Please Share Widely. Mahalo.
Kahea — This is a call to submit testimony opposing the Army’s lease extension at Pohakuloa, and other attempts by hook or by crook to keep bombing Pohakuloa. The deadline to submit testimony by postal mail and email is June 7, 2024. Read the EIS and see where to submit testimony here. https://home.army.mil/hawaii/ptaeis/project-home
There were only 2 public hearings on the entire Big Island. One in Waimea, May 6th, and one in Hilo, on May 7th. Everyone in Waimea spoke against the lease extension. Only 2 people of several dozen people testifying in Hilo, spoke in favor of the military lease extension. All the others spoke against it. At the Hilo public hearing held at the Imiloa Astronomy Center, contractors for the military EIS initially tried to prohibit us from holding protest signs outside the entrance to Imiloa. They backed off when we refused to leave but it shows where they stand. They are not neutral. Outside the Hilo hearing, I ran into the Army Garrison Hawaii head of Public Affairs, Mike Donnelly. His prior position for years was as the Public Affairs Officer for Pohakuloa. The Big Island Press Club in 2019 gave him the “Lava Tube of Darkness” dishonor award for his lack of transparency. What do you think happened? He was promoted to Army Garrison Hawaii Public Affairs Officer for all Army in Hawaii for his lack of transparency.
Please Share Widely. Mahalo.
Kahea — This is a call to submit testimony opposing the Army’s lease extension at Pohakuloa, and other attempts by hook or by crook to keep bombing Pohakuloa. The deadline to submit testimony by postal mail and email is June 7, 2024. Read the EIS and see where to submit testimony here. https://home.army.mil/hawaii/ptaeis/project-home
There were only 2 public hearings on the entire Big Island. One in Waimea, on May 6th, and one in Hilo, on May 7th. Everyone in Waimea spoke against the lease extension. Only 2 people of several dozen people testifying in Hilo, spoke in favor of the military lease extension. All the others spoke against it. At the Hilo public hearing held at the Imiloa Astronomy Center, contractors for the military EIS initially tried to prohibit us from holding protest signs outside the entrance to Imiloa. They backed off when we refused to leave but it shows where they stand. They are not neutral. Outside the Hilo hearing, I ran into the Army Garrison Hawaii head of Public Affairs, Mike Donnelly. His prior position for years was as the Public Affairs Officer for Pohakuloa. The Big Island Press Club in 2019 gave him the “Lava Tube of Darkness” dishonor award for his lack of transparency. What do you think happened? He was promoted to Army Garrison Hawaii Public Affairs Officer for all Army in Hawaii for his lack of transparency.
Protect
Pohakuloa!
No Military Lease Renewal, No Land Swaps, Stop the Bombing and Desecration, Make the Military Clean Up its Toxic Mess, Return the Land to the Kanaka Maoli, and pay reparations for destruction of the ‘aina and psychological injuries caused.
The Big Lie – “We are Stewards of the Land” PTA commander LTC Timothy Alvarado, June 29, 2023, Hawaii Tribune-Herald
A Few Simple Truths: Testimony by Jim Albertini
1. Millions of live rounds are fired annually at Pohakuloa by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and foreign troops involving a wide range of weapon systems from dozens of firing points on land leased from the State of Hawaii. (p. 52 of draft2 EIS) in State Conservation zoned land.
2. Depleted Uranium (DU) is just one of many toxins used at the 132,000+ acre site in over 75 years of bombing and shelling. DU oxide particles can be carried long distances in the wind and when inhaled can cause a wide range of cancers, birth defects, and even genetic damage passed to future generations. A comprehensive, independent investigation of all toxins at PTA is needed, not the military mongoose telling us that everything if OK in the Big Island hen house.
3. Pohakuloa is a Lahaina firestorm in the making for Hawaii Island and the danger is increasing with climate change. There have been 892 recorded fires attributable to military activities at PTA since 1975 according to the military. The military says “many fire records prior to 2012 have been lost.” (p. 354) One year before the Lahaina fire, a fire started at PTA burned more than 17,700 acres, including more than 12,400 acres outside of PTA , destroying endangered native species. PTA has the highest concentration of endangered species of any US Army installation in the world.
4. Whatever happens mauka comes makai. We are all downwind, downhill of Pohakuloa. The military poisoning of military families and civilians from Red Hill jet fuel leaks into Oahu’s water table is not an isolated military toxic event. The US Army secretly tested chemical, biological, and deadly sarin nerve gas agents on leased lands in Hawaii’s watershed (Waiakea Forest Area). The military secret tests were repeatedly denied, but later confirmed. People spoke up in protest and the lease was canceled.
5. Claims of US owned lands at Pohakuloa are misleading. Most lands at PTA, like the 84,000 acres that includes the live fire impact area were not purchased, but simply seized by an Executive order (EO. along with the 758 acres that includes the main base Cantonment area and Bradshaw Air field. Kaho’olawe was also seized by an Executive Order and finally returned by a new Executive Order.
Learn more: Read the PTA Environmental Impact Statement here to submit comments in writing by mail, email. Deadline is June 7, 2024. https://home.army.mil/hawaii/ptaeis/project-home For more detailed testimony by Jim Albertini on the Pohakuloa EIS see https://malu-aina.org/?p=10069 Also See the 11-minute video — How the Army Got to Bomb Hawaii For $1 https://youtu.be/-nsn4Sxy8r8 Pohakuloa 14 min. video “Now that you Know, Do You Care?” https://vimeo.com/94598875 Also the video of Dr. Lorrin Pang, M.D., public health officer, retired 24 years in the Army Medical Corps, and listed in the Who’s Who (top 3%) of America’s Best Doctors explaining the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles https://vimeo.com/19153948. Also read – A Brief History Of US Military Poisoning Of Hawai’i – PopularResistance.Org
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
May 10, 2024, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1180 – Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office
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Jim Albertini 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 Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
