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| Writers of the draft plan for Pohakuloa Training Area, KMC and other Army Garrison sites in Hawai`i are accepting comments through Dec. 7. See story below. Photo from U.S. Defense Department |
THE LATEST CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN for 132,268 acres at Pohakuloa Training Area, 72 acres at Kīlauea Military Camp, 11 acres at Kawaihae Military Reservation, and other U.S. Army Garrison posts in the state, declares no significant impact. With this finding, the Army is not required to hold public hearings on its future plans for these places.
However, public comments on the draft management plan are being accepted until next Thursday, Dec. 7. Several environmental, peace and cultural organizations held their own "people's public hearing" last week in Hilo and Kona said they plan to submit testimony, particularly concerning Pohakuloa where war games with live fire, tanks, helicopters and planes are conducted.
Projects planned for Pohakuloa through 2021 include construction of Keamuku Range Roads - Garrison MSR-Troop Construction; an Access Control Point and MP Station; an Aviation Gunnery Range; and a qualification Training Range and road paving.
The plan can be read online. It says that that Army provides the expertise of qualified architectural historians toward the management of approximately 400 buildings at Pohakuloa and nearly 100 buildings and structures "contributing to the character of the Kīlauea Military Camp." It also says that a cultural resource specialist with the National Park Service provides professional expertise and is the point-of-contact to the management of Pohakuloa.
Concerning archaeological sites, the Army maintains a staff to protect and interpret them, a small curation facility for artifacts at the Pohakuloa Training Area and a larger one at Schofield Barracks on O`ahu.
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According to the plan, the mission for USAG-Pōhakuloa, a military warfare training area, is to “provide support for single service, Joint, and Combined training to afford warfighters the most realistic and flexible training environment available in the Pacific.”
"PTA is the primary tactical training area that provides the United States Pacific Command Commander with joint/multinational training capabilities to support home-station training, joint training, and enables theater regional engagements," says the plan. "As a remote location, PTA is ideally suited for emergency deployment readiness exercises, regional Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration training, and multinational exercises in support of Theater Security Cooperation Programs and Shaping Operations."
The Army Garrsison supports Pōhakuloa staff with technical oversight, as well as continued administrative and logistical support "as USAG-Pōhakuloa grows its capabilities. USAG-Pōhakuloa also has oversight of KMC and Kawaihae Military Reservation and provides cultural resources support for both. The USAG-Pōhakuloa actively supports USAG-HI tenant activities, organizations, and units when they deploy to PTA for training. Tenants are required to notify the CRM of any potential changes to historic properties and to coordinate National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 processes through the USAG-Pōhakuloa Cultural Resources Section," says the plan.
Despite the promise to protect the environment and cultural resources, the plan drew opposition at the "people's public hearings." With a banner saying, "Protect Pohakuloa, Stop the Bombing, "and a sign saying, "Cancel PTA Lease" behind them, citizens testified for hours.
Hawai`i Kingdom activist Pua`ena Ahn called Pohakuloa a Hawaiian place and claimed the military is bombing sacred land, grave sites and heiau. One man said the military endangers the people who are employed at Pohakuloa and claimed one of the risks is depleted uranium left there by the military. He said "the military expects respect" and that "we expect the military to respect the land."
He claimed that the military is using a strategy of fear on the population to include the new, monthly nuclear attack warning sirens that began on Dec. 1, as well as the sound of each bomb that is dropped at Pohakuloa.
Donna Grabo urged the military to act as a peacekeeping body with "no more violence" rather than perpetuating war.
Jim Albertini, of Malu `Aina, said the plan is oriented toward dealing with impacts of cultural resources on the military mission rather than the military impact on cultural resources. He claimed that less than one third of the 130,000 acres at Pohakuloa have been surveyed in the 70 years of bombing. He said 1,200 cultural sites have been identified on less than one third of Pohakuloa and estimated that if all was surveyed, thousands of sites would be discovered.
He also claimed that leaving depleted uranium at Pohakuloa violates the state constitution. The Nuclear Regulatory Agency announced last month that it will look into a Kona citizen and scientists' concern about the situation.
Steve Hirakami, principal of the Hawai`i Academy of Arts & Science, brought students to the hearing and he testified. He said ten HAAS students recently traveled to Kaho`olawe, the former military target island, and were so inspired that they have taken up the issue of military bombing at Pohakuloa.
Fifteen year old Christopher Bizenbauer, of the HAAS school, presented a petition calling for the demilitarization of Pohakuloa. He said the school visit to Kaho`olawe showed him how difficult is is for land to recover from bombing and military war games. He said he saw destruction and craters, almost no plants and lots of erosion. He pointed to a military environmental assessment written during the time of the Kaho`olawe bombing, which contended that bombing was beneficial through pulverizing the island's soil to make it amenable to the growth of vegetation. The EA claimed that accumulation of rain runoff in bomb craters was also beneficial. He said that with that kind of thinking, he couldn't trust the military to have Pohakuloa's best interest in mind.
He noted that "Pohakuloa is many times the size of Kaho`olawe. "Kaho`olawe has zero residents and we live here and they are blowing up our island," said the HAAS student.
He presented a petition addressed to Gov. David Ige, Mayor Harry Kim, the County Council, state legislators and courts asking them to revoke the military lease for Pohakuloa.
Bombing of Kaho`olawe ended in 1990 after decades o0f public opposition and legal action.
See films of both the Hilo and Kona People's Hearings at www.bigislandvideonews.com. See the military plan online.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
PĀHALA SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FLYERS AND MAILERS are circulating in the village. "An Invitation for Pāhala Residents" from the county Department of Environmental Management invites them to come to one of five meetings set for Dec. 12, 13 and 14, "to talk story about a proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pāhala. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that the two County-operated Large Capacity Cesspools that receive wastewater from Pāhala properties previously served by the C. Brewer system must be closed due to environmental concerns," says the flyer.
The county is considering purchasing more than 40 acres at the corner of Hwy 11 and Maile Street, next to the Norfolk pine tree entrance to Pāhala, from Kamehameha Schools for the project.
It currently is home to a macadamia orchard. The purchase is on the County Council agenda for consideration this Monday.
Also possibly up for sale is the nearby 60-acre former Ka`u Sugar Mill site, which goes to a foreclosure auction on Dec. 20 with no upset price. It is listed as No. 10 on the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission for acquisition by the county.
The county flyer says that "throughout the planning and design process for the new Pāhala Wastewater Treatment Plant, our consultant Brown and Caldwell will be reaching out to the community."
The first round of Pāhala informal talk story sessions will be held in mid-December. "We will talk about the Pāhala project and ask you to share your thoughts and ideas," says the flyer. The five identical sessions are set for:
Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
Thursday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
Thursday, Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room.
The county and consultants are asking for RSVP's, but they not required to attend. For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com or Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339 or Iris Cober at the Brown and Caldwell Maui office at 808-442-3300.
The consultants also sent out stamped return post cards to those homeowners currently on the old Brewer sewage system in order for them to RSVP.
Separate meetings will be planned for the Na`alehu Wastewater Treatment Plant plan.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE
Soccer: Tues, Dec. 5, Ka`u @Konawa`ena
Saturday, Dec. 9, Kakualani @ Ka`u
Boys Basketball: Fri and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, Maui Tournament
Swimming: Sat, Dec. 9 at Konawaena
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
However, public comments on the draft management plan are being accepted until next Thursday, Dec. 7. Several environmental, peace and cultural organizations held their own "people's public hearing" last week in Hilo and Kona said they plan to submit testimony, particularly concerning Pohakuloa where war games with live fire, tanks, helicopters and planes are conducted.
Projects planned for Pohakuloa through 2021 include construction of Keamuku Range Roads - Garrison MSR-Troop Construction; an Access Control Point and MP Station; an Aviation Gunnery Range; and a qualification Training Range and road paving.
The plan can be read online. It says that that Army provides the expertise of qualified architectural historians toward the management of approximately 400 buildings at Pohakuloa and nearly 100 buildings and structures "contributing to the character of the Kīlauea Military Camp." It also says that a cultural resource specialist with the National Park Service provides professional expertise and is the point-of-contact to the management of Pohakuloa.
Concerning archaeological sites, the Army maintains a staff to protect and interpret them, a small curation facility for artifacts at the Pohakuloa Training Area and a larger one at Schofield Barracks on O`ahu.
"PTA is the primary tactical training area that provides the United States Pacific Command Commander with joint/multinational training capabilities to support home-station training, joint training, and enables theater regional engagements," says the plan. "As a remote location, PTA is ideally suited for emergency deployment readiness exercises, regional Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration training, and multinational exercises in support of Theater Security Cooperation Programs and Shaping Operations."
The Army Garrsison supports Pōhakuloa staff with technical oversight, as well as continued administrative and logistical support "as USAG-Pōhakuloa grows its capabilities. USAG-Pōhakuloa also has oversight of KMC and Kawaihae Military Reservation and provides cultural resources support for both. The USAG-Pōhakuloa actively supports USAG-HI tenant activities, organizations, and units when they deploy to PTA for training. Tenants are required to notify the CRM of any potential changes to historic properties and to coordinate National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 processes through the USAG-Pōhakuloa Cultural Resources Section," says the plan.
Despite the promise to protect the environment and cultural resources, the plan drew opposition at the "people's public hearings." With a banner saying, "Protect Pohakuloa, Stop the Bombing, "and a sign saying, "Cancel PTA Lease" behind them, citizens testified for hours.
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| Steve Hirakami, Principal of the HAAS Charter School, said he is inspired by students who visited the former military bombing site of Kaho`olawe and are taking up the issue of military bombing at Pohakuloa on this island. Photo from Big Island Video News. |
He claimed that the military is using a strategy of fear on the population to include the new, monthly nuclear attack warning sirens that began on Dec. 1, as well as the sound of each bomb that is dropped at Pohakuloa.
Donna Grabo urged the military to act as a peacekeeping body with "no more violence" rather than perpetuating war.
Jim Albertini, of Malu `Aina, said the plan is oriented toward dealing with impacts of cultural resources on the military mission rather than the military impact on cultural resources. He claimed that less than one third of the 130,000 acres at Pohakuloa have been surveyed in the 70 years of bombing. He said 1,200 cultural sites have been identified on less than one third of Pohakuloa and estimated that if all was surveyed, thousands of sites would be discovered.
He also claimed that leaving depleted uranium at Pohakuloa violates the state constitution. The Nuclear Regulatory Agency announced last month that it will look into a Kona citizen and scientists' concern about the situation.
 |
| HAAS student Christopher Bizenbauer presented a petition asking for demilitarization of Pohakuloa. Photo from Big Island Video News |
Fifteen year old Christopher Bizenbauer, of the HAAS school, presented a petition calling for the demilitarization of Pohakuloa. He said the school visit to Kaho`olawe showed him how difficult is is for land to recover from bombing and military war games. He said he saw destruction and craters, almost no plants and lots of erosion. He pointed to a military environmental assessment written during the time of the Kaho`olawe bombing, which contended that bombing was beneficial through pulverizing the island's soil to make it amenable to the growth of vegetation. The EA claimed that accumulation of rain runoff in bomb craters was also beneficial. He said that with that kind of thinking, he couldn't trust the military to have Pohakuloa's best interest in mind.
He noted that "Pohakuloa is many times the size of Kaho`olawe. "Kaho`olawe has zero residents and we live here and they are blowing up our island," said the HAAS student.
He presented a petition addressed to Gov. David Ige, Mayor Harry Kim, the County Council, state legislators and courts asking them to revoke the military lease for Pohakuloa.
Bombing of Kaho`olawe ended in 1990 after decades o0f public opposition and legal action.
See films of both the Hilo and Kona People's Hearings at www.bigislandvideonews.com. See the military plan online.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
PĀHALA SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FLYERS AND MAILERS are circulating in the village. "An Invitation for Pāhala Residents" from the county Department of Environmental Management invites them to come to one of five meetings set for Dec. 12, 13 and 14, "to talk story about a proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pāhala. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that the two County-operated Large Capacity Cesspools that receive wastewater from Pāhala properties previously served by the C. Brewer system must be closed due to environmental concerns," says the flyer.
The county is considering purchasing more than 40 acres at the corner of Hwy 11 and Maile Street, next to the Norfolk pine tree entrance to Pāhala, from Kamehameha Schools for the project.
 |
This location for the new sewage treatment plant would be near the entrance to Pāhala in what is now a macadamia orchard and next to the scenic Maile Street pine tree lane. |
Also possibly up for sale is the nearby 60-acre former Ka`u Sugar Mill site, which goes to a foreclosure auction on Dec. 20 with no upset price. It is listed as No. 10 on the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission for acquisition by the county.
The county flyer says that "throughout the planning and design process for the new Pāhala Wastewater Treatment Plant, our consultant Brown and Caldwell will be reaching out to the community."
The first round of Pāhala informal talk story sessions will be held in mid-December. "We will talk about the Pāhala project and ask you to share your thoughts and ideas," says the flyer. The five identical sessions are set for:
Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
Thursday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
Thursday, Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room.
The county and consultants are asking for RSVP's, but they not required to attend. For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com or Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339 or Iris Cober at the Brown and Caldwell Maui office at 808-442-3300.
The consultants also sent out stamped return post cards to those homeowners currently on the old Brewer sewage system in order for them to RSVP.
Separate meetings will be planned for the Na`alehu Wastewater Treatment Plant plan.
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| Find The Ka`u Calendar soon in your mailbox, stands and online at www.kaucalendar.com |
KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE
Soccer: Tues, Dec. 5, Ka`u @Konawa`ena
Saturday, Dec. 9, Kakualani @ Ka`u
Boys Basketball: Fri and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, Maui Tournament
Swimming: Sat, Dec. 9 at Konawaena
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
OCEAN VIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Monday, Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.
KA‘Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.
DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.
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Mason Jar wreaths will be made in a class at Pahala Community Center. |
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, DEC. 5, for a Mason Jar Lover Wreath Craft class planned for Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. For more call Nona Makuakane or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.
OPEN MIC NIGHT is Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years and older. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com for more details.
HULA VOICES takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the event, with Kumu hula Iwalani Kalima of Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani E presenting her hula experiences. Free; park entrance fees apply.
OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-703.
VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES FALL EDITION OF THEATER NIGHT takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, starting at 6 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.
FIVE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT events in which volunteers help remove invasive non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park take place this December. The first event is Thursday, Dec. 7, with remaining events taking place Dec. 15, 23, and 30. Volunteers should meet leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. Fore more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.
ALOHA FRIDAY: LEI MAKING WITH RANDY LEE is Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Volcano Art Center Gallery Porch in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Make lei from a variety of natural materials from the forest. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
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| Soft pastel class with Patti Pease Johnson is this Saturday at Volcano Art Center. |
HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE ANNUAL MEETING IS Saturday, Dec. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Association. For more, call 929-9910.
ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW ANNOUNCES A KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in their lower parking lot. Each child receives two books at Rudolph’s Reading Room, a stocking from Santa, and a cookie and punch from Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. All are welcome. For more, visit stjudeshawaii.org or call 939-7000.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more, call 939-7033.
SOFT PASTEL STILL LIFE WITH PATTI PEASE JOHNSON class, Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at Volcano Art Center. Instruction and materials provided. Beginners to intermediate artists welcome. $50 per non-member, $45 per VAC member, plus $10 supply fee per person. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.com.
EXPLORE THE RICH GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF KAHUKU on a easy-to-moderate guided hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, displaying different volcano features and formations in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, titled Birth of Kahuku, also offers hikers the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. It will also take place on Dec. 30.
REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, BY Wednesday, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.
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| Trucks are welcome in the Pāhala Christmas Parade next Sunday. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE is open for participants next Sunday, Dec. 10. The parade travels the streets of Pāhala and winds up at the Holy Rosary Church on Pikake Street for treats and more entertainment. Produced by Eddie Andrade and family along with Mary Jane Balio for 39 years, the parade features Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus greeting parade goers with a Ho Ho Ho and throwing candies to the keiki. It features community groups, musicians, churches, businesses and schools, along with the Miss Ka‘ū Coffee court, walking and riding on floats, trucks and classic vehicles.
The parade starts at 1 p.m. at the old Pāhala Armory and stops at houses throughout the village, making a stop for the staff and long-term care residents at Ka‘ū Hospital before arriving at the Catholic Church. Participants start lining up by 12:30 p.m. To be involved - there are no entry fees - call the Andrades at 928-0808.
CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.
The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.
