HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.635 2024-2026From: Talia Rios
Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 11:16 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Strong Support of Resolution 234-25
Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi and councilmembers
My name is Talia Kahakuka'alani Rios', and I am testifying in strong support of this resolution urging the State
of Hawai'i to protect the health and safety of Hawai'i Island residents by ceasing all live -fire exercises at
P6hakuloa Training Area until a full archaeological inventory surrey and Ka Pa'akai analysis are completed,
and by rejecting any lease renewals or land swaps with the military.
The 'aina and Native Hawaiians deserve to have our land protected rather than have to face continued
desecration at the hands of the U.S military. U.S. military occupation has gone on for far too long and has
shown to provide nothing good for the Hawaiian people and the 'aina. Examples of this can be seen in spaces
in Hawai'i that were previously used by the U.S. military such as Kaho'olawe and Makua Valley. The military's
use of hawaiian land has resulted in broken water aquifers and remnants of ordnances, to name a few. We do
not want to see this same fate for Pohakuloa.
Please take measures to prioritize the'aina and the people rather than the United States military. Please
do an archaeological assessment to determine that Pohakuloa should be conserved and guarded rather
than given up to America. In the year 2025, we should be making decisions that protect Hawaii from the
hands of the U.S. military.
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Me ke aloha, -nC-
Talia Kahakuka'alani Rios T'—
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