HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1142.025 2006-2008
Dominc Yagong
From: grover@wannlava.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 12:12 PM
To: Dominic Yagong; Donald Ikeda; J. Yoshimoto; Stacy Higa; Emily Naole; Bob Jacobson;
Brenda Ford; Angel Pilago; Pete Hoffman; Harry Kim; Mazie Hirono; Linda Lingle; Lorraine
Inouye; Shan Tsutsui; Will Espero; Dwight Takamine; Cindy Evans; Ken Ito; Charles Anthony;
Regina Berry; Brannon Morioka; Scott Ishikawa
Subject: Proposed C-17 Military Training Route
Importance: High
15 April 2008
Dear Elected officials of the County and State of Hawaii and others,
This is a written declaration that I oppose the proposed C-17 Military Training Route over
the Hamakua Coast communities of Honokaa, Ahualoa, Kukuihaele, Kalopa, etc. I believe
that my family's well-being and health of the community would be adversely impacted by the
project.
My wife and I are 15-year residents of Ahualoa, and live on Kahana Drive at the upper
portion of the community at an elevation of approximately 2,700 feet. We live in a very
quiet neighborhood, enjoy a serene and peaceful lifestyle, and appreciate the small
agrarian community of a few hundred families. Though considered lightly populated, when
surrounding Hamakua communities are included the number of inhabitants approaches 8,000
people.
Because we live in the center of the navigation corridor for the proposed
C-17 Military Training Route and would have very large aircraft flying approximately 300
feet over our residence, my family has significant concerns and worries. These numerous
concerns include but are not limited
to:
• Disruption of daily activities (day and night)
• Loss of sleep
• Speech interference
• Increase in anxiety, nervousness, and fear
• Negative behavioral and physiological effects
• Decrease in property values
• Increase in property insurance rates
• Decrease in "quality of life"
• Disturbance of pets, farm animals, and wildlife
• Decrease in air quality
• Adverse impact on catchment water quality from airborne pollutants
• Increase in noise pollution
• Negative physical, emotional, and social effects on children
Please note that I believe that training is required for the U.S. military to remain a
high-quality responsive unit. Nonetheless, conducting low-level training exercises in,
around, and/or over residential areas is inappropriate, insensitive, and simply WRONG.
There are many alternatives and options the 15th Airlift Wing should consider before it
utilizes the proposed training route, including: 1) flights over open ocean; 2) flights
over open and desolate areas of the Mainland; 3) flights using long-established navigation
corridors on the Mainland; 4) use of a flight simulator; and 5) flights solely contained
within the boundaries of the Pohakuloa Training Area.
As a long-time resident of Ahualoa and a person who passionately appreciates the quality
of life offered on the Hamakua Coast, I request that the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam Air
Force Base NOT conduct its training exercises over my home nor over my community.
Furthermore, I beseech Hawaii's elected officials to find it within their power to not
I Comm. 1 iNo.
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Ref. Toi Preseo?N MARti
Ref. Dote APR 21 7 MBM
support this project.
Thank you for receiving this testimony.
Pablo McLoud
P.O. Box 1814
Honokaa, HI 96727
808-775-0829
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