HILO, Hawai'i — Most of the aging Keaukaha Military Reservation would be torn down and rebuilt as part of a $55 million proposal to close two Hawai'i Army National Guard facilities on the Big Island and move their operations to an overhauled 60-acre complex near the Hilo airport.

The project involves demolishing 18 buildings that were constructed at the Keaukaha reservation in the 1940s and 1950s, and building almost 400,000 square feet of new buildings, including a living area with bunks for almost 300 soldiers for battalion-sized units involved in training at the Pohakuloa Training Area.

The overall size of the planned project approaches that of the 504,000-square-foot Prince Kuhio Plaza, the Big Island's largest shopping mall.

The Guard would close its "Readiness Centers" or armories in Kea'au and Honoka'a as part of the project, a move required under the 2005 Defense Base Realignment and Closure report that identified a list of unneeded facilities nationwide to be closed to make the military more efficient.

Keaukaha residents have questions about the project, said Hans Mortensen, chairman of the aircraft noise abatement committee of the Keaukaha Community Association.

Mortensen said residents are wondering how much additional troop and transport traffic to expect because of the expanded facility.

Hundreds of families live in Hawaiian Home Lands lots arrayed along the makai side of the Hilo airport runway, and residents are particularly concerned about any additional aircraft traffic the facility might generate, he said.

"It seems to me we would be affected by the increase in the facilities," he said.

ACCESS TO PUNA TRAIL

Another issue is access to the Puna Trail, which bisects the military reservation. An outline of the project provided by military planners suggests people wanting to use the trail would be redirected to Quarry Road.

Exactly how people would reach the trail after the facility is rebuilt and new fencing is erected around the 60-acre compound will be worked out as the military works through an environmental assessment for the project, said Maj. Chuck Anthony, Hawai'i National Guard public affairs officer.

The project also includes a new 128,000-square-foot reserve center, with classrooms, a learning center, an assembly hall and a dining facility to streamline mobilization of the reserves in an emergency, according the project report.

The facility would also include space for the state Office of Veterans Services, a support and maintenance shop for the Army Guard and Reserve units, a maintenance facility for the U.S. Marine Corps and for 136,000 feet of billeting space.

It would also include an Army & Air Force Exchange Services building, and would be home to a Combat Tracker School and training area.

HOME FOR 360 TROOPS

The existing facilities, including the Keaukaha center, are deteriorated and don't meet new anti-terrorism requirements, according to the report. The project includes plans to relocate the main entrance to the facility, build a new guard house and put up new fencing and lighting.

Almost 360 Army National Guard and Army Reserve troops would be assigned to the facility, with 58 National Guard troops transferred there from the Kea'au and Honoka'a armories.

Construction could begin as early as January 2008, and would continue for seven years, according to the report.

The rebuilt Hilo facility would be known as the Keaukaha Joint Military Center.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.