Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 6, 1 Iune 1993 — The future of Barbers Point Naval Air Station [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The future of Barbers Point Naval Air Station

by Clayton Hee Chairman, Board of Trustees Everyone, it seems, is after the latest land grab opportunity — Barbers Point Naval Air Station. The closure of

Barbers Point presents a rare opportunity for the Hawaiian people, one whieh has not yet been discussed. Ever since the military was ordered by President Clinton to close military bases serving no particu-

lar security need for the United States, everyone staked a elaim on Barbers Point. Mayor Fasi talked about a second Waikīkl at Barbers Point. City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro testified to Sen. Inouye that

Barbers Point could serve as the site of a new penal institution. Just about every legislator or City Council member has one idea or another about the future use of the hundreds of acres on the 'Ewa Dlains.

ranging from golf courses and housing to shopping centers and office buildings. A few facts. First, Barbers Point is not ceded land; it was purchased by the military from the largest privately-

owned estate in 'Ewa. Second, the military is building more military housing there, guaranteeing some form of future use by the armed services many years into the future. Third, the runway at Barbers

Point may continue to be used by the U.S. Coast Guard stationed at Barbers Point NAS, and perhaps be turned into a second aviator runway for small aircraft, for example, Air Moloka'i,or

Panorama Air. Fourth, and most importantly, the federal government continues to use

lands other than Barbers Point, lands whieh were and are ceded. These include lands occupied by the Federal Aviation Administration at Diamond Head (Fort Ruger), Kapālama Military Reservation, Bellows Air Force Station, U.S. Immigration Station (Fort Armstrong), and Fort DeRussy among others. These ceded lands whieh the federal govemment occupies are

lands whieh should provide revenue for the benefit of the Hawaiian people under section 5(f) of the Admissions Act. These Hawaiians lands were onee used for the benefit of

everyone. These lands should be retumed to the Hawaiian people onee again by moving federal agencies to the non-ceded lands at Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Onee this is accomplished, the ceded lands vacated by these military agencies should form the basis for discussion on the return of public lands to the nation of Hawai'i, whieh is one major step

closer to reality as a result of the 1993 Legislature. The relocation of federal agencies to Barbers Point will clear the way for the retum of public lands back to the Hawaiian people. Whatever lands

at Barbers Point are "left over" after relocating federal agencies there, off

ceded lands, ean be "haggled for." And make no mistake, OHA will be at that table. Many tmstees hold that Hawaiians are entitled to these lands by law, and that the federal government continues to use them exclusively without paying a penny to the Hawaiian people for that privilege.

These ceded lands whieh the federal government occupies are lands whieh should provide revenue for the benefit of the Hawaiian people