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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Army under fire for Pohakuloa plan

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — The Army's plans to expand the Pohakuloa Training Area by thousands of acres ran into opposition last night from the first dozen people who testified at a public meeting.

Native Hawaiians, conservationists and critics of the military turned the "scoping meeting" — designed to address environmental concerns about the $234 million project — into a rally against the armed forces.

The theme of the speakers was: Clean up, pack up and get out.

The changes, including expanding the nearly 109,000-acre bombing and shooting range, are part of transforming the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light), into a fast-strike Interim Brigade Combat Team. The expansion would be in the Saddle of the Big Island on the inner slopes of Mauna Kea.

Most speakers last night were apprehensive about any more military presence.

They referred to the large-scale training activities during World War II that, according to Puna community leader Althena Peanut, required two decades of cleanup.

"Who does cleanup after you?" Peanut asked of the military.

Councilwoman Julie Jacobson of Puna, saying she was speaking as a private individual, wondered about how the plan would affect the county's solid-waste problems.

A Puna minister, Moses David, who said he works for the Children of God and Goddesses, accused the military of being part of "the kingdom of Satan."

Harry Fergerstrom, a Hawaiian activist, said expansion would be "a continuation of the invasion" and "I am very, very afraid."

Paula Helfrich, president of the Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board, took a less belligerent tone when she wrote that her group appreciated "the numerous meetings" and called for "two-way communications and trust."

About 100 people attended the first of seven scoping meetings scheduled on the Big Island and O'ahu. The second is 5:30 to 8:30 tonight at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach Resort. The first of five O'ahu meetings will start Tuesday at the Leilehua High School cafeteria.

Under the plan announced last month by Maj. Gen. James Dubik, the military would spend $693 million statewide on 32 projects as part of a 30-year rebuilding process.