The RIMPAC exercises in Hawaiʻi continue with LCAC hovercraft invading the Ahu o Laka (the Kāneʻohe Bay sandbar). As Hawaii News Now reports, “Residents concerned over military vessels near Kaneohe Sandbar “ (July 16, 2012) the unannounced appearance of these craft have stirred concern from residents and recreational users about impacts to the environment. Their concerns are not unwarranted; in 2009 a Marine Corps amphibious assault craft sank on the reef in Waimānalo. There were reports that coral reef was damaged and that fuel leaked out, but the public has not gotten a final report on the environmental damage caused by the stranding. Waimānalo divers report that the reef is broken due to years of military activity in the area.
Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
Military helicopters and planes flew overhead while three huge hovercraft type vessels parked near the Kaneohe Sandbar all morning. When they moved the gas turbine engines stirred up water and sand.
“Those engines are super powerful, super loud,” said Andrew Fine, who works for Kaneohe Bay Ocean Sports (KBOS), which takes visitors out to the Sandbar.
Today the employees and visitors got an up close look at the military vessels. KBOS employees say they have no doubt the military vessels were affecting the ocean floor.
“This is all home to us, this is our front yard and I do take it quite personally when people come and destroy it,” said Fine. “Octopus, tako and all different kinds of creatures living down there and it’s just ruining all their homes for sure.”
“You’re supposed to stay in navigable waters but these guys just going right out there over the coral,” said Peter Field, windward Oahu resident.
Former state lawmaker Melody Aduja saw the hovercrafts early this morning from her shoreline home.
“Here when you’re dealing with a craft of that magnitude it’s hard to say they are not damaging the Bay because they are definitely churning up the habitat and the environment,” said Aduja. “Any type of unusual conduct such as that is going to have some kind of adverse affect on the environment.”
The offending craft are called Landing Craft Air Cushion or LCAC:
They are 88 feet long and 47 feet wide. They carry a 75 ton load and have a displacement of up to 182 tons fully loaded. The LCACs are so large they can transport several vehicles or tanks.
The Marines used the LCACs to drop of amphibious vehicles near Kuau on the Mōkapu peninsula (Kaneohe Marine Base). They needed a place to park and wait.
The Marine Corps public affairs statement did not jibe with the visual evidence:
“Two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCACs) were anchored this afternoon adjacent to Kapapa Island by the Sampan Channel awaiting recovery of two amphibious vehicles from Marine Corps Base Hawaii to the USS Essex. The LCACs were confirmed by MCB Hawaii personnel to be anchored, in accordance with law, in navigable water, with engines off, in a location as to mitigate interference with commercial and recreational activities,” said 1st Lt. Diann Olson, Public Affairs Officer with the Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
However our video shows three LCACs parked next to back edge of the Sandbar while civilians walked on the front edge of the Sandbar.