Learning from Kaho’olawe — Stop the Bombing of Pohakuloa
The Conversation: Oral History of Kaho’olawe
By Catherine Cruz & Bill Dorman • Oct 22, 2020 (30th anniversary of the Bombing being stopped Oct. 22, 1990 on Kaho’olawe)
Jim Albertini comments:
Stop Bombing Pohakuloa just like the bombing got stopped on Kaho’olawe
When Hawaii US Senator Sparky Matsunaga died, Pat Saiki ran against Dan Akaka for the US Senate seat in 1990) During one of these oral history tapes I heard on HPR (24 min mark in tape link above) about Kaho’olawe 30th anniversary) was a tape of Pat Saiki. Saiki talks about being invited by President George H.W. Bush to a meeting in the Oval Office. Saiki told Bush Hawaii was a very Democratic state so she needed something that would give her (a Republican) a boost to beat Akaka (a Democrat). Bush said what can I do. She said Kaho’olawe was a very active issue. If Bush could help stop the bombing it could possibly help Saiki beat Akaka. Saiki said Bush could issue a presidential executive order to stop the bombing. Bush turned to his chief of staff –John Sununu and said “DO IT.” The bombing was stopped Oct. 22, 1990. But Saiki lost to Akaka anyway though I’m sure it helped get her some votes.
Today, the Bombing at Pohakuloa takes place (Not on State leased land) but on 84,000 acres seized by a presidential executive order in 1964 under LB Johnson. How do we get a new presidential executive order to Stop the bombing at Pohakuloa similar to the Bush executive order in 1990?
The key thing — we need to build a Kaho’olawe style mass movement to turn up the heat on elected officials at all levels.
Aerial view of Kaho’olawe
