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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 19, 2002

Troops may use Waikane for counterterror drills

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

In hopes of replicating counterterrorism training under conditions like the Philippines jungles, U.S. Marines are considering a return to Waikane Valley for military exercises for the first time since 1976.

Marine Maj. Chris Hughes, director of public affairs for the Kane'ohe base, says that if the Corps were to decide on Windward valley maneuvers, "We're looking at high-value, low-impact training here."

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

But Marine officials insisted that no live-fire training would be conducted at the 187-acre site six north of Kane'ohe, something that has been a concern to community leaders since the mid-1940s, when training first began in the valley area that the Marines still own.

"It would be either paintball or blank-fire," said Maj. Chris Hughes, public affairs director for Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe. "We're looking at high-value, low-impact training here."

Officials at the Kane'ohe base are awaiting a decision from Marine Corps headquarters in Washington by the end of the month on whether to move ahead with plans to resume training. It would take approximately six to nine months to complete an environmental assessment that is required before any training could begin.

Marines from the Kane'ohe base, who are on a deployment in the Philippines, say additional jungle warfare training is needed. Waikane Valley's remoteness and terrain would provide the ideal environment for training.

Members of Kane'ohe's 1st Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment — deployed to the Philippines to provide security for Navy Seabees doing construction projects there — requested the training, Hughes said. U.S. troops have been sent to the Philippines since Sept. 11 to expand counterterrorism efforts against Muslim extremists and to support American forces on Basilan Island who are training Filipino soldiers to fight Abu Sayyaf rebels.

"The task we have is: What we can provide here that will help them there?" Hughes said. "The Marines in the Philippines are telling the top officers back here that they could have used a training package prior to being placed in that environment. So we began looking at options, and this is one of the options that came to the forefront."

Hughes said the training would consist of "small unit maneuver training" of no more than 100 troops. To discourage traffic congestion on the way up to Waikane Valley, Marines would hike about 1.2 miles from Kamehameha Highway to the valley. Narrow portions of Waikane Valley Road can accommodate only one vehicle at a time.

Marine officials also want to return to Waikane Valley for training because of its remoteness. They believe that noise will be minimal because there would be no live-fire exercises and the nearest homes are a mile way.

"The hike, the terrain, the mosquitoes are part of the training package," he said. "This is a unique environment, this is practically a tropical rain forest."

Hughes concedes there are still unexploded munitions in the valley, and replacing the security fence is a high priority to keep hikers and trespassers out.

"Most likely we would like a new one up before any training begins," he said.

Hughes said the Marines would train in nearly all of the 187-acre site, except for Hawaiian cultural areas designated by the environmental assessment report.

The Kamaka family leased about 200 acres of Waikane Valley to the Department of Defense for all manner of live-fire training from 1944 to 1976. The military made extensive cleanup efforts between 1976 and 1984 to destroy and remove ordnance from the range in the valley. But the military backed away from clearing the property, citing high costs.

Marine Corps Base Hawai'i acquired a 187-acre portion of the valley through condemnation in 1989 and fenced it off, deeming it unsuitable for civil use.

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.