Marine Corps Consultations to Be Held on Molokai Airport Use
Marine Corps Base Hawaii News Release
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii is proposing renewed use of the Molokai Airport as a re-fueling location for MV-22 “Osprey” and H-1 “Huey” and “Cobra” helicopters, as well as increased use of Kalaupapa Airport by the H-1 helicopters. On Tuesday March 27, at Mitchell Pauole Center conference room from 5 to 7 p.m., the Marine Corps is holding National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 consultations to discuss issues and concerns related to potential effects on historic properties in the vicinity of these airports.
MCB Hawaii initiated Section 106 consultations in November 2010, and expanded consultations in December, 2011, to include discussions of other locations in Hawaii outside Oahu. Previous consultations have been conducted by telephone and on location on the islands of Hawaii, Molokai (Kalaupapa), and Oahu in December 2011. The NHPA Sec 106 consultation process is included in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review process which began in 2010, and has included a public scoping meeting on Molokai in August 2010, and a public comment period in November and December 2011.
Anyone who would like to participate in the Sec 106 consultations as a consulting party, who have not already done so, can contact June Cleghorn, MCB Hawaii Cultural Resources Manager, at (808) 257-7126. For additional information about the Osprey/H-1 Environmental Impact Statement or about Marine Corps Base Hawaii, contact the MCB Hawaii Public Affairs Office at (808) 257-8840.
3 Comments
As someone closely involved with aerospace technology over past decades (mainly in life support/egress contexts), I am quite familiar with both rotary-wing and VSTOL aircraft operations. As long as the kauhale-related aesthetics and environmental impact effects are satisfactorily addressed in the referenced use-consultations, it occurs to me that having these birds available through Ho’olehua would constitute a positive benefit for the island, since military assets are frequently employed in Coast Guard and related SAR missions. Granted the noise impact (aesthetics) may be somewhat problematic, given that these aircraft are not exactly the quietest birds in the air, but since Ho’olehua already regularly hosts noisy turboprop (DH-6 & 7 types, etc.) aircraft, the potential extra din may be academic. When someone is lost offshore, spotting them from the air is invariably problematic and not always favorable with the usual sparse assets, so having more potential SAR assets on tap would seem a positive argument in favor of the plan. Finally, speaking as an aerospace guy (who’s always loved anything that flies…except birds**t), the V-22 is an excellent VSTOL machine (and combat proven, now that early development problems were resolved) and I’m sure interesting field trips could be arranged through the coordinating military command for Molokai students to come take a close-and-personal look at these amazing birds. Aloha nui loa.
brah screw that,have the military fly thier crap over YOUR HOUSE AT NITE.see how you like it.there are no benifits for us in this except loss of sleep.but i hope you go down to the meeting and voice this opinion.
Auwe! The noise can definitely be a problem, no arguments there, and choppers are WAY noisier than fixed-wing, for the most part. All the pilikia probably have Lanikaula’s iwi all huhu! Certainly something to think about. Hui.