New Political Maps: Big Island Gains Seat, Oahu Incumbents to Face Off

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UPDATED 2/15/12 11 a.m.

Ten incumbent House members — eight on Oahu and two on the Big Island — would be forced to face off against each other for reelection this year under new maps proposed by the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission and released late Tuesday.

In the Senate, the Big Island gains a seat due to population shifts. And that appears to be coming at the expense of Oahu Sen. Carol Fukunaga, whose district is essentially being eliminated in the boundary changes. Fukunaga’s district — which currently includes Makiki, Punchbowl, Ala Moana and McCully — has been combined with the district now represented by Brian Taniguchi, who represents Manoa, Moiliili and Makiki.

Updated: Fukunaga told Civil Beat she hasn’t had an opportunity to review the new maps, which will be discussed at a Reapportionment Commission meeting Wednesday afternoon.

“If we are in the same area, we’ll have to take a look at that,” she said. “I’m certainly planning to run.”

Taniguchi says he too hasn’t seen the new maps, but said he plans to run for reelection.

The shifting of lines in the state House will pit these incumbent lawmakers against one another if they seek to run:

  • Scott Saiki (D) and Della Au Belatti (D)

  • Mark Hashem (D) and Barbara Marumoto (R)

  • Kymberly Pine (R) and Rida Cabanilla (D)

  • Gil Riviere (R) and Jessica Wooley (D)

  • Jerry Chang (D) and Mark Nakashima (D)

Chang and Nakashima are on the Big Island.

The added Senate seat for the Big Island would create a fourth district covering the north half of the island.

The Reapportionment Commission has been struggling to draw new legislative districts, something that is done every 10 years after the census identifies population shifts. The first plan was challenged in court by Big Island residents who successfully argued that the island had gained population and deserved a fourth senate seat.

Candidates need the lines to be finalized so they know what districts they’re now in and can file papers to run for office. The filing period began Feb. 1 and runs to June 5. The commission is hoping this proposal will be in place by Feb. 29.

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