Stryker meeting includes protesters
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
MAKAHA — Army signs and charts explaining the military's planned Stryker brigade were on one side of the room. Protest signs denouncing it were on the other. And in between, supporters of both met largely peacefully over the issue for the first night out of the past three.
In an about-face, the Army last night allowed in the same anti-Stryker placards that kept some protesters out of public comment meetings Tuesday and Wednesday night, and led to the arrest of seven individuals on trespassing charges.
U.S. Army Garrison, Hawai'i, Cmdr. Col. David Anderson said he talked with Wai'anae Coast activist William Aila at Aila's request, and after discussing the issue with longtime O'ahu resident Bill Paty and others, decided to allow the protest signs at last night's meeting at Makaha Resort Golf Club.
"Our concern has always been that they would disrupt the meeting and preclude those who wanted to testify from having that opportunity," Anderson said.
He said he was given assurances the Stryker opponents would act respectfully at the meeting.
"I basically said, 'Why is the Army afraid of signs?' " Aila said. "What I told Col. Anderson was, 'You treat people with respect, you get respect.' "
Chanting as they went, about 35 people — many carrying anti-Stryker placards with slogans such as "Stryker destroys cultural sites," and "No more tanks" — peacefully entered the meeting room for the third public comment meeting on a draft environmental impact statement for the $1.5 billion fast-strike brigade.
Many object to an increased military presence in Hawai'i and the Army's proposed acquisition of 24,000 acres for the Stryker brigade.
The Army wants to base about 300 of the 20-ton armored vehicles on O'ahu as part of the plan. Training also would be conducted on the Big Island.
A number of people spoke in favor last night of the Stryker plan. Bill Prescott, 71, who described himself as "kanaka maoli" (indigenous Hawaiian), said the Army did a "terrific job" with the draft EIS.
"On behalf of all kanaka maoli who served in the armed services," Prescott said, "I want to extend our thanks and appreciation for all you (the Army) are doing to protect the environment while also providing the necessary training for those who may be put in harm's way for our country."
A fourth O'ahu public comment meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at Turtle Bay Resort. Two meetings on the Big Island Wednesday and Thursday will follow.
Former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto criticized the Army for scheduling the public meetings at private facilities.
"Whose idea was it to go to — quote, unquote — private places?" DeSoto said. "How much does this public process cost when we could have gone to the schools?"
The Army said it chose those sites because the meetings would be able to run later than at schools or other public sites.
Gov. Linda Lingle separately also spoke out against the private-venue selection.
"The military is such an important part of our community," Lingle said. "I've been very supportive of their efforts, but I think they made a mistake in this case. It should have been in a public facility so people could have come in with their placards. But when you're dealing with private property, they have certain laws and rules that apply, and you have to abide by them."
The four people arrested Tuesday on petty misdemeanor trespassing charges face arraignment in District Court this morning.
Advertiser staff writer Lynda Arakawa contributed to this story. Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
