Army hoping to acquire 71 acres in Kahuku
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAHUKU — The Army wants to buy about 71 acres of land at Kahuku Training Area from The Estate of James Campbell, adding to the 24,000 acres the military uses for maneuvers there.
• Copies of the environmental assessment can be obtained by contacting Peter Yuh Jr. at 656-2878 Ext. 1051. • Comments, which are due by May 23, should be sent to Peter Yuh Jr., NEPA Coordinator, Directorate of Public Works, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857-5013.
The acquisition would give the Army a contiguous training area, said Col. William R. Puttmann Jr., garrison commander.
To get copy of report
The land includes abandoned windmills and a parcel between the training area and the Air Force Punamano Air Station.
The Army uses the land next to these sites for non-live fire maneuvers.
"The windmills are deteriorating, and we're concerned they could be a safety issue," Puttmann said, adding that the Army will dismantle the windmills but leave their bases.
Puttmann said the military expects to pay less than $1 million for the land. Three years ago the Army paid $20 million for 24,000 acres in Kahuku that the military had leased for decades.
Theresia McMurdo, Campbell Estate public relations manager, said negotiations are under way.
The Army wants to develop an urban terrain non-live fire training facility as part of the Army's transformation in Hawai'i, Puttmann said.
The plan is to turn the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) into an Interim Brigade Combat Team.
The Army wants to convert an old NCO academy, an outdated Nike missile security facility and a former Nike launch site in Kahuku into an urban training site, he said.
"We'll be able to adapt these old facilities and create a top military training environment," he said.
At the three sites the Army will replicate a military compound, a commercial industrial area and a community with a park, market, town and homes.
The project calls for renovating 10 buildings, constructing 21 buildings, landscaping and creating a dump east of the sites.
The Army has no estimate on its cost. An environment assessment for the proposed acquisition said the plan would have no significant impact.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
