Army faces questions on studies of Makua

The two studies remain available for public comment until April 3

Leeward resident William Aila Jr. told Army officials yesterday that studies to press their case for live-fire training in Makua Valley raised more questions than they answered.

"Is the fish safe to eat, are the crabs safe to eat, is the limu safe to eat? That's all we asked for. You haven't answered the question, you've raised more questions," Aila told Army representatives at the Waianae District Park.

STUDIES AVAILABLE The two studies that were released on Feb. 2 -- a marine resources study and an archaeological subsurface survey -- will remain available for public comment until April 3. They are posted at the Waianae, Wahiawa, Pearl City and main public libraries and also online at www.makuaeis.com.

Aila, who is also master of the Waianae Boat Harbor, testified at the first public comment session on the Army's two studies that focused on the impact of training at the Makua Military Reservation on the surrounding community.

Nearly two dozen community members showed up. Several testified in support of the Army while others spoke against the Army's desire for live-fire training and expressed concern about the studies.

The two studies that were released on Feb. 2 -- a marine resources study and an archaeological subsurface survey -- will remain available for public comment until April 3. They are posted at the Waianae, Wahiawa, Pearl City and main public libraries and also online at www.makuaeis.com.

Army officials didn't respond to questions raised yesterday. Instead, the hearing was an opportunity for residents to raise concerns and allow others to hear each other's thoughts, an Army spokesman said.

The Army will answer the questions and include them in a section of an environmental impact statement that is expected to completed later this year, an official said.

California-based Tetra Tech conducted the marine resources study to determine whether the Army's use of Makua Valley caused any health hazards at Makua Beach or Makua muliwai.

A muliwai is defined as a stream mouth or small ponding area between the stream and the ocean.

Scientists tested for 63 contaminants in nine species of fish from five areas around Oahu, including Sandy Beach and Nanakuli muliwai.

Some residents complained the marine survey took too slim a sample of fish.

Others questioned the selection of the Nanakuli muliwai and Sandy beach, which were used as the control locations.

"Look at the baseline of a pristine muliwai," Aila said. "Baseline that occurred before the military showed up and started bombing."

Others said the archaeological survey was incomplete, spotty, or too shallow.

Shermaih K. Iaea Jr., a retired first sergeant in the Army who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, said his family history traces back to Makua Valley, but he understands the Army's need to train.

"The war's going on now," he said. "When Hawaiians are up in arms trying to protest what we're trying to do right. By protesting our training, it just hurts me. I really don't know what you're protesting."

"All I know all my relatives are in heaven, they're not in Makua," he said.

In 1998, citizen group Malama Makua sued the Army, arguing federal environmental law required the Army to complete an environmental study before it could use the valley for live-fire training.

Under a federal court agreement in 2001, the Army was to stop firing live ammunition in the valley until it completed an environmental impact study. The last time the military used live ammunition in the valley was August 2004.

Vince Dodge, a Waianae resident and member of Malama Makua, said he liked the format of the meeting despite his reservations about the study, which he called flawed.

"It's a place where we learn and inspire each other. Because the goal is to get good information, this works for us," he said.

Col. Howard Killian, commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii, said after nearly 25 meetings with Malama Makua and public groups he hadn't heard anything new yesterday.

He added that the studies are only a starting point for the Army, which will continue doing research.

David Henkin, an attorney for Earthjustice, a nonprofit law firm representing Malama Makua, said, "the sooner they (the Army) live up to their agreement, the sooner this process will come to an end. We want it to come to an end, but we want it to be good information."