Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 7, 1 July 1997 — Ni ʻihau residents wary of possible missile launches, other development [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ni ʻihau residents wary of possible missile launches, other development

By Susan Essoyan Special to Ka Wai Ola For generations, the people of Ni'ihau have lived simply and quietly in the old Hawaiian way, linked by kinship, tradition and their mother tongue. So recent news reports eame as a shock. First, there was word that the Navy was considering building target-missile launeh sites and a runway on Nkihau, a ranching community with no paved roads. Then eame a report that the 70-square-mile island, owned by the Robinson family for 133 years, might be put up for sale.

Nearly 200 people from Kauavi and Nivihau crowded the Waimea Neighborhood Center June 17 to learn more about what changes might be in store. When Keith Robinson announced that his family has no plans to sell the island, raucous applause broke out. "I assure you that we do not plan any changes in the basic status or lifestyle of Ni ihau," Robinson said in a rare public statement. "Our commitment to Ni ihau remains as deep as ever... We are not about to try to sell Nivihau voluntarily." The Navy hosted the pubhc meeting to discuss its proposed upgrade of the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauavi, to allow testing of Theater Ballistic Missile Defense systems. Although the Navy says it is unlikely to choose Ni ihau as a launeh site, the mere idea

was unsettling for many at the meeting. "We love the island," said Abraham Ni au, a retiree who was born and raised on Ni'ihau. "The families all stay together in one plaee, almost like camping. And it' s only Hawaiians. Everybody likes it the way it is. They say, vMore better we say no.'" Ilei Beniamina, a Ni ihau native who is an assistant professor at Kaua'i Community College, also expressed unease at the prospect. "What I am deeply emotional about is that we are the last keepers of our culture," she said. "We are an example of Hawaivi's past and a role model for the future. That's what I struggle with when the issue of change comes about... We must make that change fit our lifestyle." The military hopes to develop defensive continued on page 7

Josephine Kelley (with grandson), llei Beniamina, and Katherine Weir are cautious about the Navy's plans.