Tag: Waimanalo

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Military threatening permanent closure of Bellows

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Marines close Bellows for June

Illegal activities cited, but some say military seeks permanent ban

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Marine Corps said yesterday it is temporarily closing weekend public beach access at Bellows Air Force Station to curtail illegal activities, but residents contend the military is trying to push locals out permanently.

The public has been allowed access to the area on weekends for more than 20 years, first by the Air Force and now by the Marines.

The area will be closed all weekends in June while the Marines seek ways to better prevent activities such as drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.

The goal is to have the camp and beach open again for the July 4 weekend, the Marines said in a news release.

The decision was first announced at a hastily called community meeting Friday because of events on the previous Monday, Memorial Day, at the Marine Corps Training Area, Bellows.

Wilson Ho, Waimanalo Neighborhood Board chairman, who was invited to the meeting with Marine Corps Base Commander Col. Robert Rice along with city, state and federal representatives, said the Marines demanded immediate action, including around-the-clock police presence.

“They want zero tolerance,” Ho said, adding that the decision was more like martial law, where demands were presented then the attendees were dismissed.

In their news release confirming the decision, the Marines said the training area “will remain closed to all visitors throughout the month of June due to persistent unsafe and environmentally destructive activities on the beach and in the camping area.”

Ho said the Marines talked about infractions that involved less than 1 percent of the people who were at Bellows on Memorial Day, yet they want to punish everyone.

This was the first he’s heard of any increase in problems at Bellows, he said, adding that the Marines attend every neighborhood board meeting and have never brought up the problem.

popular camping beach

Bellows is the most popular camping beach on the island and typically the city grants permits weeks in advance.

The 1%

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Marines to close Bellows beach until July

Bellows beach closure plan upsets neighbors

By Gary T. Kubota

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 02, 2009

The Marine Corps has decided to close its beaches at Bellows Air Force Station to the public starting this weekend and through June due to what it called “persistent unsafe and environmentally destructive activities.”

But at least a couple of Waimanalo Neighborhood Board members said they feel the closure is “unfair.”

“Basically this is just a few people spoiling it for everybody,” said board member Andrew Jamila Jr. “We don’t want this to be mass punishment for people.”

Jamila said he did not know until a few days ago that the beach area was experiencing problems, including illicit drug use and drunkenness.

The Marines, which use Bellows as a training area for amphibious landings, open a portion of the beach area for public use on weekends.

The corps said the closure is due to unsafe activities, including drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.

The Marines said the area would be cleaned and reopened in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

The military, retirees and guests may continue to use the Air Force cabins on the beach in a restricted area.

Board Chairman Wilson Kekoa Ho said many Waimanalo students are out of school in June and July, and the decision eliminates 50 percent of their camping time.

Ho said Bellows attracts people islandwide on weekends, and he felt thousands of residents were being punished for the conduct of a small minority.

The Marine Corps has decided to close its beaches at Bellows Air Force Station to the public starting this weekend and through June due to what it called “persistent unsafe and environmentally destructive activities.”

But at least a couple of Waimanalo Neighborhood Board members said they feel the closure is “unfair.”

“Basically this is just a few people spoiling it for everybody,” said board member Andrew Jamila Jr. “We don’t want this to be mass punishment for people.”

Jamila said he did not know until a few days ago that the beach area was experiencing problems, including illicit drug use and drunkenness.

The Marines, which use Bellows as a training area for amphibious landings, open a portion of the beach area for public use on weekends.

The corps said the closure is due to unsafe activities, including drug use, fights, large campfires, trash dumping, off-roading on the beach, alcohol use and vehicle break-ins.

The Marines said the area would be cleaned and reopened in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

The military, retirees and guests may continue to use the Air Force cabins on the beach in a restricted area.

Board Chairman Wilson Kekoa Ho said many Waimanalo students are out of school in June and July, and the decision eliminates 50 percent of their camping time.

Ho said Bellows attracts people islandwide on weekends, and he felt thousands of residents were being punished for the conduct of a small minority.

Source: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20090602_Bellows_beach_closure_plan_upsets_neighbors.html

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Appeal to Protect Waimanalo

From: Ryan Kalama
Sent: Friday, May 15, 2009 11:15 PM
Subject: Waimanalo needs your Kokua

Aloha Kakou;

“WE THE KAILUA HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB, HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF WAIMANALO AND THE COMMUNITY NEEDS EVERYONE’S HELP TO SAVE WAIMANALO AND TO GET BACK THEIR LAND”

Waimanalo and Kailua have been having our hands full dealing with Bellows Air Force Base forcing the Community to except their proposals for the following issues (Even though their lease is up in 2027):

1. Kadena Air Force Base, in Okinawa, is now the Command Base over Bellows Air Force Base out in Waimanalo 96795 and Hickam Air Force Base will be turned over to Pearl Harbor Naval Command.

2. Senator Inouye had the House of Congress and the House of Senate approve a huge budget to build un-necessary housings, buildings, water parks, golf courses, shopping mall, and huge mega resort.

3. Building 48 2 story condominiums at the edge of Bellows Air Force Base runway, right next to the Commanders House and Chief Cabins which are located on the shore line, located NE of Bellows AFB.

4. The sewage will be pumped back down into the sand; in which there is sewage already spreading, all over Lani kai Beach, Waimanalo Bay, all the way down to Makapu’u, attracting large feasting sharks.

5. Where there is Billeting there is people. When there is more people there is more traffic. Waimanalo already has a major problem, with only one two way street, which is already a large conjested traffic.

6. Kadena Air Force Base had brought in their own scientist, biologist, archealogist, geologist, environmentalists, and public relations to manipulate the Waimanalo Community that the environment is safe.

7. Apparently this has been an ongoing under cover project since 2007 and we have protested every time they build something. Each time they promised to give us land for our Community and Homestead.

AFTER THE CONFRONTATION, THE MESSENGER STATED; THAT THE 2007 PLAN WAS NOT TRUE, HE GUARANTEED NO MEGA RESORT, AND THAT THIS PLAN WAS ONLY JUST A RUMOR.

They have mentioned, that they would turn the Bellows Air Force Base over back to the Waimanalo Community; but we were responsible for all the nuclear chemical dump sites and destruction they caused.

We have had only two encounters, since Monday April 20th, 2009, the first encounter was at the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board, letting us know, that the Community response only had about 14 days left.

The Air Force had publicized their plan on how they were going to expand their cabins, how it was a low empact on the environment, & Recreation for our soldiers, on May 3, 2009, Star Bulletin newspaper.

Which has stired a contreversial situation with in the Waimanalo Community. The second encounter was May 13th, 2009, and they gave us a tour out at the site, where they plan to build their condominiums.

We weren’t able to record or film the second encounter; but we had over 30 people attended the meeting. A tour was provided, and posters were displayed; which were not well received by the Community.

Some have spoken up, some were emotional, and some professionally expressed all their concerns. The main problem is that they never notified us of their plans until recently on Monday April 20th, 2009.

We the Civic Clubs and Community members have obtained several documents that all of you can find on your computer, print them out for your own record, and bring them to the next meeting here it is:

1. GSA Release FY 2006 Federal Real Property Report, http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?noc=T&content.type=GSA_BASIC&contentid=23325

2. Executive Order 13287 PRESERVE AMERICA, http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?P=PLAE&contentID=16910&contentTy

3. NEPA’s Forty Most Asked Questions, http://www.ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/40/40p3.htm

4. CEQ 40 FAQS Answers to 1-10, http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/40/1-10.HTM#1

5. President Ronald Reagan, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42208

6. Honolulu Star-Bulletin Editorials Friday, June 21, 1996 “Military is serious about keeping Bellows” http://archives.starbulletin.com/1996/06/21/editorial/editorials.htm

Everyone need to research on your computer certain reports that can be retrieved and reviewed before you attend the next meeting; so once again here is the reports you can pull from your internet search:

a. United States Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, Addressed to Mr. Ron Lanier about Bellows AFS. Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Housing Privatization Phase II, Hickam AFB and Bellows AFS, Oahu Hawaii (CEQ#20060146)

b. Federal Real Property Council, Guidance for Improved Asset Management

c. Federal Real Property Council Fiscal Year 2005, An Overview of the U.S. Federal Government’s Real Property Report Guide

d. Federal Real Property Council Inventory, Guidance June 30, 2006

e. Federal Real Property Council Fiscal Year 2007, Guidance May 24, 2007

f. Federal Real Property Council Fiscal Year 2008, Guidance June 23, 2008

g. Code of Federal Regulations 32 CFR Ch. VII (7-1-01 Edition)

h. Hawaii Costal Zone Management Progam Document 2 Inventory of the Federally Controlled Land in Hawaii. August, 1975, prepared for the “State of Hawaii Department of Planning and Economic Development”

WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR RESEARCH OF ALL THE SITES AND REPORTS; IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU. BE PREPARED BY THE NEXT MEETING; SO WE COULD STOP THESE

Our next encounter ship is Monday May 18th, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. some of the people have hope and some have assumed that Kadena and Bellows Air Force Base already made up their minds to go ahead.

Waimanalo has a chance to restore their Ahapuaa, build a Youth Center, create a Culture Center, Local Business, and a Village Community; which most of it will be built on parts of Bellows Air Force Base.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYONE’S PARTICIPATION TO COME FORTH TO OUR WAIMANALO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING ON MAY, 2009 AT 6:00 P.M. HELD AT BELLOWS AFB.

Mahalo;
Kahu Ryan Alena Kaimana Kuhio Kalama
President of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club

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Bellows Landfill cleaned up?

Waimanalo community leaders invite supporters to attend the ceremony for the blessing of the fishpond:

Saturday, February 21, 2009, Meet up at 8:45 am at the Jack in the Box in Waimanalo. Then proceed to the Bellows gate.  Hawaiian flags and signs encouraged.  Bring cameras.  Urge the return of the fishpond to Kanaka Maoli. Contact: Kawehi at kawehi11@yahoo.com.

The military issued a press release today claiming that the clean up of a landfill at Bellows Beach in Waimanalo was complete.  See the article in today’s Honolulu Advertiser below.  But there’s more to this story.   The Waimanalo community fought to get the site cleaned up.  The Air Force initially planned to cap it.  But a clue to what may have tipped the scale to get the clean  up moving is contained in the article:

The Marine Corps then requested funding to remove the landfill in order to use the previously unusable training area

On a recent visit to the clean up site sponsored by the Waimanalo Restoration Advisory Board, we saw the oily water and soil that was excavated from the beach.  We also saw remnants of a loko i’a, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond, the first actual physical evidence of fishponds in Waimanalo to corroborate oral histories.  However the walls of the loko i’a were buried under other parts of the base and would not be restored, only reburied.   The military apparently used the walls of the fishpond to contain their landfill during the 1940s. The Waimanalo community is calling for the fishpond to be restored and returned to the Kanaka Maoli people.

We also learned that practice munitions and the shells from live munitions were found improperly disposed of in the landfill.  When asked, the contractors said that they did not test for the chemical constituents from munitions.  So we don’t know whether the soil and water were contaminated with munitions residue.  The other shocking news was that the contaminated soil from the landfill was being trucked to Nanakuli and dumped in the PVT landfill.  Wai’anae residents were unhappy when they learned that military contamination was being moved from one Hawaiian community to another.

There are several other contaminated sites in Waimanalo. One that the Air Force has refused to address is a cave known from Hawaiian legends, that was used for a dump.   Despite persistent efforts of the Kanaka Maoli community to restore the cave, the Air Force insists that it cannot reopen a project that has been closed without special legislation to do so.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Bellows Beach landfill cleanup done

Advertiser Staff

Kaneohe Marines, Air Force personnel and Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono will be at a brief blessing ceremony tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. to mark completion of the clean-up of a former landfill at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, the Marines said today in a news release.

The landfill, known as “LF24” was located on property previously assigned to the U.S. Air Force, then transferred to the Marine Corps in 1999. As part of the transfer process, the Air Force was required to conduct environmental investigations.

These investigations determined the site was not eligible for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) funding. The Marine Corps then requested funding to remove the landfill in order to use the previously unusable training area, as well as prevent any buried refuse at the site from unintentionally eroding into the ocean.

Waimanalo residents lobbied the military services to clean up the site, and the requested funds were eventually made available in August, 2007, when Hirono helped earmark $2M in Marine Corps funds to clean up the World War II era landfill. The Marines received the $2M in December 2007 and immediately transferred these funds to the Air Force, whose familiarity with the site and expertise were well documented.

The Air Force selected CH2M Hill as the contractor for the clean-up based on their qualifications and familiarity with the site. Part of the contract emphasized sub-contracting local small businesses. In all, of the 13 sub-contractors used for the project, 11 were based in Waimanalo or the Hawaiian Islands.

The Air Force’s Environmental Restoration department at Hickam Air Force Base led the project and hosted Marines from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the Hawaii Dept. of Health, members of the Waimanalo community and other key organization personnel as part of a Key Stakeholders Working Group which helped with project oversight.

Source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090220/BREAKING01/90220072

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Amphibious Assault Vehicle Sinking off Waimanalo

Here are several archived news stories about the Marine Corps Amphibious Assault vehicle that sank off Waimanalo. The original URLs and videos are no longer available for two of the stories:

http://archives.starbulletin.com/content/20090114_Newswatch
POSTED: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Marines look into vehicle’s sinking

The Marines are investigating what caused a $2 million amphibious vehicle to sink about 160 yards off Bellows Beach during a training exercise on Monday.

No one was injured during the incident, which occurred at 6:30 p.m.

Maj. Alan Crouch, a Marine spokesman, said the tracked vehicle was carrying three Marines at the time. It was one of seven vehicles taking part in the exercise.

A release from the Marine Corps Base Hawaii said a combat assault company’s assault amphibian platoon was conducting scheduled water operations when it encountered a swell about 1,200 yards offshore.

The 46,000-pound AAV or assault amphibian vehicle began taking on water and lost power while attempting to reach the shore, the statement said.

The three Marines onboard were safely evacuated to another assault vehicle participating in the exercise.

As a safety precaution an oil spill containment boom was placed around the area where the vehicle sank in 15 feet of water.

Navy salvage divers were to return to the area today to determine how to raise the sunken vehicle. Marine Corps officials hope to refloat the vehicle and send it the Barstow Marine Corps Logistical Base in California for repairs.

The 131/2-foot-long vehicles, capable of carrying 25 passengers and a crew of three, are used by Marines to move from ship to shore. It has a maximum speed of 45 mph on land and 8 mph in the water.

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From KHON:

Salvaging an Assault Amphibian Vehicle

By Ron Mizutani

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2009 at 6:22 PM HST

A diving and salvage unit from Marine Corps Base Hawaii returned to Bellows Wednesday to recover an Assault Amphibian Vehicle that sank Monday night. But is there more to the story than what’s being shared by the military?

Sources told KHON2 diesel fuel leaked from the A-A-V but those in charge of the salvage project say that’s not true.

As divers prepped salvage equipment at Bellows, beach goers watched with interest and questions.

“There’s an offshore reef which is about probably 300 yards out and I always wondered whether there was a puka that they came through that was set aside for them to come through or whether they were just hoping that they wouldn’t hit it when they came in,” said Tom Holowach of Kailua.

Monday night, marines did the latter. The incident happened about 6:30 during water operations — similar to these exercises in 2002. According to military officials, a wave hit the AAV about 12-hundred yards offshore causing it to strike the reef. The vehicle started taking on water and lost power while attempting to reach the shoreline. It sank less than 175 yards from shore. All three marines escaped injury.

“So they pulled another vehicle along side it, moved all the personnel and gear to the other vehicle and attempted to hook up to tow but the vehicle was under water,” said Commander Christopher Kim of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

“No fuel is emitting from the vehicle and we have been diving on it through out yesterday and today and continue to monitor and she’s pretty much intact,” said Gordon Olayvar of the Federal Conservation Law Enforcement.

But sources close to the investigation say an unknown amount of diesel leaked from the vehicle. Environmental watchdog Carroll Cox received a similar tip.

“I received a call saying there is diesel fuel being emitted — didn’t tell me the volume of the quantity,” said Cox.

“Obviously one of the things of concern for us is fuel making sure that the fuel is contained,” said Olayvar.

Cox says residents should not be satisfied.

“No we should not be,” said Cox. “The concern I have is a boom is placed here and if you look at it the way its configured — that’s not going to serve any purpose — it should be completed contained. I don’t believe that the military has been as transparent in this situation as they should be.”

Crews expect to recover the A-A-V Wednesday night. The state will then determine if there’s been any reef impact.

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Marines Attempt to Re-Float Amphibious Vehicle
Written by KGMB9 News – news@kgmb9.com
January 15, 2009 06:39 PM

A complicated recovery project is going on in Waimanalo.

A team of marines is trying to re-float a 28-ton amphibious assault vehicle from a reef off Bellows Beach.

That’s where it sank on Monday, after a wave knocked it over.

Wednesday, crews tried to float the tank and tow it to shore.

But they had to go back Thursday and had better luck.

It took a few hours to get it off the sea floor.

The Marines are towing it in right now.

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Amphibious vehicle sinks off Waimanalo

Military Vehicle Sinks During Exercise

Written by KGMB9 News – news@kgmb9.com

January 13, 2009 07:10 PM

Strong surf is being blamed for a Marine Assault Amphibian Vehicle sinking off the Bellows Training area.

The AAV, similar to this one sunk just after 6:30 Monday night.

Military officials say no one was hurt, and that a large wave caused the vehicle to hit the reef.

The AAV then started to take on water before it lost power. It sank about 200 yards off shore.

The coast guard is helping with the recovery operation to pull the vehicle out of the water.

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Nonstop war duty tests Marines

Nonstop war duty tests Marines

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
KANE’OHE BAY – Less than four months ago, Lt. Col. Norm Cooling and his 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines were getting ready to leave Afghanistan after a seven-month deployment.

Many of the 1,000 Hawai’i Marines humped heavy loads through remote mountain valleys, camping for days on patrols.

Parts of Paktia Province fell to 20 below zero, and one 3/3 company operated practically in arctic conditions at 11,000 feet.

Their reward should have been seven months’ “stabilization” in Hawai’i. Instead, they’re on a hectic and compressed training schedule for a return late this winter or early spring to combat – this time in Iraq.

It’s the same tempo for some other units at Kane’ohe Bay, and the same story across the Corps – Marines preparing for repeat deployments with minimal breaks in between, and families fretting anew at home.

Cooling, 41, will be on his third war deployment in three years – Iraq, Afghanistan, Iraq.

The 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which fought house-to-house through Fallujah last November and lost 46 Marines and sailors to the Iraq deployment, is in California receiving mountain warfare training for a deployment to Afghanistan in January or February.

The CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter community, meanwhile, is preparing for squadron-sized rotations to Iraq, although a deployment order has not been received.

Sgt. Ted Ramos, 28, a 3/3 Marine, has a training schedule for Iraq that includes several days a week spent in the field; “fire and movement” range practice; road marches; trips to Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, and a full month to be spent on desert training at Twentynine Palms in California between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Then the Afghanistan veteran goes to Iraq.

“At times it is stressful, and you almost want things to slow down to where you can catch your breath,” said Ramos, of San Antonio.

But the India Company Marine also says the high tempo is necessary to be prepared.

“It’s not just me that I’m worrying about. I have my Marines underneath me that I have to keep at the same pace,” Ramos said. “If we were to start to slack off, and slow the tempo down to where we’re not getting as much as we should out of training, I think it would really affect us when we got on the ground over there.”

In some respects, the Iraq deployment has been easier to prepare for than Afghanistan, Cooling said. Then, the battalion had only 3 1/2 months notice before heading to Afghanistan.

Still, Cooling describes the training regimen as “fast and furious.”

All companies stay in the field Tuesday through Thursday in the Kahuku training area, at the Kane’ohe Bay Marine Corps base, at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, or at Dillingham Airfield.

The Marines practice live fire at Ulupau crater at the Marine Corps base, at Pu’uloa near ‘Ewa Beach, at the Army’s Schofield Barracks and, last year, at Makua Military Reservation – a use they hope to repeat.

There’s a lot of cooperation with Schofield – and some training schedule juggling. Because of Stryker Brigade projects at Schofield, some ranges are closed until 4:30 p.m., and the Army is using Marine Corps ranges, officials said.

Dan Geltmacher, the Marine Corps Base Hawai’i training area manager, said the Marines “are doing an awful lot of training in a short period of time.”

“There are challenges, just like any place,” he said. “But they are getting it done. They are doing their weapons qualifications here and they do maneuver training here. They do their basic annual qualifications that are required, combat or no, and then they go to California and get the final touches.”

Cooling said going to Twentynine Palms gives his battalion the opportunity to spend a full month in a desert training environment. There’s also a Military Operations on Urban Terrain site.

“The disadvantage is that’s another month of deployment away from our families,” he said. “It’s very hard on the families, but we’ve got to strike a balance between the training that’s necessary to get their husbands and fathers prepared for a combat zone and the time that they rightfully need to prepare their families (for a deployment).”

Approximately half the battalion that was in Afghanistan moved to different duty stations, 124 Marines extended to go to Iraq, and as much as 35 percent are new recruits.

Better training could come to O’ahu in the form of an “urban terrain” facility that would have mockups of European, Middle Eastern and Asian city blocks, an elevator shaft, a sewer system that could be navigated, and a prison.

A Military Operations on Urban Terrain site, planned for nearly 40 acres at Bellows, could cost up to $35 million but hasn’t been funded. It remains the Marines’ No. 1 priority for a training area improvement on O’ahu.

Ramos, who has a girlfriend in Texas who’s not at all happy he’s going on a second combat deployment, joined the Marines in 1996, got out in 2000, and re-enlisted in 2004 because he felt “it was a duty of mine to come back to the Marine Corps and do my part” for the country.

The two combat deployments and the intensive training in between haven’t been much of a problem for Ramos, but he isn’t pledging any longer term commitment to the Corps beyond this enlistment – at least for now.

“I look at it this way,” he said. “It all depends on how things are when I come back from Iraq. With the blessing of God I’ll come back with a good straight head and everything I left with, and then I’ll determine (my future) from that.”

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Source: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Sep/25/ln/FP509250341.html

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