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Waianae Coast residents remain opposed to Army plans to resume live firing in Makua Valley. Army’s live firing
Heiau access agreement
in Makua assailedBy Harold Morse
Star-BulletinResidents make continuing demands for an environmental impact statement on such activity or insist the Army stop the live firing and get out of the area.
"What you have done at Makua is tantamount to someone desecrating Arlington Cemetery," Kathy Reynolds said last night.
"We cannot gloss over this 60-year abuse," said A. Frenchy DeSoto, a former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee.
About 45 people attended a 2 1/2-hour meeting at Waianae Army Recreation Center.
Critics said a draft environmental assessment that has already been prepared is inadequate to address the issue.
A full-blown and more elaborate environmental impact statement is needed, they said.
"In research for this document, I read a number of books on Hawaiian history and found it to be fascinating -- horrifying -- a whole range of things," said John Gallup, project manager of Onyx Group, San Diego, under a $250,000 contract to prepare the environmental assessment.
Brig. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, assistant division commander for support, 25th Infantry Division (Light), later assured all present that the Army hears their concerns.
Eikenberry, also representing U.S. Army Hawaii and five weeks into his assignment, recalled spending a summer here in 1971 as a West Point cadet.
Similar discussions were going on at that time, he said.
But 1971 maneuvers included tanks firing shells and Air Force aircraft blasting Oahu ranges, Eikenberry said.
"My own perspective from 1971 to the year 2000 is that there has been a lot of changes."
He said it's a matter of balancing civilian concerns against obligations the Army must meet.
"All I can say is that our effort here tonight -- not only tonight but in this whole process -- is to make the very best effort that we can," he said.
"We're trying to balance some very heavy weights on one shoulder with some very heavy weights on your own shoulders."
Comments on the draft environmental assessment will be accepted until Oct. 23.
Critics blasted the draft environmental assessment for not providing enough scientific documentation for its conclusion that live-fire training will have no significant impact on the environment.
A partnership agreement between the Army and a community group to allow access to Ukanipo Heiau, adjacent to Makua Military Reservation, was to be signed today. Army, community
group agree on
heiau accessStar-Bulletin
The 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army Hawaii were to take part in a ceremony with a traditional Hawaiian offering of gifts known as a ho'okupu followed by remarks by Maj. Gen. William Ward, 25th Division and U.S. Army Hawaii commander.
"The signing of the memorandum of agreement is the result of two years of meetings between the Ukanipo Heiau Advisory Council and the U.S. Army Hawaii," said Nalani Tavares, community liaison for Ukanipo Heiau Advisory Council.
"It represents a positive first step toward a caretakership of a significant Hawaiian site on land currently under control of the U.S. Army."
The heiau covers about 100 acres and has been listed on the National Historic Register since 1984. The agreement covers proposed development and implementation for the heiau site complex management plan and outlines the responsibilities for the signatory parties.
Laurie Lucking, U.S. Army Hawaii cultural resource manager, said: "It means that Hawaiians agree to care for the heiau while the Army is agreeing to provide a management plan and some of the materials and volunteers that will be required."
A breakfast after the ceremony was to take place at the Makua Military Range Office building.