Malu 'Aina

Aloha kakou,

It’s important to go to the physical sites  where the aina is being desecrated and be a witness to say “STOP”.  It is time to aloha aina, to malama mother earth, not bomb her.

It was a beautiful sunny day at Pohakuloa in the Saddle Area between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Sat. March 1st -“Nuclear-Free & Independent Pacific Day.  March 1st is remembered around the Pacific for the tragic U.S. nuclear bomb test, code named “Bravo” on March 1, 1954 that equaled 15 Megatons (15 million tons) of explosive power or 1000 times the power of the bomb that destroyed the city of Hiroshima, Japan.  The “Bravo” test blast destroyed several islands in the Bikini Atoll of the Marshall Islands and left widespread radiation contamination.

On March 1st at Pohakuloa, thirty five people turned out to pray, chant, and hold signs opposite the main gate for aloha aina and stopping the bombing, and to oppose military expansion plans at Pohakuloa. (See attached photo)   An equal number of people were present directly in front of the base gate in support of military bombing at Pohakuloa, holding large American flags and even a couple Israeli flags.   (See attached photo)

A lot of cars passing by honked their horns but it was often difficult to tell for whom they were honking.  For the most part, the 2 hour event went well, except for near the closing pule by our group.  While we were circling to pray, one of the pro bombing biker guys crossed the highway and grabbed one of the signs and ripped it up.  Several people in our group said let it go. Do not respond. Such an act brings shame on the other group.

After the gathering at the main gate, we went to Mauna Kea Park nearby for a picnic.  Our radiation monitors did not pick up any spikes.  The winds were coming out of the west.  We have recorded several radiation spikes on different occasions with winds from the south and east.
—
Jim Albertini