Navy says Kaho'olawe work fulfilled

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

Rear Adm. Barry McCullough, commander of Navy Region Hawai'i, thanks Adam Gomes of Area Preparation Team 13 for helping to clear Kaho'olawe of hazardous materials. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Rear Adm. Barry McCullough, commander of Navy Region Hawai'i, spoke to a rare assembly of nearly 400 workers of contractor Parsons-UXB on the eve of Tuesday's passing of access control to the state after a five-year, $400 million cleanup effort.

Even though only 70 percent of the former bombing range will be cleared of unexploded ordnance, McCullough told the workers that the project — given the time and available money — had achieved its goal of making the island safe for meaningful use.

"You people have made that commitment a reality, and I thank you for that," he said.

Responding to those who might think the Navy is abandoning Kaho'olawe before the project is completed, McCullough said: "I can understand why the people of Hawai'i would think we are abandoning them. But the truth of the matter is that we're not."

Critics have complained that the Navy failed to meet its commitment. They frequently hold up a 1994 memorandum of understanding between the Navy and the state that calls for 100 percent surface clearance.

But Navy officials yesterday offered excerpts from that document stating: "If the Navy is unable to complete all ordnance clearance or removal or environmental restoration under the cleanup plan ... specific portions of the island may remain hazardous to public safety."

McCullough said the Navy accomplished a great deal under difficult circumstances. Of the acres that are feasible for ordnance removal, only about 6,000 acres of the 28,800-acre island remain uncleared, he said.

Ray Lahm, middle, UXO specialist supervisor for Range Control Team 3, leads his team in clearing surface metallic objects, such as bomb fragments, spent rounds, empty shell casings and unexploded ordnance. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

McCullough, Navy Region Hawai'i commander for seven months, also announced to the workers that March 12 would be the last day of work for the project.

Several workers said they were disappointed. They said they were hoping the admiral would announce an extension.

"I didn't expect much, but we were crossing our fingers," said Aaron Caulford, a worker since February 2000.

Range clearance team member John Langemak said he would have appreciated an apology for the Navy's 50 years of bombing because, to him, it would be a sign of integrity.

McCullough praised the workers for their hard work, noting that 8.9 million pounds of scrap were collected — enough to build a guided missile destroyer — and enough tires were shipped off the island to stack a mile high.

"This was the greatest helicopter-lift project ever undertaken in the Department of Defense," he said. "It's historical. We've never done anything like this."

Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4880 or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.