Reminder Community meetings Thursday in Hilo & Friday in Kona about Pohakuloa military impacts to cultural resources
Malu Aina Center for Non-Violent Education and Action
Reminder Community meetings Thursday in Hilo & Friday in Kona about Pohakuloa military impacts to cultural resources
Contact: Ruth Aloua 785-0211 for Kona forum, Pua’ena Ahn 854-1837 for Hilo forum
U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa is seeking public comment on its 2017 Draft Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan regarding the 132,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area, located in the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The document states, “the general objective of the cultural resources management program are to eliminate impacts to the military mission arising from cultural resources.” Despite adverse impacts to archaeological resources and sacred sites, the Environmental Assessment concluded a Finding Of No Significant Impact. For this reason, USAG-Pohakuloa has declined to hold public meetings as it is not legally obligated to do so under a FONSI, despite “active public outreach” having been included as an Implementation Objective of the ICRMP. Malu ʻAina Center for Non-Violent Education and Action will be hosting community meetings concerning this plan in lieu of USAG-Pohakuloa, co-sponsored by Hawaii County District 5 Council Member Jen Ruggles. The Hilo meeting will be held on November 30, 2017 at the Aupuni Center Conference Room from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The Kona meeting will be held on December 1, 2017 at the West Hawai’i Civic Center in the open gazebo from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Community members attending in Kona should bring a chair or towel for comfortable seating. Written testimonies, songs, chants and art are welcomed. Testimonies will be video recorded, shared on social media and submitted to U.S. Army Garrison by the December 7, 2017 deadline.
For further information contact Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action via phone ((808) 966-7622) or email (ja@malu-aina.org). Sign-up on our website to receive our posts http://www.malu-aina.org/
The EA can be found at https://www.garrison.hawaii
