100 attend hearing on Army’s Makua use<\/p>\n
By Leila Fujimori<\/p>\n
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 07, 2008<\/p>\n
Thirteen-year-old Kauhi Maunakea-Forth says the Army’s live-fire
\ntraining is “kind of like sad that they’re doing that to our land”
\nbecause of cultural sites at Makua Valley.<\/p>\n
MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS
\nOther public meetings on the Army’s supplemental environmental impact
\nstatement for continued use of Makua Valley for training:<\/p>\n
\u00bb Today: Wahiawa District Park Recreation Center, 2219 Kilani Ave.,
\nWahiawa<\/p>\n
\u00bb Tomorrow: Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Luau Hale, 799 Piilani St., Hilo<\/p>\n
\u00bb Thursday: Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela<\/p>\n
“It’s sort of like a link that connects us and the people of Hawaii
\nto our ancestors that came before us. … If they keep doing that to
\nMakua … how are they going to enjoy the beauty?” the Waianae girl
\ntold the Army.<\/p>\n
The Army is taking comments from the public until Nov. 3 on the
\nproposed use of Makua Military Reservation for live-fire exercise by
\nthe 25th Infantry Division stationed at Schofield Barracks. The teen
\nwas one of about 100 who attended the first public meeting, which was
\nheld last night at Nanakuli High School.<\/p>\n
Because of opposition to its use of Makua, the Army is now looking at
\nPohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island as a viable alternative.<\/p>\n
The first environmental impact statement was published in 2005, but a
\nsupplemental draft EIS was published in September because of the
\naddition of Pohakuloa as an alternative. Pohakuloa had been screened
\nout before the first EIS in 2005 because of the added cost and the
\nadditional three weeks for training and transporting Schofield
\nsoldiers and equipment there.<\/p>\n
Other changes that caused the Army to prepare a supplemental EIS was
\nthat a Stryker Brigade, which could do limited training in Makua, was
\npermanently stationed on Oahu earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Opponent Pat Patterson said: “You haven’t cleaned it up and you want
\nto drop more. … You promised the Strykers would not be involved in
\nMakua, that the EIS would not include anything about the Strykers.
\nNow you’re saying the Strykers are coming down our one road, past our
\nchurches, schools and houses?<\/p>\n
“Makua is not the place. I am for Makua to be returned to the native
\nHawaiian community, and that is the Waianae Coast,” Patterson said.<\/p>\n
The Army would like to replicate conditions similar to Iraq. That
\nincludes attack aviation using 2.75-inch inert rockets, indirect fire
\nusing 155 mm Howitzers, 82 mm mortars and direct fire up to .50-
\ncaliber machine guns.<\/p>\n
The area remains littered with ordnance.<\/p>\n
Henry Ahlo, a former soldier, supported the use of Makua by the Army,
\nsaying, “Training is essential. If you don’t have proper training,
\nyou can show your backside to the enemy.”<\/p>\n
Bill Hambaro said there are other places for the Army to go. “We’re
\nright at the tipping point. Despite being bombed, burned, most of it
\nis still good. Now is the time to stop it. Now is the time to heal.”<\/p>\n
Public comments to the supplemental draft EIS may be submitted online
\nat www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil\/makuaeis; by fax to 656-3162; e-mail
\nto usaghipaomakuaeis@hawaii. army.mil; or by postal mail to Attn:
\nMakua SDEIS Public Comments, USAG-HI Public Affairs Office, 742
\nSantos Dumont, WAAF, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857.<\/p>\n
Thirteen-year-old Kauhi Maunakea-Forth says the Army’s live-fire
\ntraining is “kind of like sad that they’re doing that to our land”
\nbecause of cultural sites at Makua Valley.<\/p>\n
MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS
\nOther public meetings on the Army’s supplemental environmental impact
\nstatement for continued use of Makua Valley for training:<\/p>\n
\u00bb Today: Wahiawa District Park Recreation Center, 2219 Kilani Ave.,
\nWahiawa<\/p>\n
\u00bb Tomorrow: Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Luau Hale, 799 Piilani St., Hilo<\/p>\n
\u00bb Thursday: Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela<\/p>\n
“It’s sort of like a link that connects us and the people of Hawaii
\nto our ancestors that came before us. … If they keep doing that to
\nMakua … how are they going to enjoy the beauty?” the Waianae girl
\ntold the Army.<\/p>\n
The Army is taking comments from the public until Nov. 3 on the
\nproposed use of Makua Military Reservation for live-fire exercise by
\nthe 25th Infantry Division stationed at Schofield Barracks. The teen
\nwas one of about 100 who attended the first public meeting, which was
\nheld last night at Nanakuli High School.<\/p>\n
Because of opposition to its use of Makua, the Army is now looking at
\nPohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island as a viable alternative.<\/p>\n
The first environmental impact statement was published in 2005, but a
\nsupplemental draft EIS was published in September because of the
\naddition of Pohakuloa as an alternative. Pohakuloa had been screened
\nout before the first EIS in 2005 because of the added cost and the
\nadditional three weeks for training and transporting Schofield
\nsoldiers and equipment there.<\/p>\n
Other changes that caused the Army to prepare a supplemental EIS was
\nthat a Stryker Brigade, which could do limited training in Makua, was
\npermanently stationed on Oahu earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Opponent Pat Patterson said: “You haven’t cleaned it up and you want
\nto drop more. … You promised the Strykers would not be involved in
\nMakua, that the EIS would not include anything about the Strykers.
\nNow you’re saying the Strykers are coming down our one road, past our
\nchurches, schools and houses?<\/p>\n
“Makua is not the place. I am for Makua to be returned to the native
\nHawaiian community, and that is the Waianae Coast,” Patterson said.<\/p>\n
The Army would like to replicate conditions similar to Iraq. That
\nincludes attack aviation using 2.75-inch inert rockets, indirect fire
\nusing 155 mm Howitzers, 82 mm mortars and direct fire up to .50-
\ncaliber machine guns.<\/p>\n
The area remains littered with ordnance.<\/p>\n
Henry Ahlo, a former soldier, supported the use of Makua by the Army,
\nsaying, “Training is essential. If you don’t have proper training,
\nyou can show your backside to the enemy.”<\/p>\n
Bill Hambaro said there are other places for the Army to go. “We’re
\nright at the tipping point. Despite being bombed, burned, most of it
\nis still good. Now is the time to stop it. Now is the time to heal.”<\/p>\n
Public comments to the supplemental draft EIS may be submitted online
\nat www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil\/makuaeis; by fax to 656-3162; e-mail
\nto usaghipaomakuaeis@hawaii. army.mil; or by postal mail to Attn:
\nMakua SDEIS Public Comments, USAG-HI Public Affairs Office, 742
\nSantos Dumont, WAAF, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857.<\/p>\n
Source:
\nwww.starbulletin.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
100 attend hearing on Army’s Makua use By Leila Fujimori POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 07, 2008 Thirteen-year-old Kauhi Maunakea-Forth says the Army’s live-fire training is “kind of like sad that they’re doing that to our land” because of cultural sites at Makua Valley. MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS Other public meetings on the Army’s supplemental environmental … <\/p>\n