Malu 'Aina

To all parties involved with the Aug. 24, 2021 two hour Annual Review phone meeting: I request that this statement be made an official part of the meeting record. Email sent 8/25/21

This is a follow up to my question at the Aug. 24th Pohakuloa 106 consultation meeting concerning how many archeological sites at the 133,000-acre PTA are designated as He’iau or shrines?  The answer provided was 18 shrines.

In 1980, an archeological survey on Kaho’olawe found 87 he’iau and shrines and I believe more have been found since then but I don’t have access to that data.  Kaho’olawe is  28,000-acres nearly 5 times smaller than Pohakuloa at 133,000-acres.  It must also be noted, that at the time of western contact Moku O Keawe (Hawaii Island) had the largest population of any of the islands.  It is hard to believe that in a place so special (Po-haku-loa – the land of the Night of Long Prayer) located between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualalai  that ONLY 18 shrines (0) He’iau have been found. Let me repeat: that’s nearly 5 times LESS than on Kaho’olawe when PTA is nearly 5 times larger with the largest population of any Hawaiian island at the time of western contact.  It just doesn’t make sense. IT JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. What is implied is that there is a cultural cover up going on to facilitate continued bombing (THE MISSION).  Everything is subservient to THE MISSION. Cultural surveys, concern for the health and safety of Hawaii residents, visitors, and even the military’s own troops. EVERYTHING!  THE MISSION Trumps all!

The US military has controlled Pohakuloa for more than 75 years. If you haven’t done a complete survey of cultural sites, it is your fault.  No more excuses. Claims of no money ring hollow.  The US spends trillions on war, abandoned billions of dollars on weaponry in Afghanistan, yet claims there is no money to do cultural surveys on its bases or clean up the many messes left at present and former military sites in Hawaii and elsewhere, including 57 present and former military sites on Hawaii island alone. In addition to the claims of “No money to do surveys,” the military simply lies or withholds the truth.  How many live rounds are fired annually at PTA?  Where is a list and numbers of all types of rounds fired?  What about the years of denial about Depleted Uranium (DU) ever being used in Hawaii?  Now documented on Oahu at Schofield, likely at Makua Valley, here at Pohakuloa, and possibly on Kaho’olawe and other sites. What about the Army’s lie involving the lease of public lands in the Waiakea Forest Reserve in the 1960s off Stainback highway in Ola’a above Hilo to do what was said to be “Weather Testing” when in fact the Army was testing Chemical and Biological weapons in Hilo’s watershed, including Sarin nerve gas that kills at 1/50 of a drop?  And the list goes on and on.  And the lies continue, including about the serious health problems associated with inhaling DU oxide particles which can be carried long distances in the wind when DU metal is hit with high explosives and burned.

The Military run annual Pohakuloa review meeting on Aug. 24th was a sham, a mere required legal formality.  We are not fooled. It is time for all live-fire at Pohakuloa to be stopped immediately.  No renewal of leased lands.  Clean up your mess and return all Hawaiian lands to Hawaiian hands.  Like it was long overdue for the US to leave Afghanistan after 20 years of occupation, it is long past time for the US to leave Hawaii after 128 years of illegal military occupation.

Jim Albertini

PS The military even made the claim that they can’t use drones to look for cultural sites because the drones have Chinese parts and it may compromise security. Can you believe that desperate and absurd claim?

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