[ OUR OPINION ]

Isle-based carrier would
be a shot in the arm

THE ISSUE Governor Lingle's administration has begun talks with the Pentagon about basing an aircraft carrier at Pearl Harbor.

THE potential return of Barber's Point, now called Kalaeloa, to military service is another encouraging indication that the military presence in Hawaii will remain an important cylinder in Hawaii's economic engine for the indefinite future. Governor Lingle's administration is discussing with the Pentagon the possibility of basing an aircraft carrier at Pearl Harbor, using Kalaeloa as home for the carrier's 72 aircraft. Such a move would be a much-needed boon for Hawaii.

The Navy's 12 aircraft carriers now are spread evenly between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, with three of the Pacific carriers based at San Diego, two in Washington's Puget Sound and one in Japan. No carrier has been based in Hawaii since World War II, but growing threats from North Korea and from terrorist activity in the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia have increased the need for the United States to take advantage of Hawaii's strategic location.

The governor's office has begun talks with the Defense Department about basing a carrier, with 2,600 officers and enlisted personnel, at Pearl Harbor. Rep. Ed Case, whose congressional district includes Kalaeloa, has supported returning part of Kalaeloa, which was turned over to the state in 1999, back to the federal government to accommodate the move. The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii estimated five years ago that the state would gain $375 million a year and 4,200 civilian jobs from the berthing of a carrier at Pearl Harbor.

In a speech to the Mililani Rotary Club, Senator Inouye said the move is "under serious consideration." The ranking Democrat on the Senate subcommittee on defense appropriations also assured the Rotarians that Hawaii has nothing to fear about the next round of base closings. "Hawaii will not lose any bases, but rather increase its level of activities," he said.

In addition to the possible carrier berthing, Hawaii will benefit from several other military projects:

>> One of the 25th Infantry Division's brigades at Schofield Barracks is likely to be converted to a Stryker brigade, built around an eight-wheeled armored vehicle. That is expected to bring $750 million into the state over the next decade.

>> The Army is expected to privatize 7,700 Schofield Barracks homes, resulting in rental payments to a private contractor rather than military personnel living on bases.

>> The Navy will sign a contract with a private developer this summer to build 600 family units and 1,000 bachelor quarters, a conference center, shops, restaurants, a museum and historic areas on Ford Island.

The military is the second most lucrative segment of Hawaii's economy, bringing $9 billion a year into the state. While Hawaii struggles to keep tourists coming to the islands and tries to create a more diversified economy, the armed forces will remain a strong stabilizing force.