Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 3, 1 April 1984 — Hard Look at Military [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hard Look at Military

By Hayden Burgess Trustee, O'ahu I

The continue ™presence of the U. S. military in Hawaii has been a hotly contested eeonomie, polkieal and social issue. On the one hand, supporters of the U. S. military's continued use of Hawaii strenuously assert that the military is essential to Hawaii's existence and freedom because of the following: l.Military spending in Hawaii makes up approximately one-third of Hawaii's economy.

2.The military provides thousands of civilian jobs to loeal people. 3. We need the U. S. military to protect us from foreign attack and takeover. On the other hand, others state that if we are really concerned about the existenee and freedom of Hawaii, that the U. S. military should be pushed out of Hawaii. They argue: 1.the presence of the U. S. military in Hawaii impairs the security and existence of Hawaii by making it a target for foreign aggression as was the case in World War II. 2.That Hawaii is merely a U. S. military outbase whose primary function is to protect the Western coast of the United States. 3. That Hawaii's security and environment are constantly threatened because

of the presence of military nuclear war ships within our waters and the storage of nuclear weapons within our valleys. 4.That the eeonomie statistics regarding military spending and jobs in Hawaii are self-serving and misleading. 5. That the military directly desecrates sacred Hawaiian land, as in the bombing of Kaho'olawe.

Both sides argue vigorously and emotionally. But the usual result for most of us who are caught in the middle of this factual ping pong game is CONFUSION. What is clear, however, is that we must take a hard look at the long term wisdom of the continued presence of the U. S. military in Hawaii and alternatives to that presence economically, politically and socially. Toward this end, the Resource Development Committee of OHA has created a special committee to investigate all phases of U. S. military use and/or abuse of Hawaii. The process of this investigation is being formulated at this time, but we plan to travel to all the islands to gather facts, thoughts and feelings from you. At this planningstage, however, it would be helpful if you would send to me any information or ideas via the OHA office in Honolulu, 567 S. King St., Honolulu, 96813.