HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.355 2024-2026From: —
Chris Rathbun _ ,
Sent:
Monday, August 18, 2025 4:25 AM
To:
Council Testimony
Subject:
Pohakuloa
Aloha Council members,
I am writing today about the desecration of our public lands by the United States military - in general, but
specifically at Pohakuloa. I have watched for decades as the military destroys our lands, while giving absolutely
nothing back. One night my father and I watched a parachute flare fall from the sky and spark a fire that wound
up burning something like 35,000 acres - a fire the military blamed on a lightning strike. Tens of thousands of
acres of our precious native forests in a dryland habitat with many endangered species. I could go on and on
about the damage the military causes but I'm going to keep this short.
And what do we get back for this abuse? A dollar a year for the lease? No money is spent by the soldiers here;
no money comes to the island at all from the Pohakuloa base other than perhaps money to fix the roads they
destroy with their heavy equipment. We sacrifice our public lands and get nothing in return. For what? Nothing
they do is pono. Our bloated, excessive military certainly does not spread the spirit of aloha across the world.
Pohakuloa, and the rest of our public lands, are not for sale, lease, or trade. I urge you to do what is pono and
take whatever steps you can to stop the bombing and live fire at Pohakuloa, protect the public trust, and bring
our public lands back under the control and stewardship of the public.
Mahalo, o cM
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Christopher Rathbun
PO Box 2018 co Q <
Honokaa, HI 96727
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Comm. l l•
Ref. To:
Ref. DateAUG 1 9 2025