Residents want military to clear Waikane Valley

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

WAIKANE — A Marine Corps decision against using Waikane Valley for jungle training is cause for celebration in this rural Windward area, but it's also generating calls for the military to live up to its commitment to clear the land of unexploded ordnance.

Many valley residents are pleased that the Marines won't be coming, but all the military is doing is giving back useless land like Kaho'olawe and Waikane and seeking other areas to train in, said Gwen Kim, a Ka'a'awa resident.

"They want to placate us," said Kim, with Ohana Koa, Hawai'i Chapter of Nuclear Free & Independent Pacific. "The military is giving back Kaho'olawe and Waikane with all those unexploded ordnance and all the poisons. They want the pristine land that hasn't been touched."

The Marines announced Wednesday that the past use of high explosive anti-tank rounds and bazooka rounds in the one-time military training area make it unsafe for troops to train there.

The military has said that ridding the area of unexploded ordnance is too expensive, but plans to erect an $800,000 security fence around the property beginning in December to keep people out for safety reasons.

The situation at Waikane, like Makua Valley, has raised questions about the military's commitment to protecting the environment even as the United States increases military action around the world and Hawai'i is being asked to expand its training grounds.

The Marines had proposed to conduct jungle training on 187 acres it owns in Waikane. The land had been leased from the Kamaka family and used for more than 30 years for target practice and training. Later, the land was condemned and purchased by the military.

The military had said it would clean the property before returning it but decided that was too expensive.

Kapua Sproat, an attorney with Earthjustice, a, environmental advocacy group, called the Marines' decision a step in the right direction — and surprising, given the strong military stance to expand training in Hawai'i.

People objected to the proposal to train in Waikane because of the military's history of not living up to its commitments to clean property after training on it, Sproat said.

"The overwhelming sentiment of the community was how can they take on more responsibility," she said. "Before they can expand they need to take care of business because they haven't shown they're good neighbors or good stewards of the environment."

Sproat said other military branches should follow the Marines' lead.

"I hope the other branches of the military will embrace this position which is based on the science, culture and the sentiment of the community, that this isn't the right thing to do," Sproat said.

Maj. Chris Hughes, with Marine Corps Base Hawai'i, said he wasn't sure what the future holds for Waikane as far as cleanup goes.

"We'll work with the neighborhood board and with the community on making a determination," Hughes said, adding that signs are posted to warn people of the danger and Marines patrol the area routinely.

Warrant Officer Scott Murphy said some off the explosives have sensitive fuses. Numerous bazooka rounds have surfaced after rainy periods, he said.

"If you're not paying attention and you kick them there's a good chance they could detonate," Murphy said.

Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board member John Reppun said he thinks the neighborhood board will pursue a cleanup of the property. If the land is declared a previously used defense site, it can qualify for federal money, Reppun said.

"I expect the board to go in that direction," he said. "We hope the Marine base would support that."

Reppun said he would like the Marines to become better stewards of the land from top to bottom, "looking at water resources, cultural resources, doing some real restoration efforts."

Restoration could be an expensive proposition, especially if the land were restored to a usable condition, said Maj. Bob Baggett, from the Kane'ohe Marine base. Finding ordnance could require clearing the land and digging down about 50 inches, Baggett said.

If the property is ever thoroughly cleaned the military will have to offer it back for purchase to the Kamaka family, Maj. Hughes said.

Kamaka family member Judy Tsutsui said she was surprised that the Marines wanted to train there because when the land was condemned the family was told it was too dangerous for soldiers to train there. Tsutsui called for the military to clean the land.

"I feel the most important thing is the cleaning of the land for the safety of all our people, regardless of whether the Kamaka family buys it back, if they're saying it's so unsafe."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.