HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.645 2024-2026From: artpeace
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2025 1:22 PM
To: Council Testimony, Inaba, Holeka; Kimball, Heather, Kagiwada, Jennifer; Onishi, Dennis;
Kierkiewicz, Ashley, Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt, Hustace, James; Galimba, Michelle M.;
Villegas, Rebecca c
Subject: SAY NO TO LEASE AT POHAKLILOA -NO LAND SWAP Cp
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Dear Council Members,
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I support resolution 234-25 to stop the bombing and desecration of the land at PohakuR>a. )yaUso
reject any land swaps and lease renewals with the military. I have lived in Volcano wtU my -
wife Marsha since 1994. I also lived on O'ahu from 1966-85. During most of those years I lived
in Makaha and Wai'anae. I watched, with much sadness and anger, the military bomb Makua
Valley. During the summer months, this bombing caused huge fires in this beautiful valley.
Many of us who lived along the Wai'anae Coast spoke out about this desecration, but it took
many years to force the military to stop bombing Makua Valley..
The military always says that the bombing of Hawai'i's land is essential to our nation's security.
That is a lie. There are many places on the mainland where there are acres of land far from
inhabited communities. If they need to train, they can do it there. The leaders in the military
show no respect or understanding of the Native Hawaiian communities' connection to the 'aina
and the cultural importance of the places that they bomb and destroy.
I am not anti -military. I enlisted in the US Navy and served from 1965-68. A portion of my
service was in Hawaii. I respect all those who serve. What I don't respect is the arrogance of
many of those people who lead the military. I tire of the argument that if you oppose certain
decisions by the military, that you are unpatriotic. You are unpatriotic if you don't speak up
against wrongdoing.
Mahalo for reading my testimony and for voting for resolution 234-25.
Malama Pono
Howard Shapiro
Comm. 'IV
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