April Days of Action Against Drones at Pohakuloa Training Area

Demonstrators from Malu'Aina came out on Sunday 4/28 to protest the use of drones at the Pohakuloa Military Training Area, where it is known that pilots are being trained to fly Shadow, Raven, and possibly other drone models as well. They were greeted by a Sergeant from the base who expressed sympathy for their message of peace.

Demonstrators protest the desecration of Pohakuloa
 by live fire military training.

As Jim Albertini of Malu' Aina reports: "The protest began with an opening Pule (prayer) and Oli (chant) ceremony of Ti-leaf blessing of the land and people by Kanaka Maoli women, Napua and Lia... We were blessed to have Kupuna “Uncle Sam” Kaleleiki, a 30-year Marine, retired Sergeant Major, join us. Uncle Sam is now with the Reinstated Lawful Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  He had a large plywood sign that read 'End U.S. occupation. '

Realistic Reaper Drone model makes explicit the murderous
 uses to which the military is putting these sacred Hawaiian grounds.

For 2 hours our group of 20 ( a good cross section and mix of all ages) stood opposite the main gate holding signs with a variety of messages: “Stop the Bombing,” “Shut Down PTA,” “Ground the Drones,” “Void the PTA Lease,” etc.  Messages also called for Testing for Depleted Uranium contamination.  We erected a large Hawaiian Flag on a bamboo pole topped with Ti-leaves  to hover above our protest and we placed peace flags along the highway 
fencing.


There was a lot of support from passing cars."

This protest accompanied demonstrations around the country in bringing the
April Days of Action Against Drones to an end. GET INVOLVED INYOUR STATE!

Drone Protests - Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island

THE BIG ISLAND

Kailua-Kona - "As President Barack Obama spent his last day, January 5, in Hawaii, representatives from Hawaii Peace and Justice and World Can't Wait protested his assassin drone program and lack of effort on Palestinian issues in front of his Hawaii vacation home." Full details here.


Hilo - Ann Wright gave a presentation on "Killer Drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Gaza, and the U.S." at UH-Hilo, on Thursday, January 17.



Pohakuloa Training Area - On January 19, 2013, protesters in Hawaii made a call to Stop the Bombing & Ground the Drones at Pohakuloa!. "Twenty Justice and Peace makers stood in protest outside the main gate at the sprawling 133,000-acre military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) from 10 AM till noon, located in the center of Hawaii island. The main theme of the protest was to stop the bombing and ground the drones at PTA. It was a beautiful clear day to stand for Aloha ‘Aina in opposition to continuing military desecration of the land. Among those who joined in protest were Hawaiian leaders Kahu Napua Burke, Kaliko Kanaele, Kale Gumapac, along with retired Army Colonel and former State Department Diplomat, Ann Wright."

The group has a replica of a Reaper drone from Know Drones. For more information, contact Jim Albertini ja@malu-aina.org 966-7622 at the Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.


OAHU

Honolulu - Ann Wright gave a talk Sunday, December 30, 3pm, at Revolution Books in Honolulu, entitled "Building Resistance to Drone War!" The event was held in conjuctionwith World Can't Wait Honolulu.

(View the interview by Liz Rees of World Can't Wait Honolulu with Ann Wright on Olelo Community Television.)

A major demonstration is planned by World Can't Wait Honolulu on January 21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the day of the second Obama inaugural). The demonstration will feature a second drone replica from Know Drones. (See full details here.)


MAUI

Maui - Maui Peace Action and the Peace Club at the University of Hawaii-Maui held a drone talk featuring Ann Wright on January 14. Follow-up materials have been posted on the home page of the the Peace Club.