PKO Submits Comments Regarding Draft EIA of Navy's Impact on Kaʻula

Re: Full PMRF Environmental Impact Assessment is Necessary for Ka‘ula Island
 
To the PMRF LBT EA Project Manager: 
​
The Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (ʻOhana) believes the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for expanded military activities at the Pacific Missile Range Facilities (PMRF) and Kaʻula Island does not accurately or adequately assess the impacts that increased military exercises will have on Kaʻula Island, the local environment and marine resources surrounding the island. The draft EA is also deficient in its Cultural Impact Assessment. A full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is necessary. 
The ‘Ohana is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to healing Kaho‘olawe after nearly 50 years of direct bombing abuse by the U.S. Navy. The ʻOhana also works to protect the natural and cultural resources of our ancestral lands and ocean waters of the Hawaiian archipelago. Kahoʻolawe and Kaʻula share a similar plight. Both are sacred sites of irreplaceable cultural significance to the Native Hawaiian people that were wrongfully taken by the U.S. military for live-fire use. In fact, it is unclear how the U.S. military could move forward with its illegal use of Kaʻula for live-fire ordnance training purposes until the all-important question of ownership of the island is resolved. We understand that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has asked the state Attorney General to opine on ownership of Kaʻula. 
1) The cultural analysis in the draft Environmental Assessment is deficient. The draft EA incorrectly assumes there are no historic sites or Hawaiian cultural practices that will be impacted. That is not true. One important site on Kaʻula is Lua o Kuhaimoana (Cave Dwelling of the shark akua Kuhaimoana), commonly known today as Shark Cave. The presence of sharks and other animals such as seabirds in these waters indicate that Kaʻula is a critical haven for marine and terrestrial life. The surrounding waters of Kaʻula are traditional sea lanes that are well-traveled for spiritual and physical subsistence by Native Hawaiians of Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, and the broader Hawaiʻi communities.    

pko_comments_kaula_ea_submit.pdf
File Size:	155 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---