HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.072 2024-2026COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAVVAG
August 17, 2025
2625 AUG 18 P.M 11 - 52
TESTIMONY in SUPPORT of Resolution 234-25
Aloha Chair Villegas and members of the Hawaii County Council,
Mahalo for your public service to our island. I'm testifying in SUPPORT of resolution 234-25. 1
urge you to pass this resolution for one reason..
No other government has more of a burden to put our island first than you. It is perhaps in the
best interest of the US Federal government to continue practicing.for World War at Pohakuloa.
And it is perhaps in the best interest of the State government to cut a deal with the military. But
there is no way for our County to rationalize bombing as something positive for our island. It
threatens our largest export: water. It threatens our greatest asset: water. It threatens the largest
dry forest in the Pacific with wild fire. It threatens our firefighters, our truck drivers, our scientists.
It threatens our physical health with radioactive particles every time we commute back and forth.
It is blatant environmental racism against our island way of life. It is the ugliest side of humanity
in the prettiest place on Earth.
In my forty years, I've witnessed that the biggest issue for our county government is unity
between East Hawaii and West Hawaii. The new Saddle road has brought our people and
places closer together. But we will always remain divided when we are divided by one of the
world's largest, most active, most toxic bombing ranges. We will always be divided by earth
shaking explosions, six days a week. Unless we choose to end it.
Stop the bombing and you will create jobs. Stop the bombing and you will attract more
taxpayers, more eco-tourism, more sustainable development. Ask Iceland. Ask Switzerland. Ask
Aotearoa the economic value of clean air and water.
This County Council does not need to weigh global politics, American politics, or State politics in
its decision -making. The point of this council is to do what's best for this island. All we need to
do is ask, what is best for our island? And we know the answer: STOP the BOMBING.
Me ke aloha'aina,
Trevor Atkins, Hawai'i
Comm. o V
Ref. To:
Ref. Date 9 2025,