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Hear us out
on Makua, Army
asks Waianae

Residents urged to sit in
on a series of meetings on
military use of the valley

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By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

The Army plans to hold a series of meetings with Waianae residents on possible resumption of live firing in Makua Valley.

Three categories of issues will be aired: environmental, such as soil and water contamination; cultural, including native Hawaiian access to the valley and soldier orientation for cultural awareness; and community concerns, including transport of ammunition to the valley on Farrington Highway.

Brig. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, assistant commander for support, 25th Infantry Division (Light), outlined the meeting plans last night at a Waianae Neighborhood Board meeting.

The Army will announce in the next several days a schedule for the focus meetings, which will probably take place at Waianae Army Recreation Center with everyone invited, he said.

"We want to be inclusive. We don't want to be exclusive," Eikenberry said.

Army people want to be stewards of the environment, he said during his presentation to the neighborhood board. They want to preserve cultural treasures and be sensitive to community concerns, he said, adding that Army and community needs can be balanced.

On the subject of transporting ammunition, he said such movement is governed by regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation nationwide.

"We don't want to add to any kind of traffic difficulties out on that highway," he said.

Convoys would move only at times that would cause minimal impact to the community, Eikenberry said.

Out of all the discussions on live firing in Makua Valley, a number of major concerns have been highlighted, he said. He read off the list, which included preserving endangered plants and animals, community safety, clearing unexploded ordnance, explaining the national environmental policy, finding alternative sites for live firing and native Hawaiian access to the valley.

During the next several weeks, the Army will discuss these concerns with community leaders and groups, including the local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Malama Makua, Lions Club, Rotary Club and others, he said.