Summary of the Article: Hawai’i’s Path to Resilience – Reclaiming Land from Military Use
This article argues that Hawai’i should prioritize resilience and sustainability over military expansion, particularly in the face of climate change and past injustices. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Climate Change Impacts: Hawai’i is acutely vulnerable to climate change, experiencing devastating events like the Lahaina fires and ocean warming leading to coral bleaching.
* Military Presence as a Hindrance: The article critiques the US military’s extensive land holdings in Hawai’i, arguing they prevent wise land use and hinder efforts to address climate change. It rejects the idea of Hawai’i serving as a potential battleground in a US-China conflict.
* Conventional Hawaiian Knowledge & Solutions: The article highlights the importance of Kānaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiian) knowledge and practices, like traditional agriculture (taro farming) and fishponds, as sustainable solutions to infrastructural and affordability challenges. It emphasizes the concept of ahupuaʻa – a traditional land division system focused on community well-being and resource management.
* Public Trust Lands: The author stresses that Crown and Government lands are held in public trust and should be used for the benefit of the people, prioritizing climate adaptation and community needs over military purposes.
* Political Momentum for Change: Representative Jill Tokuda successfully removed language from the National Defense Authorization Act that would have allowed the military to condemn state land,demonstrating growing political resistance.
* Call to Action: The article urges Hawai’i residents to advocate for utilizing reclaimed land to meet basic human needs and increase the islands’ self-sufficiency and resilience.
* Regenerative Economic Models: The piece promotes a shift away from a GDP-focused, extraction-based economy towards a regenerative model inspired by Hawai’i’s pre-colonial ahupuaʻa system, prioritizing the health of both people and the land (‘āina).
In essence,the article advocates for a future where hawai’i leverages its cultural heritage,renewable energy potential,and community governance to build a resilient and sustainable future,free from the constraints of excessive military presence.
