Kaleo,Mahalo for your response.I choose to respond through the blog because the "send comment" doesn't work for me.As I said, we are still struggling in Waimanalo and put together a group of community people to tackle Bellows as we speak. The fat lady hasn't sung yet.The military thinks that they will never leave Waimanalo...well, that's left to be seen. I won't count my chickens early but I can say, that we will not give up our lands to these negative forces on our lands that are pono.Mahalo again Kaleo.Onipa'a,Kawehi
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Take Action TODAY in support of County Council Resolution on Depleted Uranium !!In a brave first-step, Hawaii Island County Council is calling for full disclosure about depleted uranium (DU) contamination at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA).From our friends on the Big Island: Depleted Uranium contamination in the air and watershed poses tremendous risks to human health and the environment--impacts lasing many generations. The severity of the risks of DU upon human populations and the environment calls for immediate extensive testing of potentially affected areas. After 50 years of informed inaction on the part of the federal military and the state government to reduce and remove the toxic danger of DU in the Hawaiian environment, there is widespread concern that continuing activities in areas with DU contamination will only serve to increase the risk to the public.Please support the Hawaii County Council Resolution 639-08 to address the hazards of Depleted Uranium at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA).CLICK HERE! Quick + Easy! Submit a letter to Councilmembers in support of Resolution 639-08. Takes just a minute!Read more…
Many of us have some idea about the extent of the military presence in our islands. The informational map I posted in my photos section came from a recent Honolulu Advertiser piece published on March 14, 2008 entitled, "Army Wants to Add 2,000 troops in Hawaii."Here is what incoming military personnel to the islands are told about their contribution to “Hawaii, The Aloha State.” in The Official Military Guide, Summer 2008. Your Military in Hawaii."Hawaii based troops have a substantial impact on Hawaii’s economy. According to the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the facts below demonstrate the benefits of military presence in the state:"--The U.S. Department of Defense is the second major source of revenue to the state—second only to tourism.--Hawaii is the third ranking state (behind Virginia and Alaska) in annual per-capita federal defense spending expenditures---$3,939 per person.--According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Hawaii topped all other states with the highest percentage of people ages 16 to 64 in the armed forces ---4.95 percent.--Every major defense contractor has local staffing in Hawaii, where defense procurement averaged $2.0 billion annually since FY-02.--Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is the largest industrial employer in Hawaii.--During 2006, the Coast Guard conducted more than 1,200 search-and-rescue missions, saved 409 lives and $3.6 million in property.--Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai is the largest multi-environment military range in the world.--As of Sept 30, 2008, slightly more than 102,000 Department of Defense personnel lived and worked in Hawaii. (p. 113)These are shocking statistics if you consider them in a U.S. "National" and international context as opposed to considering the military presence in Hawai'i as a problem facing Hawaiians. Hawai'i is indeed a paradise for the American military, consider too that the National Defense Industrial Association will be holding its Pacific Operational Science and Technology Conference on O'ahu this coming weekend from July 14-17 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.For more on this conference check out the NDIA website athttp://www.ndia.org/Template.cfm?Section=8540&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23044You can find the entire "Your Military In Hawai'i" booklet in PDF form athttp://books.marcoa.com/books/Hawaii07/display-magazine.php
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Posted by Free Hawai`i on April 27, 2008 at 8:40am
A very big mahalo to all who have contacted us to say, “the pieces are beginning to fit,” when watching Voices Of Truth and Free Hawai`i TV.With this weeks’ appointment of the former commander of the US Pacific Fleet to run the Superferry, it’s now blatantly obvious the Superferry has been primarily a military operation from the outset.The ability to land US military equipment on any of Hawai`i’s islands at a moments notice was their plan all along.We’ve reported that one simple fact on Free Hawai`i TV from the beginning.Now couple that with our recent Voices Of Truth guests who stress not only malama ka `aina (preserving the land,) but something else getting bigger every day - the growing awareness that all land title in Hawai`i is clouded.All of a sudden you begin to see why the US occupying force wants the military capability the Superferry affords – more and more of Hawai`i’s citizens, people who love their land, awakening to a realization the US has no legal title to land in Hawai`i even by their own laws.The Hawai`i state supreme court recently acknowledged this fact in their decision referencing the 1993 Apology Resolution when ruling ceded lands may not be sold or transferred.We’ll be explaining this and a whole lot more coming this Wednesday on Free Hawai`i TV – don’t miss it.By the way if you support our issues on the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network, please email this to a friend and see below how you can help us continue our work.And because we’ve received so much positive feedback on our visit with Earl Louis, we’re airing it on all islands this week.Earl’s one of those who knows not only who really owns the land in Hawai`i, but whose responsible for taking care of it. If you want to see both humility and strength in action, don’t miss him this week on Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.MONDAY, April 28th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, May 2nd At 5:30 PM – Hawai`i Island – Na Leo, Channel 53TUESDAY, April 29th At 6:30 PM & WEDNESDAY, April 30th At 6:30 AM – Maui – Akaku, Channel 53THURSDAY, May 1st At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, May 2nd At 8:30 AM – Kaua`i – Ho`ike, Channel 52SATURDAY, May 3rd At 8:00 PM – O`ahu - `Olelo, Channel 53“Continuing The Quest – A Visit With Earl Louis”Living his entire life of 43 years in Punalu`u, on Hawai`i Island, Earl has seen a lot of changes.Located in the district of Ka`u, he tells us Punalu`u sees more development and tourists practically every day.A fierce advocate for preserving the last uninhabited coastline on Hawai`i Island, Earl knows both the good and bad news - Punalu`u is not only beautiful but easily accessible.“Why should we cater to people who want to destroy this land with more resorts and condominiums?”That’s the question Earl confronts on a daily basis.Fertilizers from resort golf courses flow to the ocean, killing off the limu (seaweed) that is food for both the fish and Hawksbill turtle that come to nest on Punalu`u beaches and lay their eggs.Earl’s mission of trying to save the entire eighty-mile coastline might seem daunting to some.To him, it’s simply what must be done.Join us in our amazing visit with Earl and you’ll experience what we did - a humble man whose words stay with you a very long time - “This is what the ancestors left for us thousands of years ago. We need to educate our visitors. They don’t know how special and sacred this `aina is. Development is not the only answer.”Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants in the hopes of inspiring viewers to do the same.Please consider a donation today to help further our work. Every single penny counts.You may donate via PayPal at VoicesOfTruthTV.com or by mail –The Koani FoundationPO Box 1878Lihu`e, Kaua`i 96766If you missed a show, want you see your favorites again or you don’t live in Hawai`i, here’s how to view our shows anytime – visit VoicesOfTruthTV.com and simply click on the episodes you wish to view.And for news on issues that affect you, watch FreeHawaiiTV.com.It’s all part of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network.Read more…
Posted by Pono Kealoha on February 25, 2008 at 3:05pm
Army Sued to Clear Ordnance from Hawaiian TemplesEnvironmental News Service, February 20, 2008Today, community group Malama Makua asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii to order the U.S. Army to move quickly to expand cultural access to Native Hawaiian sites at Makua Military Reservation on Oahu.This access is required under the October 4, 2001 settlement that resolved Malama Makua's lawsuit challenging the Army's failure to prepare an environmental impact statement for training at Makua.Instead of clearing unexploded ordnance to open new sites to cultural access, as the settlement requires, the Army has, since February 2005, used the possible presence of unexploded ordnance as an excuse to eliminate nearly all access.After years of fruitless negotiations with the Army, Malama Makua is seeking the court's assistance to compel the Army to keep the promises it made when it voluntarily entered into the settlement."By denying access, the Army is denying our right to practice our religion," explained Malama Makua president Sparky Rodrigues. "To connect with our ancestors, 'aumakua [family gods] and akua [gods], we have to be able to walk up to cultural sites, oli [chant] and present ho'okupu [offerings]. That's why, when we settled the case in 2001, we insisted that the Army agree to give us access to cultural sites and promptly remove unexploded ordnance to expand our opportunities for access.""Instead of honoring its word, the Army has tried to keep us out, locking the door to our church," said Rodrigues.Makua, which means "parents" in Hawaiian, is a sacred area, rich in cultural resources. Over 100 Native Hawaiian cultural sites have been identified at in the Makua Valley, including heiau [Hawaiian temples], ahu [altars], burials and petroglyphs.For over three years, from the settlement's entry on October 4, 2001 until February 27, 2005, the Army allowed Malama Makua and others access to over a dozen cultural sites, without incident.Then, claiming unexploded ordnance posed a safety threat, the Army suddenly cut off access to all but a single site.The Army has been slow to clear ordnance to allow access to resume, reopening only three sites for the first time on February 9, 2008, after three years of closure.The other nine sites to which cultural practitioners formerly had access remain off-limits, and the Army has refused to commit to a schedule for their reopening."In the six years since the settlement was entered, the Army has failed to open access to a single new site at Makua," said Earthjustice attorney David Henkin, who represents Malama Makua. "Instead, it has moved in the opposite direction, barring cultural practitioners from sites they had visited for years. The Army's delay violates both the letter and the spirit of its agreement."Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008.
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