Posts Categorized: Kaua’i & Ni’ihau

“She committed suicide”: Schofield soldier died of ‘self-inflicted’ gunshot wound

Yesterday, I wrote a short post about a Schofield Barracks soldier who was barricaded in a car with a gun and later went to the hospital from a gunshot wound.  The soldier died shortly after being taken to the hospital. The Honolulu Star Advertiser and Associated Press carried stories about the apparent suicide.  The identity… Read more »

Attempted suicide by Schofield soldier?

According to KHON News, yesterday Army MPs responded to a soldier barricaded in a vehicle with a gun. The soldier suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital.  Was this an attempted suicide? >><< Source: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Army-police-respond-to-barricade-situation/taoTFAYZo0e02IajAhfTWQ.cspx Army police respond to barricade situation SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – At approximately 5:30 p.m., Army law enforcement… Read more »

The Army’s persistent Depleted Uranium problem in Hawai’i

Joan Conrow has written an excellent synopsis of the military’s depleted uranium (DU) contamination issue in Hawai’i on the Civil Beat website.   Here’s an excerpt of her article: The Army prohibited all training with DU in 1996; however, munitions containing DU remain in wide use. Although the Army for years denied that it had ever… Read more »

Pearl Harbor has become the X-Band radar’s informal home

The Sea-Based X-band Radar (SBX) pulled into Pearl Harbor again on December 22, 2010.  When the military originally proposed the expansion of its missile defense test range to include most of the north Pacific,  many opposed the project, especially the homeporting of the $1 billion Sea-Based X-band Radar monstrosity in Hawai’i. We were relieved when… Read more »

Hawaii fights release of details on drone contracts

Jim Dooley wrote an interesting article on watchdog.org about the proposed use of aerial drones to monitor harbors in Hawai’i as part of no-bid contracts awarded to Hawaiya Technologies.  Hawaiya is a military technology company owned by Paul Schultz. Schultz, formerly a Rear Admiral and commander of a fleet stationed in Okinawa, was demoted to… Read more »

More on military expansion on Pohakuloa

The full extent of military expansion at Pohakuloa is only becoming more evident. The Army website for the Pohakuloa Training Areas Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement can be accessed here. Written comments on the proposed action and alternatives will be accepted via e-mail (ptapeis@bah.com) and U.S. mail until February 7, 2011 to:  PTA PEIS, P.O. Box… Read more »

In the wake of the Army’s Makua decision

The Honolulu Star Advertiser did a feature article on David Henkin, an attorney for EarthJustice who represents Malama Makua in its fight with the U.S. Army.  David is a friend and Makahiki brother who has done a great job as the attorney for Malama Makua.   However, I disagree with his suggestion that live fire… Read more »

A partial win for Makua, but struggle far from over

Yesterday, the Army announced that it will end live fire training in Makua valley. This is a win for those who have struggled for many years to save Makua from the destructive and contaminating activities of the U.S. military. The Honolulu Star Advertiser ran a story and so did the Associated Press. However, it is… Read more »

California study shows low levels of perchlorate affect infants

A new study shows newborns in perchlorate contaminated areas have a 50% chance of having impaired thyroid function. Perchlorate is an oxidizer used in rocket propellant that attacks the thyroid. It has been detected in groundwater in Nohili, Kaua’i near the caves where munitions are stored. I think it was also detected in Schofield (Lihu’e)…. Read more »

The Abercrombie administration, Mo’olelo Aloha ‘Aina and other news briefs

Governor Elect Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment of William Aila to the position of Chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), an important post that covers protection of the environment and cultural resources, including Native Hawaiian sacred places and burials.  Aila is the harbormaster of the Wai’anae Boat Harbor, a community activist… Read more »