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| About 250 people gathered yesterday at the intersection of Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road at Pohakupu Park to show their support for U.S. armed forces. On President Bush's orders, many of the troops based on O'ahu have been sent to the Middle East for a possible war with Iraq.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Military supporters rally in response to protesters
| • | Delegation hopes to keep Japan visitors coming |
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — As people spread out across O'ahu yesterday to protest the possibility of a war in Iraq, a group of Windward residents gathered their friends, families and neighbors in Pohakupu Park to rally support for U.S. troops and President Bush.
About 250 supporters, dressed in red, white and blue and carrying pro-military and patriotic signs, met at the neighborhood park, at the intersection of Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road across from Castle Medical Center.
Two of the event's organizers, both married to military officers, said they wanted to let the troops, especially those serving overseas, know that there are people in the United States who support them and their president.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
"We're getting tired of the anti-war rhetoric that we're seeing," said Kathy Hashimoto, whose husband, a Marine reservist, has been called up to active duty and is in Kuwait.
Kimo Jadrnicek of Lanikai holds his signs protesting the possible war with Iraq. Behind him are those who turned out yesterday to show their support for the military and the families of U.S. troops.
No sooner had they arrived in the park than a group of about 20 anti-war protesters set up their signs in the median of the intersection, much to the irritation of some people at the rally.
While millions of peace activists have gathered around the world in recent weeks, including thousands at several events in Hawai'i, the steadfast supporters of the military have been relatively quiet. The event yesterday marked the first large gathering in Hawai'i that was organized to support possible action against Iraq.
Meanwhile, an estimated 300 members of a coalition protesting the possible war gathered at 25 street corners across the island yesterday afternoon. The protest coincided with what was called a "national moratorium to stop the war on Iraq" and consisted of community organizations, churches, professional associations, labor unions and private individuals.
Organizer Carolyn Hadfield said the number of protesters varied from five at some corners to as many as 150 at South King Street and University Avenue. Hadfield, a member of the anti-war group Not In Our Name, said the goal was to take the anti-war message out of the usual venues.
"We wanted for communities to start recognizing that they could talk about it," Hadfield said of speaking out against the war. "We have to start breaking the ice in the new communities."
Hadfield also called for people to participate March 15 in the National Day of Action Against the War.
At Pohakupu Park, the demonstrators supporting the troops played patriotic songs and waved American flags. Even a cocker spaniel wore a red-white-and-blue collar patterned after the flag.
Bunches of red, white and blue balloons decorated signs carrying messages such as "Honk If You Love America," "Support Our Troops" and "United We Stand."
Harrison and Jacqueline Mace, 4 and 3 years old, wore T-shirts that read "My Daddy is a United States Marine." And Taylor Kuno, 5, carried a sign she'd composed that said: "I'm proud of my Daddy who serves in the U.S. Navy."
Marine Staff Sgt. Don Arbuckle said he was pleased at the turnout and was sure the troops would appreciate the support, just as he did when he served in the Gulf War.
But the rally, Arbuckle said, was for the families of the troops.
"This is for the wives and the kids to participate to ensure people know it's their loved ones that are over there," he said.
Eden Anderson, 10, whose Air Force father will go to Japan in June, said she thought President Bush was doing the right thing.
"We're just trying to do the best we can to keep our country safe," Eden said. "And I think he's making the right choices because we need life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
