honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, July 13, 2009

Support sought for return of 400 acres


By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Writer

MEETING TONIGHT

The Waimanalo Neighborhood Board will meet tonight at 7:30 at the Waimanalo Elementary School library meeting room.

spacer spacer

Some Waimanalo residents tonight plan to ask the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board to support a resolution asking the federal government to return about 400 acres at Bellows Air Force Station to public recreational use.

The resolution follows an announcement by the Air Force in April that it plans to build an additional 48 vacation cabins for military personnel at Bellows, which covers about 2 1/2 miles of shoreline.

Waimanalo resident Joe Ryan said it's time for the Air Force to give up portions of the base used entirely for recreation.

Ryan said that while the Marine Corps may have a claim to legitimate amphibious assault training on about 1,000 acres at Bellows, portions of the base used for recreation no longer have a critical military purpose and should be returned to the state.

The Air Force said it will continue to try to work out problems with the community, but that any decision regarding land ownership will be decided in Washington, D.C.

"There's been discussion for years and those discussions continue," said Philip Breeze, an Air Force spokesman.

A draft environmental assessment for the additional vacation cabins at Bellows said if the cabins were not built, it would impede "the installation's ability to fulfill its mission of enhancing combat effectiveness by delivering secure, affordable and customer-focused recreational services" for military personnel.

Residents said other sources of friction were the military's closing of the public camping area at Bellows for the entire month of June for cleanup and repairs, and the posting of no-trespassing signs at the Waimanalo Health Center's garden, which is on base property.

The campsites were reopened for the July Fourth weekend with new rules to address problems such as alleged drug use, fights, illegal fires, trash dumping, off-roading on the beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.

Resident Mabel Spencer said she organized several protests after signs went up at the Waimanalo Health Center warning about trespassing in a garden area that the center has nurtured for years as part of an educational program to encourage people to grow their own food.

Last month state Rep. Chris Lee, D-51st (Waimanalo, Lanikai), organized a meeting inviting various community groups and the military to discuss issues surrounding the health center, Spencer said.

"I felt there was certain assurances that we would be working together," Spencer said. "At least a courtesy call if you're going to put up signs. No courtesy call, nothing. It violates that trust."

Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Alan Crouch said the Marines are not stopping the health center from using the garden. The signs were put up to address trespassers and illegal dumping on base property, Crouch said.

"We don't consider the garden to be a problem but there needs to be further discussion about the fact that it is on federal property," Crouch said, adding that he has met with health center officials.