Da kine community beef ova da Marine Corps’ Ewa Beach Puuloa Range Training Facility wen bus’ out big time Tuesday wen da state House wen pass one non-binding resolution fo’ move da firing range cause da noise, safety an’ potential lead exposure to da local hale, da beach an’ sea. ????
Da same kine resolution stay being look at by da state Senate.
Da Marines wen start using da firing range way back in da early 1900s. But da complaints wen pile up as Ewa Beach wen change from one agricultural community to one kine suburb chock full of ohana, an’ now get plans fo’ da state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands fo’ develop 600 homes near da firing range. ?️????
Dis da only 1,000-yard “known distance firing range” fo’ sniper training in Hawaii fo’ da Marines an’ da only spot where all 7,000 Hawaii-based Marines can do their annual rifle qualifications up to 500 yards, said Marine Lt. Mark McDonough, spokesperson fo’ Marine Corps Base Hawaii. ??
“There’s been choke criticism of da sniper training,” McDonough wen tell da Honolulu Star-Advertiser afta da House resolution wen pass. “But da most important training is da annual rifle qualification dat every single one of da 7,000 active-duty Marines have to do at PRTF (Puuloa Range Training Facility). We need both. We can’t have one or da other.” ?️?
State Rep. Rose Martinez (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) wen introduce da House resolution an’ said she hopes it leads to talks with da Marines about moving da firing range someplace else.
Her people wen suggest plenty kine different spots, all of them outside of Martinez’s district, she said. ?️?
But McDonough said da talk story already wen start, including invites to city, state an’ congressional members an’ their representatives dat included one tour of da firing range on April 17 cause all da local concerns and questions. ??
“Marine Corps Base Hawaii is all in fo’ help with da comfort of our neighbors in da community,” McDonough said. ?❤️
Da call fo’ move da Puuloa Range Training Facility come when get more concerns about da military’s presence in Hawaii afta all da huli about da leaks into Oahu’s drinking water supply from da Navy’s Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility. ?⚠️
Den in January, they estimate about 700 gallons of diesel fuel wen spill from da U.S. Space Force Maui Space Surveillance Complex at da top of Haleakala. ?️⛰️
Lawmakas been pushing state officials fo’ take hard-line positions on upcoming negotiations with da military on leases of state land fo’ continue military operations in Hawaii. ??
Asked about da timing of da House resolution fo’ move da Marines’ firing range, Mike Plowman — one member of da Ewa Neighborhood Board — said, “You strike while da iron’s hot.” ??
Plowman also stay part of da Surfrider Foundation of Oahu Beach Protection Committee who support moving da firing range. ?♂️?
Plenty people who supported da House an’ Senate resolutions wen make clear dat “we no anti- military,” as Martinez wen say. ???
Martinez wen introduce da House resolution cause da “public outcry” dat starts with loudspeaker orders dat make all kine noise across da firing range starting at 6 a.m., followed by live fire dat stay till 7 p.m. ?⏰?
One member of da Ewa Neighborhood Board, Alexander Gaos, wen call living next to da firing range “basically one kine fireworks show.” ??
Along with da environmental concerns ova lead exposure, Martinez wen say dat Ewa Beach residents in general get worries about “ohana health, safety an’ quality of life.” ?☠️????
In response to da complaints ova da constant loudspeaker orders — like “cease fire, cease fire” — da Marines looking at first-of-its kind technology fo’ smaller, more individualized speakers on each firing lanes. ???
McDonough wen say environmental assessments no found any evidence dat lead bullets have left da firing range. ??
Da Marine Corps already wen move its most precarious short-range firing range (known as Foxtrot) 40 meters mauka fo’ reduce da threat of shoreline erosion. ?️?
Its sister ranges — Charlie, Delta and Echo — no get da same erosion risks, McDonough said. ??
No more room fo’ move da Bravo 600-yard firing range or da Alpha 1,000-yard firing range, but also no get current erosion threat, McDonough said. ??️
In one March statement wen announce da move of da Foxtrot firing range, Marine Maj. Jeffry P. Hart said, “We get one kuleana fo’ protect da natural resources we entrusted to manage. As stewards of dis land, we gotta preserve an’ protect resources while maintaining da operational effectiveness of PRTF fo’ keep Marines, Joint Force members an’ law enforcement officers trained an’ ready. These upcoming plans are one good step in da right direction fo’ (Marine Corps Base Hawaii).” ???
He said da Marines working with da state Department of Health fo’ sample an’ analyze potential lead around da firing range perimeter. ??
In one statement, Col. Speros C. Koumparakis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said in da March announcement, “It is my intent for MCBH to pursue these changes at PRTF fo’ ensure da longevity of da training facility an’ da health an’ safety of da surrounding environment an’ community.” ????????️
NOW IN ENGLISH
?? Call to Relocate Marines’ Puuloa Firing Range Amplifies!
The community discontent concerning the Marine Corps’ Ewa Beach Puuloa Range Training Facility heightened significantly on Tuesday. The state House passed a nonbinding resolution advocating for the relocation of the firing range due to noise, safety, and potential lead exposure risks to nearby residences, the shoreline, and the sea. ????
A similar resolution is under consideration by the state Senate.
The Marines began utilizing the firing range in the early 1900s. However, complaints have surged as Ewa Beach transitioned from a farming community to a suburban area filled with families. Currently, plans are in place for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop 600 homes close to the firing range. ?️????
This firing range is the Marines’ only 1,000-yard “known distance firing range” for sniper training in Hawaii. It is also the only location where all 7,000 Hawaii-based Marines can undergo their annual rifle qualifications up to 500 yards, according to Marine Lt. Mark McDonough, spokesperson for Marine Corps Base Hawaii. ??
“There has been significant criticism of the sniper training,” McDonough told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser following the passage of the House resolution. “But the most crucial training is the annual rifle qualification that all 7,000 active-duty Marines must complete at PRTF (Puuloa Range Training Facility). We require both. We can’t prioritize one over the other.” ?️?
State Rep. Rose Martinez (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) introduced the House resolution and hopes that it encourages dialogue with the Marines about relocating the firing range.
Her constituents have suggested multiple alternative locations, all of which are outside of Martinez’s district, she mentioned. ?️?
However, McDonough stated that discussions have already commenced, including invitations to city, state, and congressional members and their representatives for a tour of the firing range on April 17, responding to community concerns and queries. ??
“Marine Corps Base Hawaii is fully committed to ensuring the comfort of our community neighbors,” McDonough stated. ?❤️
The demand to move the Puuloa Range Training Facility arises amidst increasing apprehensions about the military’s presence in Hawaii, following outrage over a series of leaks into Oahu’s drinking water supply from the Navy’s Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility. ?⚠️
Then in January, an estimated 700 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the U.S. Space Force Maui Space Surveillance Complex at the summit of Haleakala. ?️⛰️
Lawmakers have been urging state officials to adopt firm stances in upcoming negotiations with the military on state land leases to continue military operations in Hawaii. ??
When questioned about the timing of the House resolution advocating for the relocation of the Marines’ firing range, Mike Plowman — a member of the Ewa Neighborhood Board — stated, “You strike while the iron’s hot.” ??
Plowman is also a member of the Surfrider Foundation of Oahu Beach Protection Committee, who supports the firing range’s relocation. ?♂️?
Several people who backed the House and Senate resolutions reiterated that “we are not anti-military,” as Martinez put it. ???
Martinez introduced the House resolution in response to the “public outcry” that begins with loudspeaker orders that blare across the firing range starting at 6 a.m., followed by live fire that lasts until 7 p.m. ?⏰?
Ewa Neighborhood Board member Alexander Gaos likened living next to the firing range to an “essentially a fireworks show.” ??
In addition to environmental concerns over lead exposure, Martinez expressed that Ewa Beach residents overall have concerns about “family health, safety, and quality of life.” ?☠️????
In response to complaints over the constant loudspeaker orders such as “cease fire, cease fire”, the Marines are exploring first-of-its-kind technology for smaller, more individualized speakers for each firing lane. ???
McDonough reported that environmental assessments have not found any evidence that lead bullets have left the firing range. ??
The Marine Corps has already relocated its most precarious short-range firing range (known as Foxtrot) 40 meters inland to reduce the threat of shoreline erosion. ?️?
Its sister ranges — Charlie, Delta, and Echo — do not face the same erosion risks, McDonough added. ??
There is no room to relocate the Bravo 600-yard firing range or the Alpha 1,000-yard firing range, but there also is no current erosion threat, McDonough stated. ??️
In a March statement announcing the relocation of the Foxtrot firing range, Marine Maj. Jeffry P. Hart said, “We have a responsibility to protect the natural resources we are entrusted to manage. As stewards of this land, we must preserve and protect resources while maintaining the operational effectiveness of PRTF to keep Marines, Joint Force members, and law enforcement officers trained and ready. These upcoming plans are a great step in the right direction for Marine Corps Base Hawaii.” ???
He stated that the Marines are collaborating with the state Department of Health to sample and analyze potential lead around the firing range perimeter. ??
In a statement, Col. Speros C. Koumparakis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said in the March announcement, “It is my intent for MCBH to pursue these changes at PRTF to ensure the longevity of the training facility and the health and safety of the surrounding environment and community.” ????????️
