“Aloha ‘Aina – Stop Bombing Pohakuloa”
Draft statement only – Feedback appreciated. Mahalo
Aloha ‘Aina
Stop the desecration and contamination of Hawaiian Kingdom Crown Lands at Pohakuloa
Pohakuloa located in the center of the island of Hawaii is revered by Kanaka Maoli (Hawaii’s first people) as the heavenly unity between Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai – the sacred realms of Na Akua (Gods). The U.S. military conducts live-fire training in the heart of Hawaii Island among numerous cultural, historic, and religious sites, and the highest concentration of endangered species of any U.S. military training area in the world.
This sacred place was transformed into a toxic wasteland after the U.S. unlawfully seized over 84,000 acres through presidential executive order #111767. The illegitimate State of Hawaii leases over 24,000-acres at Pohakuloa to the army for 65 years at 1.5 cents per year. The unlawful State lease is due to expire in 2029 and the army is seeking early termination of the lease and replacement with a new lease to accommodate their expansion plans. The Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) now encompasses over 133,000 acres, nearly 5 times the size of Kaho’olawe island, and is the largest U.S. military training area outside the United States.
Military documents reveal that up to 14.8 million rounds of live ammunition are fired annually at PTA, ammunition that includes known toxic health hazards such as lead, uranium, and numerous other toxins. High winds risk spreading the toxic contamination far and wide in the form of easily ingested microscopic particles. Heavy rains risk flushing toxins down into our drinking water aquifers and into our ocean. Uranium is already showing up in residents’ urine and further investigation is needed to determine if the uranium is linked to military contamination.
We demand an end to the belligerent U.S. occupation in Hawaii. We demand the restoration of self-governance of the Hawaiian nation. We demand the U.S. to stop bombing Hawaii and clean up its opala (mess). We demand an end to U.S. desecration and contamination of sacred, cultural, religious, and historic sites in Hawaii and beyond. We pray that the U.S. not do to others what the U.S. has already done and continues to do to Hawaii: unlawfully occupy its government and nation, desecrate its sacred sites, contaminate its air, land, water, people, plants, and animals with military toxins.
Pohakuloa is a natural place for peace and healing. The time has come to void the unlawful executive orders and unlawful leases of Hawaiian Kingdom Crown lands. The time is now for the Aloha Spirit!
Stop Bombing Pohakuloa!
For feedback or to add your name and/or organization as endorsing this statement, please contact:
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB 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
