Subject: No Pule at Pohakuloa Ahu on Sunday

Press Release 10:30PM Feb. 12, 2006
Re: Military at Pohakuloa erect concrete baracade to block Pule `Aina access
to the ahu at Pu`u Ka Pele
further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622

"The military at Pohakuloa erected a concrete baracade across a road entrance
to block access for a Pule `Aina (Land Prayer) gathering today planned for an
ahu (stone altar) at Pu`u Ka Pele," said Jim Albertini of Malu Aina, sponsor
of the event. Albertini said, "about 35 people gathered to take ho`okupu
(offerings) and to pray at the ahu at Pu`u Ka Pele but the military chose to
conduct live fire/bombing instead of respecting the religious rights of the people.
The military asserted its power to desecrate and destroy the land over people
praying for a healing of the land." Albertini said, "the group decided that
since the military blocked access to the Pu`u Kapele ahu, we would not attempt
to go to that ahu today. Instead the group built an ahu adjacent to the
baracade, and offered prayers and ho`okupu for a healing of the land there. (photos
attached).
Following the ceremony, many of the people went to the main gate at PTA to
hold signs protesting the war in Iraq and the military's attempt to acquire an
additional 23,000 acres of land to add to the existing 109,000-acre Pohakuloa
Training Area. The military says it needs more land for Stryker training,
involving hundreds of Strykers --20 ton 8 wheeled tanks. Albertini said, "Malu
`Aina and all the people participating in the Pule `Aina gathering want the
military desecration and destruction of the land, the cultural sites, natural
resources, and iwi kupuna to cease. The continued bombing at PTA and the planned
Stryker expansion is hewa (a crime, wrong, sinful)."