Silent majority must speak up now in support of Army
By Jim Tollefson and Lily Yao
On Oct. 29, the federal district court will rule on a lawsuit filed by Malama Makua to block the Army from using its company-combined arms assault course in Makua Valley until it completes an environmental impact statement.
Advertiser library photo • May 15, 2001
This could take two to three years and cost the Army several million dollars.
The Army has modified its training program at Makua Valley, discontinuing use of tracer bullets and incendiaries to lower the risk of fire, and has adopted a wildland fire management plan.
The Makua course is the Army's only training area capable of handling company-level, live-fire maneuver training exercises. It has been closed for nearly three years and the Army's use of alternative means to train its soldiers is not working.
For example, the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks reports that only eight of its 18 infantry companies have completed company-level combined arms live-fire training in each of the past two years. This is unacceptable for one of our premier combat units, which will be first in responding to crises in the Pacific.
Citing environmental and cultural concerns, Malama Makua wants the military to stop training at Makua and asks that the valley be returned immediately.
Although the Army has taken extraordinary measures to mitigate these concerns, the court case appears to be tilted in favor of Malama Makua. This does not bode well for the Army, nor for Hawai'i and the Asia-Pacific region.
If a final ruling in favor of Malama Makua is made, it would likely result in denying the Army use of the life-fire range at Makua. This would be tragic for our soldiers whose lives depend on the type of training that can only be completed there. Other suitable ranges are simply not available in Hawai'i, and it would take years to build a replacement facility even if an acceptable site could be found.
Rest assured that the court case on Makua Valley is being watched closely outside Hawai'i and that the court's decision will weigh prominently in the minds of Pentagon planners and our lawmakers. As U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye warned: "If the people of Hawai'i put on an unfriendly front and if the military feels unwelcome, I think we should expect them someday to come to the conclusion, 'They don't want you: Let's get out.' "
Ken Sandefur, chairman of the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Council, stated that "the availability of Makua Valley is paramount to keeping the 25th Infantry Division on Schofield Barracks. We must step forward and help the Army regain its use of Makua."
The departure of the 25th Infantry Division would cripple Hawai'i's economy, especially in Wahiawa and Mililani. This would affect hundreds of families in Wai'anae, Waipahu and other communities that have family members employed by the Army or who are employed by the many companies that do business with the military. Imagine the rise in unemployment and how it would impact area businesses. The expected decline in income for businesses that sell to or contract with the military would be devastating.
We could also expect the U.S. Marine Corps to consider moving its combat troops from its base in Kane'ohe if the live-fire range at Makua Valley is not available. This would inflict far greater pain to Windward residents and businesses than during the time when these troops were sent to fight in Desert Storm in the early 1990s.
The public and private sectors and residents have benefited from the infusion of billions of dollars in federal defense expenditures and services. The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism reported that the combined federal expenditures for defense and nondefense agencies increased by a remarkable 83 percent in the past 10 years. The department reports that combined federal spending topped $9 billion in 2000, which is close to matching tourism revenues. These expenditures account for millions of dollars in defense contracts for construction, services and goods and in creating thousands of job opportunities for Island residents.
Most Island residents recognize the importance of the military's role in the Asia-Pacific region and remain supportive of continued military presence in Hawai'i. But the supportive majority has remained silent as the Army battles to resume its use of this vital training area.
What is urgently needed now is for Hawai'i's silent majority to speak out in support of keeping our Hawai'i-based soldiers trained and ready. We need to communicate to our families, friends and associates, and to our government leaders and the federal district court, that:
1. Protecting the lives of America's combat soldiers is every bit as important as protecting the environment. Makua is the only area immediately available where soldiers can receive company level, live-fire maneuver training. Denying the Army use of Makua Valley would deny soldiers essential combat training and place their lives at risk.
2. The Army's assault course in Makua Valley consists of 457 acres out of the 4,130 acres in the valley. Endangered species are on the high ridges of the Wai'anae Mountains, far from the range area. Historic sites within the range are protected and marked as "no entry" areas. The Army's decision to restrict its range to 457 acres demonstrates that it recognizes its responsibilities in protecting the environment.
3. The Army has made great strides to successfully mitigate environmental threats. It has spent and continues to allocate millions of dollars to protect all Army lands in Hawai'i, especially at Makua Valley. The Army modified its training program by discontinuing use of tracer bullets and incendiaries and adopting a sophisticated wildland fire management plan. The plan includes a weather monitoring system that determines when it is safe to conduct training, and a fire suppression system that provides on-site ground and air support to quickly control any wildland fires.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawai'i Historic Preservation office agree that the Army's use of the training range under this modified training program would not have significant impact on the environment.
4. The actions by Malama Makua and other activist groups will not end with Makua. The military has already received notice of follow-on movement against the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, and we suspect other areas will follow.
Time is running short. The Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i appeals to Hawai'i's silent majority to speak out and call for the immediate reopening of the Army's training range in Makua Valley.
Jim Tollefson is president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i. Lily Yao is chairwoman of the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i.
