Hawaii County’s Historic Nuclear-Free
Law has been Restored!
The Military Exemption has been Repealed!
The Repeal of the Military Exemption will become effective on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
Background: Hawaii County Council Bill 206 Draft 2 to Repeal the military exemption from Hawaii County’s Historic Nuclear-Free Law passed unanimously in committee and two council unanimous votes. Outgoing Mayor, Mitch Roth, allowed the bill to become law without his signature on Dec. 2, 2024. The County Clerk’s Office said the Bill goes into effect on Dec. 3, 2024.
The County’s original Nuclear-Free Law was passed in 1981. Hawaii County was the first municipality in the US to pass such a law. Since then, more than 200 towns, cities, counties, and Native American nations across the United States have declared themselves Nuclear Free Zones (NFZs). https://www.nuclearban.us/for-towncities/
A big mahalo to the many hands that went into this effort. Mahalo to the Hawaii County Council, and Mayor Roth. A special Mahalo to Councilman Holeka Goro Inaba who introduced Bill 206 and to the late Moanikeala Akaka who helped push the original 1981 Nuclear Free Law. Mahalo to all who testified in support, called their council people and the Mayor, and have stood for Aloha, not War over many years. Peace is a victory for all and this action by Hawaii County is a positive step toward a Nuclear-Free and Peaceful world. Now let’s get to work and push the military to clean up its Depleted Uranium Nuclear Radiation, and other toxic contamination mess at Pohakuloa, and stop Bombing our island home. There’s lots more to the story of the military exemption that can be seen on our website https://malu-aina.org/?p=10732
1 . Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti- Russian, anti-LGBTQ, etc. 5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts. For more information see https://www.malu-aina.org
Dec. 6, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1210– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office
A Big Mahalo!
Restoring the Nuclear-
Free Law
A big mahalo to the many hands that went into this effort – all who testified in support, called their council people and the Mayor, and have stood for Aloha, not War over many years.
Peace is a victory for all and a positive step toward a Nuclear-Free and Peaceful world.
1984 marked 3 years of politely requesting the military (without success) not to bring nuclear-powered or armed warships to the Big Island in violation of our County’s Nuclear-Free Law. Malu ‘Aina announced in June 1984, that there would be a peaceful swimming protest in July of 1984 of the next nuclear warship visit. That’s when the Hawaii County Council under the leadership of Steven Yamashiro initiated (legally questionable) emergency legislation to “EXEMPT THE MILITARY” from Hawaii County’s Nuclear-Free Law. The “Military Exemption” was signed into law the day before the nuclear-armed warship, the USS Ouellete arrived in Hilo Bay on July 18, 1984. In addition, the Navy asked the US Coast Guard to declare all of Hilo Bay a Federal Security Zone on the day the Navy warship arrived. Anyone even putting their toe in the water that day in protest of the visiting nuclear warship would be subject to felony charges.
On the day the ship arrived, military helicopters patrolled Hilo Bay overhead, Two Coast Guard ships escorted the Navy Nuclear Warship, the USS Ouellete. Navy Seal teams were in several zodiacs in Hilo Bay. Hundreds peacefully protested on the Hilo docks, holding signs, singing peace songs. Dozens, perhaps up to 100, wanted to enter the water in protest. I had to discourage people from doing the right thing for the wrong reason. To face a felony charge, people must think the situation through and discuss the implications with family. A felony would follow you around the rest of your life. Long story short, three of us close friends and long-time peace activist entered the water and swam toward the arriving ship still far out in the bay. Warren Wineman, a retired Naval officer and Hilo businessman, fellow farmer Jim Snyder, and myself. Naval Seal teams fished us out of the water and the ship eventually docked to awaiting protest. The three of us were tried and found guilty in Federal court before a visiting Federal Judge, Spencer Williams, who had been a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. As the leader, I was sentenced immediately following trial to the maximum penalty – 3 years in federal prison. Warren Wineman was fined, and Jim Snyder I believe was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
I spent more than a year in various federal prisons for the Hilo Bay swim and fortunately was kicked out of prison because of international protest. Still, more than a year in prison for a peaceful swim is a long time.
On Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, as we were packing up signs from our weekly Hilo Friday Peace vigil, a man approached and asked if I was Jim Albertini. I said yes. He said he was a crew member of the Navy ship USS Ouellete and he wanted to apologize to me for my being sent to prison for the swim for peace of the warship he once crewed. I thanked him for his kindness and solidarity for peace.
Jim Albertini, Dec. 2, 2024
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