Report on Oct. l0, 2009 protest at Pohakuloa Training Area
At l0 AM, Saturday, Oct. l0th, prior to going to the main gatearea of Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) wegathered at Mauna Kea State park, l mile east of the main gate along anew section of Saddle Road. Aperson who arrived from the Kona side reported that at the PTA maingate, there wereabout l7 pro America empire, "Win the War" flag wavers. They hadabout 25very large American flags lining both sides of the PTA main gate on theMauna Loa side of the highway. Oneguy was even dressed as a George Washington minuteman.
Our peace groupdecided not to get in any shouting match or confrontation with the proAmerica empire group. We decided to set up on the opposite (Mauna Kea)side of thehighway fronting the main gate. We were l4 in number. When we arrivedat the main gate area, we first joined hands in a pule. Basecommander Lt.Col. Warline Richardson came across to greet us andphotograph us. We put up the Hawaiian flag, and peace symbol flags andset up our large plywood signs saying: Stop the war, End occupation,The Kingdom Lives, No Strykers, Radiation Cover-Up. Stop the Bombing.We had lots of smaller signs too about Depleted Uranium radiationhazards, the war, etc. Once set up we stayed about45 minutes being taunted and insulted in the name of freedom by variouspeople on a bullhornacross the street. Occasionally they sang the Star Spangled Banner andGod Bless America. Though we had our own sound system in the truck, wedecided against a verbal dual across the highway. Andrew Walden,former editor of the right-wing newspaper --The Hawaii Free Press,which has since folded, appeared to be the leader of the right wing proAmerica empire group.
Our peace group had decided ahead of time we would only stay 45minutes at the maingate and then go closer to were troops were blasting away with bigcannons (l55 howitzers) toward Mauna Loa, about 5 miles west of themain gate area. The pro America empire group stayed at the maingate. As we drove west from the main gate, we could see severalgroupings of what appeared to be 4or 5 howitzers each with tentcoverings and 50-l00 troops in each group We stopped at about the 42mile marker near one of the howitzer groups closest to the Saddle Roadand set up our signs, flags, etc for another hour. We had 2 radiationmonitors operating and we did get slightly elevated readings whenmilitary trucks or machine gunner humves drove by kicking up dust, butnothing close to the 4-5 times background readings of May 29, 2007 withdust devils come directly off the Davy rockett DU impact ranges towardus at Mauna Kea State Park where we were protesting that day.
Following the protest we had a picnic at Mauna Kea park, talkedstory, and headed home.
This was the second time our protest at PTA generated a pro Americaempire showing.About a year ago there was a similar showing at the old main gatearea.PTA now has this big new highway and new main gate area. The road fromHilo to Kona has been pushed north hugging the slopes of Mauna Kea,which actually enlarges PTA's training area. It is still not clearwhere the route of the new Saddle Road will go from the 42 mile markerwestward to the Mamalahoa Hwy. Will it follow the existing old SaddleRoad or cut south through the the Army's newly acquired 24,000-acresfor the Stryker maneuver area? I understand those plans are due to beannounced shortly.
There will be a Peace organizing meeting on Monday, Oct.l2th from 7-9PM at the Keaau Community Center where we can discuss andevaluate the protest as well as plan for future activities. Pleasecome and pass the word to others. We need to enlarge our ranks.Mahalo.
At l0 AM, Saturday, Oct. l0th, prior to going to the main gatearea of Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) wegathered at Mauna Kea State park, l mile east of the main gate along anew section of Saddle Road. Aperson who arrived from the Kona side reported that at the PTA maingate, there wereabout l7 pro America empire, "Win the War" flag wavers. They hadabout 25very large American flags lining both sides of the PTA main gate on theMauna Loa side of the highway. Oneguy was even dressed as a George Washington minuteman.
Our peace groupdecided not to get in any shouting match or confrontation with the proAmerica empire group. We decided to set up on the opposite (Mauna Kea)side of thehighway fronting the main gate. We were l4 in number. When we arrivedat the main gate area, we first joined hands in a pule. Basecommander Lt.Col. Warline Richardson came across to greet us andphotograph us. We put up the Hawaiian flag, and peace symbol flags andset up our large plywood signs saying: Stop the war, End occupation,The Kingdom Lives, No Strykers, Radiation Cover-Up. Stop the Bombing.We had lots of smaller signs too about Depleted Uranium radiationhazards, the war, etc. Once set up we stayed about45 minutes being taunted and insulted in the name of freedom by variouspeople on a bullhornacross the street. Occasionally they sang the Star Spangled Banner andGod Bless America. Though we had our own sound system in the truck, wedecided against a verbal dual across the highway. Andrew Walden,former editor of the right-wing newspaper --The Hawaii Free Press,which has since folded, appeared to be the leader of the right wing proAmerica empire group.
Our peace group had decided ahead of time we would only stay 45minutes at the maingate and then go closer to were troops were blasting away with bigcannons (l55 howitzers) toward Mauna Loa, about 5 miles west of themain gate area. The pro America empire group stayed at the maingate. As we drove west from the main gate, we could see severalgroupings of what appeared to be 4or 5 howitzers each with tentcoverings and 50-l00 troops in each group We stopped at about the 42mile marker near one of the howitzer groups closest to the Saddle Roadand set up our signs, flags, etc for another hour. We had 2 radiationmonitors operating and we did get slightly elevated readings whenmilitary trucks or machine gunner humves drove by kicking up dust, butnothing close to the 4-5 times background readings of May 29, 2007 withdust devils come directly off the Davy rockett DU impact ranges towardus at Mauna Kea State Park where we were protesting that day.
Following the protest we had a picnic at Mauna Kea park, talkedstory, and headed home.
This was the second time our protest at PTA generated a pro Americaempire showing.About a year ago there was a similar showing at the old main gatearea.PTA now has this big new highway and new main gate area. The road fromHilo to Kona has been pushed north hugging the slopes of Mauna Kea,which actually enlarges PTA's training area. It is still not clearwhere the route of the new Saddle Road will go from the 42 mile markerwestward to the Mamalahoa Hwy. Will it follow the existing old SaddleRoad or cut south through the the Army's newly acquired 24,000-acresfor the Stryker maneuver area? I understand those plans are due to beannounced shortly.
There will be a Peace organizing meeting on Monday, Oct.l2th from 7-9PM at the Keaau Community Center where we can discuss andevaluate the protest as well as plan for future activities. Pleasecome and pass the word to others. We need to enlarge our ranks.Mahalo.
--
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
Comments
aloha! some video from Pohakuloa protest with Jim and RJ speaking for peace.
"Na Kanaka Nationals heeds protest protocol at Hawaii military gate. Our young activist has no sense of this protocol today nor do I see this closing at the end of ones protest. We practice pule by the path of our Na Kupuna that has since past, pule brings people together, to pray for our family, our ancestors, and each others safety. A hand holding circle is First People’s motif and culture practice. Frontline is a dangerous act and Albertini knows how dangerous this is and one should follow his lead and use this behavior of pule as training for future frontline protestor’s. The bottom line is safety for all participants.
The base commanders of military installations pray with First People. This precedent has been in practice since Public Law 95-341 was implemented in practice on the Amelica military installations and Native Americans were allowed access on military reserves to pray for their ancestors in the 70s. The prayer circle is a puuhonua for all people. So, when Lt.Col. Warline Richardson came across to greet, he also documented his appropriate behavior as well as to document his owns surveillance. Having said this one needs not prostrate oneself to Amelica and their acts of genocide. Therefore, one needs to pa’a, Ku Kanaka, remain postured with purpose of protest at all times and follow the leader that should have some form of unity and background training.
Disappointing to read protest signs of the 70s. When I read “Stop the Bombing” and “End Occupation”, it was heartbreaking because we had an opportunity in the 70s to make this stand for all islands, but under 5f d, and e Hawaii Revised Statue, President Bush gave back O Kanaloa Kohe Malamalama back to the fake state by a Na Kanaka vote for the consent decree. But, under the consent decree that was voted on by Na Kanaka it states that the military can bomb certain times of the year.... In the 70s, I could not conceive this in my mind that we voted on this consent decree! I did not vote for the consent decree. A week before, I walked from Kealaikahiki to Honu Kanaenae to Moa’ulaiki, the top of Pu’u maiwi and to Hakioawa and back to Honu Kanaenae in one day, a 15 mile walk on a religious access to stop the bombing, and for what?
The meeting was held on Molokai for all of us that participated on this first agreed access with the military, community and PKO. We were tricked by Cynthia Thielen (Laura Thielens' mom) and Ron Albu into voting for this consent decree allowing the military to continue bombing in the islands, and stopping the bomb did happened only to Kahoolawe an uninhabited island. There is so much irony in this experience I can’t phantom the loss! We returned home to our islands only to have the military continue their bombing training in our communities where we are raising our children, where people live.
The evil needed is to understand prostrating to the fake state out of just being nice guy. In the military arsenal each bomb has uranium that depletes and when it strikes our aina it releases uranium into our air. Once released into the air it remains forever and ever. It is of the assumption that fire kills uranium. This is why we have many fires set in Waianae, by ignorant people that are following the path of pseudo science leaders. This all happens where our children play and in turn become military Sponge Bobs like the polar bears at the north pole.
Our Na Kanaka gave forty plus Hawaiian names to each wind, they new when a dirty wind was coming as oppose to clean breezes. Children were kept inside for good reasons we never understood just made our parents feel bad by acting out. Today, every forty wind contains depleted uranium.
Radiation is covered up after dumping. In my community I have truckers desperate and willing to do criminal things to pay their high commercial loans which was they only way they could purchase their trucks. Military procurements hire these illiterate truckers to take military toxic nuclear waste soils out of their bases. I followed the truckers one day over the Schofield Base and watched the trucker enter the military gate at Schofield Military Base, later that evening that same trucker on the same day brought home a load and dumped it directly behind my home/community in Waianae Hawaiian Homeland exist. First people with 50% plus blood quantum live adjacent to this dump and we have a high death rate people die before their time and much more ill healths exist in my community. After they land fill what these fools do is black top the area to cover the toxic waste soils from military procurements. This removal of toxic nuclear waste from military installations is considered sustainable or going green stuff.
According to Tad Davis his sustainable waste management removal are to be taken to other communities. It is his policy to remove these toxic waste for the safety of the military families. The toxic waste from in the fence and taken to outside the fence is Tad Davis’s sustainable five year projection policy. Outside the fence means our non military/ and local communities. A high ranking family live in the fence, low ranking live with us in local communities where the nuclear waste is being dumped. We let them do this to ourselves and our families. Let's get beyond the talk.
In the aftermath of frontline protest post traumatic syndrome processes downtime for deep thinkers. Protesting on the frontline against military genocide are no place for the weak, immaturity, and Don Quixote’s. When a person dwells in text to text they weaken humanity and Andrew Walden lack humanity and earth sense. He seems to have this evil power that was manifested during his text to text media literacy and now seems to have latched himself like a leech on vulnerable military people.
Military families in a weird way are also part of our family for the moment they are blinded and being led by evil leaders. Safety of military families is just as much our responsibility, this is what our Na Kupuna taught us, of course we resisted this no doubt, however, and it is who we are as a nation. Haloa speaks to this way of culture practice when first earth beat/Ha occurred. Being against genocide is not in parts it is the whole, we’re acting out a cause and effect of Maoli World. Just get well for we have many more protest ahead of us, it’s a commitment and a responsibility to our Na Kupuna that have past on and our people of earth. Trilateral are small thinkers like their little penis, we are Taro'ist of Haloa that is the difference we must always hold in our minds, and spirit.
We need a reading instrument here in Waianae to monitor and take readings in our homes. I wonder how we can get a hold of one of these instruments. Evidence is important; not just talking about our observations will sway the moral of the problem and solutions of stopping the bombing and the use of nuclear in this world. Scientist are just corporate toy boys, it’s unlike when Linus Pauling was alive. He organized the science community to commit to anti nuclear practices on our human race. Is this where ‘absent minded professors’ wins true above the universal laws of humanity? We must learn more about depleted uranium problem and sound off our man'o to the world by hitting the pavement that lined the pathway to our quality of living. Stop the Bombing! "Kaohi