HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1142.002 2006-2008
Testimony in Opposition of Proposed MTR for Hawaii Island
April 20, 2008
County Counsel-persons and fellow community members,
I appreciate the desire of the military to find a proximately close location to practice low-level C-17
maneuvers, but I truly believe that Hawaii Island is a poor choice on a number of fronts.
First there are the obvious concerns of health and safety. It has been noted by a number of respectable
studies that aircraft noise is responsible not only for hearing loss but is a contributor to other health
issues, including increased blood pressure, rapid heart beat, heart disease, immune deficiencies and
other stress related illnesses. The "startle response" created by a fast moving, low flying, loud engine
will negatively affect us all. In particular, certain vulnerable groups, such as Vietnam and Iraq war
veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and are re-traumatized every time a military
plane or helicopter flies by, senior citizens, many of whom were here during WW II, and our children,
whose studies will be interrupted, will be impacted even more.
In addition to the human toll, animals, whether they are family pets, domestic livestock like horses,
cattle and sheep, or endangered species like the Hawaiian Hawk are equally subject to damaging
responses to the C-17 or any other low flying aircraft. Spooked animals hurt themselves charging
through fences, and then can create a human hazard should they find themselves on a public road.
There is a further cost to ranchers of losing the young both in utero or after birth due to the fear
response experienced by the mother. All of these cause an economic loss to the ranchers and residents.
Our airspace is already busy with tourist flights, local pilots, native Hawaiian reforestation monitoring,
and, last but certainly not least, both the air ambulance and search and rescue efforts. All of those
efforts directly contribute to our local economy or the positive well being of our community.
There is no economic gain for Hawaii Island but a great deal of economic loss from the proposed MTR.
Tourism is our leading economic product. People visit the Big Island for its beauty, quiet and peaceful
surroundings. Our community in Honoka'a has been steadily growing with an influx of baby boomers
who wish to leave the chaos and din behind, many doing so to improve their dwindling health. Property
values will decrease and thus the tax revenue. I've already mentioned the potential devastation to
ranchers. Organic farmers will also suffer as will commercial businesses as conversations stop to
accommodate the noise of the planes.
And let us not forget, the serious cultural implications for the Native Hawaiian community. From a
Hawaiian perspective all of the'aina is sacred and deserving of respect, not just the creatures that reside
here.
The military has alternatives. Charleston, South Carolina has been a training environment for low level
missions since 1994. Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and
McChord AFB in Washington are a few examples of bases that currently do C-17 training. Elmendorf
AFB, adjacent to the 67,000 square mile Pacific Alaskan Range Complex, by the military's own admission
is, quoting the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Dave Almand, "the best low-level training environment in the
Comm. No,
Ref. To- PfOmw"
Ref. Date APR 21 2008
world, hands down. No one will be able to train like we do up here". Our whole island is only a bit
over 4,000 square miles. Surely such high level training would be much better done in Alaska.
In closing, I wish to make note of a statement by Col John Torres, made in a response letter published in
The West Hawaii Today on April 0, 2008, Col Torres states "The C-17s... would be flying no lower than
300 feet over unpopulated areas and no lower than 2,000 feet over Populated areas." Since Hawaii
island has no unpopulated areas, that would mean the C-17s, if the MTR was approved, would all be
flying at 2,000 feet or better, defeating the intent for low-level training over Hawaii.
I respectfully ask that the counsel dissuade the military from continuing this effort since it is ill advised,
detrimental to the health and safety of all who live here and not productive for the military.
Thank you.
Gay Mathews, CEO
North Hawaii Community FCU
45-3600 Mamane Street
Honoka'a, Hawaii 96727