PROTECT THE ʻĀINA, PROTECT THE PEOPLE, STOP MILITARY EXPANSION
The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports “Officers arrested a 23-year-old man of an address at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe at 2:11 a.m. Friday” for allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year old woman in Waikiki on June 23. The man arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping was one of two men who allegedly sexually assaulted the woman.
Militarism and tourism have always been intimately related institutions in Hawai’i. With APEC leaders descending on Waikiki in November, Larry Geller reminds us of the hidden history Waikiki as illustrative of the history of Hawai’i as a whole.
In Hawaii’s hidden history—slave labor, profit, and the taking of Waikiki, Larry Geller writes “If you’re a visitor to Hawaii, or planning a trip, and a Tweet or Google search has brought you here, there’s a movie about Waikiki below.”
He’s referring to the 1994 classic social-political documentary by Ed Coll and Carol Bain “Taking Waikiki”. As Geller points out, the film may have been produced nearly two decades ago, but the history and message is as relevant and urgent today as ever before:
This film might be shown in all of the schools as a history lesson, but of course, no such thing will happen. It’s a documentary centered around how Waikiki, originally a rich center of agriculture and aquaculture, became the present tool of the tourism industry. Tourism (and to a lesser extent, service to the military) drives the economy of the state and separates us from other Pacific islands wallowing in intractable poverty.
Why post it now?
For one thing, when the film was made, there was no Internet to post it on. Now, a documentary can be seen by millions, by people anywhere in the world. This film needs to be seen. When it was made, the extensive effort needed to produce a film could attract only a few eyeballs. I assume it was aired on `Olelo, the public television channel, but it could not have gone viral. Without YouTube, it that would have been tough.
For another, as we follow the development of Waikiki, we learn some history that is uncomfortable today, and so likely to be neglected. Particularly as the first of a series of human trafficking trials is set for July in Honolulu, that is, not even a month away, it may be revealing to many to learn that Hawaii’s plantation economy was based on slave labor. The documentary touches on that. Slave labor is nothing new here, and if the federal charges stick, we will sadly learn that it has not yet been wiped out in “Paradise.”
[…]
Finally, the state administration is upset just now that it cannot wring unending growth from tourism. It is also undertaking the privatization of public lands based on a law passed this year. And it’s in the news that the best agricultural land in the state (perhaps in the country, capable of four harvests in a year) is on the verge of takeover by developers.
So the documentary might have been made yesterday. We seem still to depend on slave labor, low-paying jobs in the tourist industry to profit the rich, and the loss of farmland to development. We still have a government that knows how to do nothing else for the economy but rape and exploit the land and people. We’re in no position to dismiss our history because it continues to the present day.
Taking Waikiki shows how the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the taking of land and water for capitalist development, American militarization and empire and tourism are intricately interconnected. The tragic story of Waikiki is tied to the political machinations of Walter Dillingham and his dredging and construction empire. One of Hawaiian Dredging’s first major projects in 1909 was the construction of a dry dock at Ke Awalau o Pu’uloa (Pearl Harbor), the first step in the eventual development of Pearl Harbor Naval Base. As quoted in the film, the Pacific Studies Center report from 1970 concluded “Dillingham thrives on war, racism and human misery.”
A2006 Honolulu Advertiser article about Dillingham stated:
He asserted his considerable influence in support of the killers of Joseph Kahahawai Jr. in the infamous Massie Affair, and once testified before Congress that “God had made the white race to rule and the colored to be ruled.”
Watch the movie Taking Waikiki by Carol Bain and Ed Coll (1994):
Travis Quezon, the editor of the Hawaii Independent, covered recent U.S.-China security talks in Hawai’i for Reuters.
The United States and China kicked off a new round of consultations on the Asia Pacific region in Hawaii on Saturday by broaching the flaring tensions in the South China Sea, a U.S. official said.
The first set of talks in the superpowers’ Asia Pacific push — agreed upon by U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao — came at the end of a difficult week for the two countries over the growing antagonism in the South China Sea between China and its neighbors.
In a statement after the talks, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell reported that they discussed the recent tensions between China, Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea and concerns over China’s growing military power:
“We want tensions to subside,” Campbell said. “We have a strong interest in the maintenance of peace and stability. And we are seeking a dialogue among all the key players.”
China has shown increasing assertiveness in its claim to the entire South China Sea, believed to be rich in oil and gas. Vietnam has accused Chinese boats of harassing a Vietnamese oil exploration ship in the region.
Campbell said the U.S. delegation stressed China’s military expansions have raised concerns, but hoped greater transparency and dialogue would help ease those concerns.
[…]
Earlier in the week, [China’s Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai] told foreign reporters in Beijing China had not provoked any incidents in the South China Sea and said if Washington wanted to play a role it should urge restraint on other claimants.
[…]
The two delegations also discussed North Korea and Campbell said he asked China to urge North Korea to deal responsibly and appropriately with South Korea without provocation.
Jim Albertini of Malu ‘Aina released the following message in response to the Army’s announcement that it will renege on a decision to no longer use Makua for live fire training:
The Big Lie!
Lt. General Francis J. Wiercinski, Commanding General U.S. Army Pacific, was quoted in an Associated Press news story on June 19, 2011 as saying: “… I don’t think anybody does it better than us when it comes to protecting the environment and being cognizant and protective of cultural sites.”
Adolf Hitler coined the phrase “The Big Lie” in 1925 for a lie so “colossal” that no one would believe that someone “could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously.” Sixteen years later, on Jan. 12, 1941 Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, wrote: “When one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it … even at the risk of looking ridiculous.”
Someone needs to tell General Wiercinski that he looks ridiculous. A few examples:
- In Hawaii, the Army secretively tested chemical and biological weapons, including deadly Sarin nerve gas) in Hilo’s watershed, and other sites in Hawaii. The Army did this on State land in the Waiakea Forest Reserve, with a lease to do “weather” testing. The Army Lied.
- The Army secretly used Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons in Hawaii and contaminated the land with radiation. For years the Army denied using such weapons in Hawaii. How much DU was used, and the extent of radiation contamination in Hawaii, is still in question. The Army has been stonewalling community concerns on DU.
- More than 14 million live-rounds are fired annually at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) according to an Army EIS report of several years ago. The live rounds include everything from small arms fire, to cannons, fighter jets, bombers, etc. And recent news reports talk of doubling the training at PTA. How many live rounds fired annually are planned for PTA? Where is the bonding of funds for clean-up when the base is shut down? And General, please explain how bombing the land and waging wars for oil is protecting the environment.
General Wiercinski, if you want to be taken seriously, our organization challenges you to support and fund comprehensive, independent testing and monitoring with citizen oversight lead by Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD (retired Army Medical Corps) to determine the full extent of radiation contamination at PTA, Makua Valley, and Schofield Barracks.
Finally, our organization does not appreciate your attempt to pit one island’s opposition against another. We are opposed to pushing U.S. desecration and contamination from one site to another in Hawaii or anywhere. We want an end to U.S. occupation in Hawaii and the restoration of the Hawaii nation. We want the U.S. to stop bombing Hawaii and clean up its opala. We want to put an end to U.S. desecration and contamination of all sacred cultural sites. We do not want the U.S. training anywhere to do to others what the U.S. has already done to Hawaii: overthrow and occupy its government and nation, desecrate its sacred sites, and contaminate its air, land, water, people, plants, and animals with military toxins.
The truth is the U.S. military, (Army included) is the world’s largest polluter and destroyer (not protector) of the environment and culture the world has ever seen.
Jim Albertini
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O.Box AB
Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
phone: 808-966-7622
email: JA@interpac.net
Visit us on the web at: www.malu-aina.org
THURSDAY,
JUNE 30 4-6pm,
FEDERAL BUILDING (Ala Moana Blvd & Punchbowl)
Aloha, this Irei-no-Hi, the Okinawan Memorial Day for ALL War Dead (June 23). This day commemorates the end of war between Imperial powers Japan & USA in Okinawa. Unfortunately, 66 years after the fact, Okinawa remains heavily occupied by US forces to project its wars worldwide; indeed, the war has never ended for Okinawa.
In anticipation of national governmental decisions on their imposition of yet more military facilities in Okinawa, community leaders in Okinawa are putting out an international call to rally for demilitarization, self-determination & peace in Okinawa. Given neither the Japanese or US governments are heeding the will of the people, it is critical to voice opposition (see appeal that follows).
This comes at a critical time, when given the economic and political situation, US congressional committees are questioning the costs of the proposal to relocate thousands of Marines to Guam. This may be a rare time when some traditionally war hawks may be reviewing the spreading of bases in Okinawa to Guam (see links below). Of course, it is important to remember US war/military funding continues to dwarf most other nations’ defense spending combined, and that economic cost-cutting continues to disproportionately fall on the working and dwindling middle classes, let alone remember that ultimately the people in general, whether taxpayers in USA or Japan, whether poverty draft soldiers or civilian ‘collateral damage’ bear the brunt of these costs.
However, this is hardly just about Okinawa! Popular opposition is growing in Guam that stands to be completely overwhelmed by the proposed relocation. Korea also faces militarist impositions in Jeju Island. Of course, Hawai`i remains heavily occupied by armed forces with almost 25% of O`ahu reserved for military agendas. Of 192 nations in the world, US forces are in approximately 130, with 50 nations “hosting” permanent US bases. We will hold our rally on June 30 in solidarity with Okinawa, as we are almost a day behind them, making the timing more proximate to the rallies in Okinawa and Japan on July 1st.
While this open rally is in response to a call from Okinawa, its peaceful protest will not be limited to militarism in Okinawa, but in solidarity with other struggles including Guam, Korea and here in Hawai`i. Feel free to bring friends, signs, instruments, etc. showing solidarity for peace & justice, and/or against global military empire! You may consider carpooling or bus as parking is limited in area (although you may consider a nominal purchase to park at restaurant row across the street). If people aren’t in front of the Federal Building, then we will be on Ala Moana Blvd raising consciousness. For those unable to attend or outside of O`ahu Island, please consider organizing rally or sending messages of solidarity- info follows.
Nuchi du Takara…Life is a Treasure- let’s defend it.
Solidarity/Yuimaaru/Lokahi,
Pete Shimazaki Doktor & Jamie Oshiro
HOA (Hawai`i Okinawa Alliance)
808-782-0023/dok@riseup.net
###
From “No More Trampling on Okinawa! Urgent Action Committee.”
We have acted to remove all military bases in Okinawa. Especially from the later part of December 2010 to march 2011, we have also acted to prevent US and Japanese government from constructing helipads in Takae that started in December 2010 by, for example, Demonstration, Petition to Ministry of Defense or USA embassy.
For now, construction in Takae is stopped because there is a promise that they must not construct in the breeding season of Sapheopipo noguchii (from March to June). But it never means that they already gave up their plan. In Jury, it’s highly possible that they will forcibly start the construction again. And DPJ, the Japanese government party, decided constructing military base in Henoko where relocation of Hutenma Base is allocated. This plan is wholly same as the plan of LDP, the previous Japanese government party, although DPJ had promised that the base in Hutenma would be moved out of Japan, at least out of Okinawa.
So it’s also possible that Japanese government will pressure Okinawa to admit their latest (but in fact former) plan in Jury, preparing for the “2 plus 2” meeting. In order to push back against the pressure of Japanese government and US military, would you make a big simultaneous protest with us, in your own places? It will surely effective to raise our objection in public against military bases, not only at Japan but also all over the world.
We plan to make a demonstration and front of Ministry of Defense in Tokyo and to hand in requests to it at July 1, when the construction in Takae may resume. (Further details will be announced later.) This is an open call to anti-war activists, non-activist citizens, mass or grassroots media, politicians or government officials, to anyone whom you can contact.
Call for opposition to construction of U.S. base or helipads in Okinawa. Make a protest against relative authorities of Japan and U.S. if you can. Or send us your anti-base message, and we will hand it to the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo when we petition. If you’d like to join this simultaneous protest, please email us. no.base.okinawa@gmail.com Let’s make this action together.
No More Trampling on Okinawa! Urgent Action Committee
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/hansentoteikounofesta09
http://twitter.com/domannakademo
no.base.okinawa@gmail.com
The Honolulu Star Advertiser published an article about the progress of unexploded ordnance (UXO) cleanup in Waikane valley in Ko’olaupoko district of O’ahu.
Waikane is a lush valley that is very significant in Hawaiian legend and history. The name refers to the waters of the great deity Kane. Sites in the valley are referred to in ancient chants about creation. As this is a land of flowing streams, there are extensive lo’i kalo (taro fields).
Waikane was granted to the Kamaka family during the Mahele. But land speculators like Lincoln McCandless acquired vast amounts of land in Waikane and other areas like Makua, allegedly through illegal or unethical means.
During World War II, the military leased Waikane lands for training and promised to return the land in its original condition. When the lands were returned to the Kamaka family, Raymond Kamaka began farming and working with youth. But the bombs kept turning up. Instead of cleaning up as promised, the Marines condemned the land over the objections of the family.
In 2003, the Marines announced that they planned to conduct jungle warfare training in Waikane and held community meetings. The community turned out in large numbers to protest the plan and to demand that the military clean up the land and return it to the Kamaka family. The Marine corps abandoned its training plans for Waikane. Several years later, it began the administrative process for closing and cleaning up the range.
The surrounding lands were also affected by training, but since they are currently in private hands, a different program called the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program under the Army Corps of Engineers has the responsibility to conduct the ordnance removal.
The very fact that the munitions are being studied and removed is a win for the community. What was once “too dangerous” and “too costly” is now within reach. But the level of cleanup depends on the cost and feasibility analysis as well as the final land use. This is where continued pressure is needed to ensure that the land is returned to Mr. Kamaka or to an entity that he designates to carry on the kuleana (responsibility) he solemnly swore to fulfill to his ancestors.
The Hawai’i congressional delegation can ensure that the cleanup is conducted to the highest level possible by ensuring that there is adequate funding to achieve the highest level of cleanup.
There are currently two cleanup operations underway in Waikane. Under the Army Corps of Engineers FUDS program, a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) has been established to oversee its portion of the cleanup. Under the Marine Corps, a separate Restoration Advisory Board has been established. These RABs include military, government regulators and community members and provide input to the military on the cleanup process. The meetings are open to the public.
The Army Corps of Engineers FUDS RAB will meet Wednesday, June 22, 2011 from 7-9 pm in the Waiahole Elementary School Cafeteria.
Below are excerpts from the Honolulu Star Advertiser article. The time line at the end has an error: the Marine Corps did not fence the Kamaka parcel in 1992 after it condemned the land. It installed a fence some time after 2003, only after the community blasted the Marines for being hypocritical, i.e. claiming that the land was so dangerous it had to be condemned but never enclosing it with a fence.
Military studies Waikane Valley bomb cleanup
A Windward Oahu area littered with old munitions is being looked at by both the Marines and the Army
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 19, 2011
WILLIAM COLE / WCOLE@STARADVERTISER.COMMarine Corps officials and an ordnance removal technician view Waikane Valley in the vicinity of the ordnance impact area.WILLIAM COLE / WCOLE@STARADVERTISER.COMThe Marine Corps said it is spending $1.37 million to investigate the 187-acre impact area in Waikane Valley where the majority of the munitions are located and to develop a feasibility study for cleanup options that is expected to be released in the fall. Here, a warning sign is posted at the edge of the Marine Corps’ impact areaMore Photos
Up a rutted road in jungly Waikane Valley, past the old Ka Mauna ‘o ‘Oliveta Church, through a locked gate and beyond a security fence is the former Kamaka family farm, the now-defunct military training range that replaced it, and the long-held hope — going on decades now — that the land can be returned to the agricultural and cultural place it used to be.
Waikane Valley is one of dozens of former military training sites in Hawaii undergoing the slow, arduous and sometimes painful process that goes along with demilitarization.
Among those many sites, Waikane is considered by some to be a special place, and there’s been momentum in recent years to clean up the munitions that litter it.
The Marine Corps and Army Corps of Engineers are each conducting studies on removing ordnance from a total of 1,061 acres in Waikane Valley. Citizen advisory groups are asking Congress for millions in cleanup funds.
“Things seem to be moving in a good direction — at least things seem to be moving, which is a good direction,” said Windward resident and attorney David Henkin, who is on the two restoration advisory boards for the land.
Land in and around the former training area is valued as a cultural and natural resource. The city thought highly enough of the land in 1998 to spend $3.5 million for 500 acres to the southeast of the Marine Corps land that are intended to become the Waikane Valley Nature Park. A private landowner, Paul Zweng, bought 1,400 acres — part of which is in the former training area — for a proposed Ohulehule Forest Conservancy to preserve and restore the endemic flora and fauna in the valley, officials said.
[…]
Despite the potential risk, off-road vehicles tear up Waikane Stream, and pig hunters cut through the fence that surrounds the 187 acres still owned by the Marine Corps.
Between 1943 and 1953 the Army leased more than 2,000 acres in the Waiahole and Waikane valleys for jungle training; small arms, artillery and mortar fire; and aerial bombing, according to a recent Navy investigation.
In 1953, the Marine Corps took over, leasing 1,061 acres for live-fire training. The report said live fire “apparently” stopped in the early 1960s, and that the lease was terminated in 1976.
A Marine Corps clearance effort in 1976 removed 24,000 pounds of practice ordnance and fragments, and 42 unexploded munitions.
In 1984 the Marines came back and recovered 480 3.5-inch rockets from what is known as the Waikane Valley Impact Area. A 2009 site inspection turned up 66 shoulder-fired rockets, one 2.36-inch rocket and three rifle grenades.
The unexploded ordnance, or “UXO,” as it’s known, was so thick the Marines abandoned in 2003 a plan to conduct blank-fire jungle training in the valley, saying it was too dangerous.
Despite that, community members working with the military on continuing studies say there’s progress and hope that Congress will provide cleanup funding.
[…]
Two remediation efforts are taking place in Waikane Valley. The Marine Corps said it is spending $1.37 million to investigate the 187-acre impact area where the majority of the munitions are located and to develop a feasibility study for cleanup options that is expected to be released in the fall.
The Army Corps of Engineers, meanwhile, is working on 874 adjoining acres that contain fewer munitions as part of the FUDS program. In addition to a $1.34 million study, the Army Corps said it has a $1.94 million ordnance clearance effort under way with Environet Inc. focusing on two parcels totaling 44 acres.
Among the decisions the Marine Corps will have to make is whether to clean up the 187 acres it still owns and to what degree, as well as what to do with the land afterward.
While some community members have complained about the number of plans put forth and the length of time for the Marine Corps to address the issue, an email response from Marine Corps Base Hawaii to the Star-Advertiser said the latest “munitions response program,” which began in 2008, “is detailed and takes time to ensure potential risks to human health and the environment are thoroughly identified and appropriate cleanup action is selected.”
People have been injured and killed by mishandled munitions in Waikane Valley, though there have been no incidents recently, according to the Navy “remedial investigation” draft report issued in March.
In 1944, two people were killed and two others were injured when a 60 mm mortar discovered in the valley accidentally detonated, the report said.
Three children were injured in 1963 when a “souvenir” rifle grenade reportedly discovered in Waikane Valley exploded after it was thrown against a wall. There have been no other reports of injury attributed to munitions found in the valley, the report said.
Raymond Kamaka, 72, said his family owned and farmed the Marine Corps land as far back as 1850 through a deed from King Kamehameha III, and he still lays claim to it.
His great-great-great-grandmother, Racheal Lahela, who came from Waikane, was a half sister of Queen Liliuokalani, Kamaka said.
Kamaka recalled playing in the valley as a kid. “It was our playground. Up there we used to swim,” he said. He remembers three ancient heiau.
The government later said it needed the land for wartime training, leased it from the Hawaiian family, and said it would clean it up and return it afterward.
The lease was terminated in 1976, and the Marines conducted several cleanups. Kamaka, a one-time professional wrestler, returned to farm in the early 1980s. He grew taro and raised pigs and brought in schoolchildren for visits.
When munitions were found on the property’s higher reaches, the military condemned the land in 1989. Much of the family settled for $2.3 million in 1994 — but not Raymond Kamaka.
“Nobody settled with me,” said Kamaka, who claims to be the only rightful heir.
The ensuing years have been “hell,” Kamaka said. “I lost everything.” He went to jail for two years in disputes with the government over the land, he said.
He still expects to farm on the family land again one day.
“Am I gonna come back? Yes,” he said.
Kajihiro, who also is program director for the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization that supports Native Hawaiian rights, said “there is some political will to do some cleanup (on the Marine Corps land). To what level is a question of cost.”
“We’re saying it should be cleaned up to the highest level possible to allow the broadest number of uses,” Kajihiro said. He added that those uses “need to be mindful of, and consistent with, Uncle Raymond Kamaka and his family’s vision and uses of the land — which were agricultural and cultural uses.”
LOOKING BACK
Waikane Valley’s history as a military training range:
Early 1940s
U.S. Army leases more than 2,000 acres in Waiahole and Waikane valleys and uses the property for jungle training, artillery, mortar, small arms fire, maneuvers and as a bombing range for air-to-ground fire.1944
Two people are killed and two are injured by a 60-millimeter mortar discovered in the valley.1953
Marine Corps leases 1,061 acres. Training includes small-arms fire, 3.5-inch rockets and medium artillery.Early 1960s
Marines stop use of live fire.1963
Three children are injured when a “souvenir” rifle grenade is thrown against a wall and explodes.1976
Marines conduct ordnance clearance sweeps.1984
Marines conduct additional ordnance clearance sweeps and remove 480 3.5-inch rockets.1989
U.S. government acquires title to the 187-acre ordnance impact area.1992
A perimeter chain-link fence is installed around the impact area.2002
Marines propose conducting blank-fire training on the site.2003
Marines abandon the idea when a study finds too much danger from unexploded ordnance.2010
Marines conduct a “remedial investigation” on the 187-acre Waikane Valley Impact Area.2011
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is investigating ordnance on 874 adjoining acres and removing munitions from 44 acres within that parcel.Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Marine Corps
As our friends in Vieques, Puerto Rico have reminded us, history has proven that we cannot believe what the military says. The new commander of the U.S. Army Pacific may renege on the decision by his predecessor to end live fire training in Makua valley. The AP reports:
The top U.S. Army commander in the Pacific wants to be sure Hawaii-based soldiers have alternate locations for live-fire training before he’ll write off using Makua — a valley many Native Hawaiians consider sacred — for that purpose.
In his first interview since taking command of U.S. Army Pacific, Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski told The Associated Press that he won’t send soldiers to Makua Valley to train with live ammunition so long as the Army finishes building training ranges in central Oahu and the Big Island on time.
But Wiercinski said he would need to keep his options open on Makua in case the construction of new ranges at Schofield Barracks and Pohakuloa Training Area is delayed.
“If we are successful in completing the live-fire areas on Schofield, if we are successful in completing all of the live-fire areas on PTA that we need,” Wiercinski said, he’ll not be forced to open up live-fire training on Makua. “But if we don’t get that, then I’m forced to look at other ways to get live-fire throughput for all of our units here in Hawaii.”
So Makua is being held hostage until the Army can complete its destructive expansion in Lihu’e (Schofield) and Pohakuloa. This is how the divide-and-conquer approach has been used against communities in Hawai’i, and between Hawai’i and other places in the region.
Construction in Lihu’e and Pohakuloa has been delayed by the cultural sites and iwi kupuna (human remains) as well as the discovery of Depleted Uraniuim (DU) in both places.
The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that “An Oahu advisory council to the state Reapportionment Commission recommended Wednesday that the commission count nonresident military and their dependents as permanent residents when redrawing the state’s political districts, a position that puts Oahu at odds with neighbor island advisory councils.”
The implications of this are significant:
The decision could have political consequences. If the Reapportionment Commission chooses to exclude nonresident military and their dependents – as many as 70,000 people — it could shift a state Senate seat from Oahu to the Big Island.
Creating state legislative districts with greater concentrations of nonresident military and their dependents may also help Republican candidates, since those with military ties tend to be more conservative politically.
The issue of military residents influencing Hawai’i politics is a significant human rights question for Native Hawaiians and other Hawaiian nationals. There has been international outcry over population transfer in Tibet, East Timor and Palestine, where the flood of settlers from the occupying country threaten to inundate and overwhelm the self-determination and cultural survival of native peoples. This has happened in the past and is an ongoing human rights problem in Hawai’i. The statehood referendum in Hawai’i allowed American citizens, including military personnel, to vote on the political status of the Hawaiian nation, in violation of the international human right to self-determination. The current military expansion threatening Guam brings the same danger of settlers outstripping native Chamorros of their human right of self-determination.
The Oahu advisory council position is also at odds with the Hawai’i Constitution:
Madge Schaefer, who serves on the Maui advisory council and is a Republican, said voters were instructed before a 1992 state constitutional amendment that nonresident military were excluded from the definition of permanent residents for state reapportionment.
Voters approved the constitutional amendment changing the state count to permanent residents from registered voters. Republicans had filed a successful federal legal challenge in the 1980s against using registered voters as the population base to draw single and multimember legislative districts.
“It seems to be written in plain English to me,” Schaefer said of the voter instructions.
But military interest groups are using emotional appeals to argue for greater political influence for military residents:
Thomas Smyth, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who works with the Military Officers Association of America’s Hawaii chapter, said he would not want to see a bumper sticker that said: “Crooks count, but heroes don’t count.”
In a more recent version of the article, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that an additional consideration is where nonresident military personnel pay their income taxes:
Hawaii island, Maui and Kauai advisory councils have asked the commission not to count nonresident military and their dependents for state legislative districts, contending that many in the military do not pay state income taxes or vote in Hawaii because they consider themselves residents of other states.
READ “Panel recommends including military families when redrawing district lines” .
READ “Oahu panel wants military in count”.
According the the Honolulu Star Advertiser, a 27-year old Schofield Barracks man was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening for allegedly attempting to push his wife out of a moving vehicle:
Darren R. Barnhill, of a Schofield Barracks address, remained at the main police cellblock Wednesday afternoon unable to post $11,000 bail.
Police said the incident began when Barnhill was arguing with his wife, 24, in a vehicle about 10:30 a.m. Monday. When she tried to get out, Barnhill stopped her and sped off onto the westbound lanes of H-1 near Kunia, police said.
He tried to open the vehicle’s door on the freeway and push her out, police said.
A McCully man had an unusual and uninvited house guest last night. The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports: “Deyoung Chipen had left the door to his one-bedroom apartment unlocked as he moved his car in the parking lot. On his way back he saw the man, wearing only shorts and shoes, run into his second-floor unit.”
The article continues:
“I open the door, I see his shoes inside,” Chipen said.
He went back out and called police. Chipen and an officer went into his unit and found the man in his bedroom.
“I saw him lying on my bed and no more clothes,” he said. “I never know him, too.”
Police said the man came from the USS Carl Vinson, which stopped in Hawaii after carrying Osama bin Laden’s body and burying it at sea.
[…]
“I really feel bad because he’s on my bed already,” said Chipen, whose wife was at church at the time. “I don’t like him or anybody go inside my house. He never get permission.”
As a police cruiser rolled away with the man in the back seat, the sailor yelled out to Chipen, “I really am sorry, sir. I’m not a bad person. I got drugged.”
Ah, the joys of being a military colony…It could be entertaining if it weren’t so oppressive.
