Residents took turns chastising and championing the U.S. Navy’s impact on Kaua‘i and marine life during a public hearing Tuesday evening at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e. Community members dissected a draft environmental impact statement for the Hawai‘i
Residents took turns chastising and championing the U.S. Navy’s impact on Kaua‘i and marine life during a public hearing Tuesday evening at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e.
Community members dissected a draft environmental impact statement for the Hawai‘i Range Complex, which includes the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Westside and more than 2.3 million square nautical miles around Hawai‘i.
The meeting was the Navy’s first of four across the state to gather input on its plan to conduct current and emerging training and testing in the complex and upgrade its capabilities to defend against existing and future threats.
The Navy said it hopes the study will lead to a blanket authorization for sonar use — including during large-scale exercises such as next year’s Rim of the Pacific international war games.
Although the 1,700-page study does not identify any “significant impacts that could not be mitigated,” some residents refuted this assertion and remained concerned about the detrimental effects to marine mammals that the “very controversial” mid-frequency sonar use could cause.
“Listen to the world’s citizens… when the oceans die, we die,” said Diana LaBedz, a long-time environmental advocate.
A few residents scrutinized particular parts of the study.
Bruce Pleas said the Navy needs to address a claim in the draft EIS that a Westside beach near PMRF fails to provide significant value to the local community — noting the location’s popularity among budding professional surfers.
But impassioned voices debating the military in general filled most of the three hours allotted for public input.
“I will stand up and defend this island until my dying breath,” said Puanani Rogers, a lifelong Kaua‘i resident opposed to any military build up.
“There is a distrust of the military. There is a distrust of the government. That distrust has been earned,” Michael Fox said.
Louis Parraga Jr., who has lived on Kaua‘i almost 80 years, said he speaks for the “local people” when he says that “outsiders” have done more damage to the island than the military.
“Surfers didn’t win wars. The military won wars,” the Korean War veteran said. “This is paradise lost to us. When is it going to stop?”
U.S. Navy Commanding Officer Aaron Cudnohfsky, who sat facing the direct heat of some community members’ comments, said after the meeting that he was “very pleased with the folks that came out.”
“We will incorporate all of this into the environmental impact statement,” he said. “The comments that were provided will make it a better document.”
The Pacific Missile Range Facility employs some 850 workers and contributes $160 million per year in economic impact to Kaua‘i, Public Relations Officer Tom Clements said.
For more information, visit www.govsupport.us/hrc. Written comments must be submitted by Sept. 17 to Pacific Missile Range Facility Public Affairs Officer, P.O. Box 128, Kekaha, HI 96752.
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com.
