Posts Categorized: Kaua’i & Ni’ihau

Army commander may renege on decision to end live fire training in Makua

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… Read more »

Army destroys another munition found on Kauai beach

Today, near Anahola, Kaua’i, an area resident found a cylindrical object on Aliomanu Beach. The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports: Explosives disposal specialists from Schofield Barracks flew to Kauai this morning to destroy a military pyrotechnic device found on a beach near Anahola. It was the second time in less than a month that the Army’s… Read more »

Drones arrive in Hawaiʻi – “the future of aviation”?

The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard recently got four Shadow 200 RQ-7B unmanned aerial vehicles.    While these UAVs are unarmed, the military is looking for ways to weaponize them. >><< Source: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20110525_hawaii_guard_gets_flock_of_shadow_UAVs.html# Hawaii Guard gets flock of Shadow UAVs Isle soldiers will be ready to use the unmanned aircraft should… Read more »

Teenager finds WW II-era device on Kauai

Teenager finds WW II-era device on Kauai By Star-Advertiser staff POSTED: 11:20 a.m. HST, May 22, 2011 An Army ordnance team flew to Kauai and destroyed a World War II-era sea marker today that had been discovered on a Kapaa beach, Kauai officials said. Officials said the French-made, 30-by 6-inch cylinder contained a small amunt… Read more »

Army desecrates more Native Hawaiian burials in Lihu’e (Schofield), O’ahu

The Army has desecrated another set of iwi kupuna (Native Hawaiian ancestral human remains) approximately 600 yards from the site of a previous desecration in 2010. Thomas Lenchanko, a lineal descendant of families from the Lihu’e / Kukaniloko area and spokesperson for ‘Aha Kukaniloko has demanded immediate access to the site. The families have told… Read more »

Army violated Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations regarding Depleted Uranium

The Army appears to have violated Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations by conducting activities to remove and disturb depleted uranium contamination in the Schofield Range on O’ahu.  A letter from the NRC to Lieutenant General Rick Lynch, dated 4/5/11 “APPARENT VIOLATION OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGULATIONS AND REQUEST FOR PREDECISIONAL ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE” states: On March… Read more »

Public may observe NRC conference re: Army possession of depleted uranium w/o license

Mahalo to Cory Harden of the Sierra Club Moku Loa Chapter for this information about a Nuclear Regulatory Commission predecisional enforcement conference regarding the apparent Army possession of depleted uranium without a license.  Download Meeting Notice here. The public can observe via toll free number and the internet: Interested members of the public can participate… Read more »

Ag park and GMO crops planned on land owned by the Army and private developer

The Hawaii Agricultural Foundation is seeking farmer tenants to lease farm lots in Kunia.  The land was formerly owned by Campbell Estate, but the Army and a private developer formed a partnership to buy the land and develop a portion of it for military housing.   Since the Army’s housing needs changed, much of the land… Read more »

The Pentagon’s Biggest Boondoggles

The New York Times published this excellent Op-Chart graphic of the most wasteful military spending programs. Note that several of the programs listed are military earmarks backed by Senator Inouye or programs that related to Hawai’i in some way. Missile Defense and Global Information Grid involves many of the wasteful programs associated with the Pacific… Read more »

Soldier suicide at Schofield Barracks a casualty of war and sexism

The following information about the suicide of Pvt. Galina Klippel has not been verified.   A commenter named Bearcat357 wrote on a forum at officer.com: Media article sucks……and was just told I could post this….. Female Solider going through divorce was hopped up on pills/booze…..barricades herself in vehicle…. MPs/DOA Police arrive and shut the area down…. Read more »