ni'ihau (4) Kaku'ihewa - O'ahu (4) Kama - Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe (4) Keawe - Hawai'i (4) Recommendation is to assign four delegates from eaeh traditional unit. These delegates would reside within the islands comprising the former chiefdom, and be elected at-large by all eligible voters. The next important level of political organization within the traditional chiefdoms was the traditional island districts whieh functioned as the taxequivalents of counties within the nation. Manokalanipo - Kaua'i: Hanalei, Kawaihau, Lihu'e, Koloa, Waimea, Ni'ihau (6) Kaku'ihewa - O'ahu: Ko'olau Loa, Ko'olau Poko, Waialua, Wai'anae, 'Ewa, Kona (Honolulu) (6) Kama - Maui: Hana, Makawao (Kaho'olawe), Wailuku, Lahaina, Moloka'i, Lana'i (6) Keawe - Hawai'i: Kohala, Kona, Ka'u, Puna, Hilo, Hamakua (6)

Recommendation is to assign one delegate from eaeh unit. These delegates would reside in the affected district, and be elected at-large. A number of delegates could then be selected based upon the population of eaeh island district using the One-person/One-vote concept. *Census flgures and calculations based upon the foregoing approaches will be presented at the Public Informational Meetings in January.