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Under the Sun Cynthia Oi |
Weighing birds
and snails against
bullets and bombsTALK about bad timing. Just as the Army is cultivating the community's good will for the possible expansion of its activities and presence in Hawaii, a "controlled burn" in Makua Valley flared up and destroyed more than half of the land in the military reservation. What was to be a clearing of 500 acres that day took out 2,500 acres, including areas with endangered plants and animals.
The Army had good intentions. The plan last week was to remove brush to expose ordnance and cultural sites in Makua, long a flash point between the military and residents and environmental groups. The fire rekindles discussion about whether Hawaii can bear the burden military training places on its sensitive ecosystems and limited lands.
The Pentagon is soon to announce its decision on assigning a Stryker brigade to the islands. The economic advantages are very attractive. The posting would bring in big government bucks -- $71 million for facilities and land acquisition and as much as $693 million over the long haul for other projects. The brigade would increase the number of soldiers here, and more people means more money is pumped into the local economy.
The brigade notably has local credentials in that it was conceived by Kauai-born Gen. Eric Shinseki, who recently retired as Army chief of staff. It is designed to be lighter and faster, to be deployed anywhere in the world within 96 hours. That's why Hawaii may be chosen; its advantage is location, location, location.
But while our spot in the Pacific is important for quick movement to Asia, Hawaii is land scarce and home to the largest number of endangered species on Earth. So it is no wonder that environmental advocates question the wisdom of placing more of those plants and animals at risk by giving over areas to bombs, bullets and 19-ton, eight-wheeled armored vehicles.
At Pohakuloa on the Big Island, 23,000 acres would be added to the 103,863-acre training area. In the midst of conservation districts, it contains critical habitat for the endangered palila bird as well as archaeological sites and endangered plants. At Schofield Barracks on Oahu, 2,000 acres would be added and roads upgraded. The Army says these would have little environmental effect because most endanger-ed species are at upper elevations, but there's no way to ensure protection, as last week's fire at Makua shows.
For years, Makua Valley had been the focal point of conflict between the Waianae community and the military. In 1998, the Army halted training exercises there after a group called Malama Makua threatened legal action because it believed the military was violating environmental laws. Later that year, the group did file suit, and the issue became tangled in acrimonious hearings, protests and negotiations to no avail. Then came 9/11. In a demonstration of national unity, a settlement was reached. The Army would be allowed limited training as it prepared an environmental impact statement, which is what the group had sought.
No one can deny that the country's military needs to be ready to face hostilities. At the same time, no one can deny that there are other places where training would not risk damage to a fragile environment and cultural sites. But again, it's about location and some may argue that the loss of a few birds and snails are fair exchange for a primed force.
America changed after 2001's terrorists attacks. Unquestioning support of the military now seems to be required, but there are other important matters to consider and they should not be diminished under a cloak of patriotism.
Hawaii's place on Earth is what led to development of its unique and precious ecosystems and, ironically, it is what makes the islands valuable to the military. Calculating the worth of one over the other won't be easy.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Cynthia Oi has been on the staff of the Star-Bulletin since 1976. She can be reached at: coi@starbulletin.com.
