Malu 'Aina

Hilo Bay Nuclear Warship

Blockade

       July 18, 2014 marks the 30^th anniversary of an historic protest in Hilo Bay to uphold the spirit, if not the letter, of Hawaii County’s Nuclear-Free law (ordinance #665) passed unanimously in 1981. On July 18, 1984 hundreds of people gathered on the Hilo docks in protest of a Pearl Harbor based visiting U.S. nuclear armed warship, USS Ouellet. The ship was coming to Hilo at the invitation of the Hawaii Japanese Chamber of Commerce for its “Let’s Sell Hawaii” Festival of the Pacific.

      For three years, despite numerous requests to respect our law, the Navy repeatedly violated the law. In June of 1984 peace activists announced a non-violent blockade of the next nuclear ship visiting Hilo. In response, the Navy, got federal authorities, to establish a martial law situation in Hilo Bay.

      On July 18 two Coast Guard cutters escorted the warship. Military speed boats, zodiacs, helicopters and Navy Seal teams were also in the harbor. Federal authorities declared that anyone entering Hilo Bay to peacefully protest the nuclear warship would be subject to a felony criminal violation with a federal prison term up to three years and a $50,000 fine. Three people entered the water from the point of pier 2 and 3 swimming toward the arriving warship in the harbor channel. They held their hands up in a symbolic message to the ship –”STOP.” Jim Snyder, Warren Wineman, and Jim Albertini were imprisoned and/or fined for their non-violent protest. Jim Albertini was released from Federal prison after a little more than a year of his 3 year sentence mainly due to international protest. For nearly 10 consecutive years, because of his non-violent protests, Jim had to obtain a federal court order to travel from Hawai`i island.

Aloha Hawai`i – Protest RIMPAC 2014

Sat. July 19^th 10AM- Noon Hilo Airport -Hwy. 11 Intersection

      RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) is the world’s largest warfare exercise and is now taking place in and around the waters of Hawai`i. Twenty-two nations, 49 ships, 6 submarines, more than 200 aircraft (including killer drones) and 25,000 personnel are participating.

      In short, RIMPAC is an attack on the air, land and sea environment of Hawai`i –it’s people, plants, and animals. It desecrates and contaminates what we hold sacred and sustains our life. All Hawai`i stand together in saying –We want RIMPAC stopped! Now! Ku`e!

(See the lyrics and listen to the song – “The Ballad of Pearl Harbor” at www.malu-aina.org )

Free Hawai`i & the World from the Curse of Militarism!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.  5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email:ja@malu-aina.org  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (July 18, 2014 – 669th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

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