Fwd: Pohakuloa Fire update: 2/7/26 at 7:30 PM - [UNCLASSIFIED]
jim albertini
FYI on Pohakuloa fire 2/4/26
-------- Forwarded Message --------
| Subject: | Re: Pohakuloa Fire update: 2/7/26 at 7:30 PM - [UNCLASSIFIED] |
|---|---|
| Date: | Sat, 21 Feb 2026 19:23:59 -1000 |
| From: | jim albertini <jimalb...@gmail.com> |
| To: | Pascual, Lani O CIV USARMY IMCOM PACIFIC (USA) <lani.o.pa...@army.mil> |
Pascual, Lani O CIV USARMY IMCOM PACIFIC (USA)
Pascual, Lani O CIV USARMY IMCOM PACIFIC (USA) <lani.o.pa...@army.mil>
Aloha e Lani,
Mahalo for your 2/20/26 email.
Mahalo for the 2/9/26 Big Island Now news article on the fire
that was started at PTA on 2/4/26. A bit late wouldn't you
say? Why didn't PTA issue an initial statement on the day the
fire started, and updates on the fire? I hope you can
understand why there is so little community trust and confidence
in PTA claims of "being good stewards of the land." PTA's lack
of timely information on the recent fire just before a major
windstorm hit the Big Island, is an indication PTA doesn't give
a rip about its possible impacts to the community.
Where are the details on the 2/4 to 2/9 and beyond fire? Where
specifically did the 2/4 fire start? How did it start? How
many acres were burned? How many days did it burn? etc. etc.
Please fix your lack of information. Mahalo. By the way, it
was a PTA police officer who said the fire started in the Impact
area. Calls to other numbers listed for PTA went unanswered, and
no return calls.
Jim
cc: government officials and news media
--
Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760
Phone 808-966-7622 Email j...@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
UNCLASSIFIED
Aloha e Jim,
Thank you Sir, please fix your errors.
The union statement is concerning but was incorrect.
Facts are attached in press release.
The fire was not in the impact area and there was news coverage of it.
###
Ms. Lani O. Pascual
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army Garrison-Pōhakuloa Training Area
P.O. Box 4607
Hilo, HI 96720-0607
UNCLASSIFIED
From: jim albertini <jimalb...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 7:36 PM
To: Pascual, Lani O CIV USARMY IMCOM PACIFIC (USA) <lani.o.pa...@army.mil>
Subject: Re: Pohakuloa Fire update: 2/7/26 at 7:30 PM - [UNCLASSIFIED]
You don't often get email from jimalb...@gmail.com. Learn why this is important
Mahalo Lani. Below is this week's Hilo Peace leaflet. Please share with others at Pohakuloa. The Federal Fire Fighters of Hawai`i Union, Local 263 statement on the dangers of wildfires at Pohakuloa is very concerning: https://malu-aina.org/?p=12026
Jim
Stop Bombing Pohakuloa!
The Fire Before The Storm!
Most people are likely unaware that on Wed. Feb. 4, 2026 a fire was started in the Pohakuloa Bombing and Shelling “Impact Area” in the center of Hawaii Island that burned for several days. 1000 Marines were recently training at Pohakuloa. That fire started just a few days before the major storm hit Hawaii. Smoke from the fire at Pohakuloa can be seen below in a photo taken on Wed. Feb. 4th. WHY WAS THERE NO MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS FIRE?
It appears Hawaii Island is very fortunate that fire didn’t spread beyond Pohakuloa by the gusty Trade winds (over 60 mph) blowing through the Saddle Area toward Waikoloa and Kona in the recent storm. But the danger is far from over. Fires can smolder and reignite days and weeks later, and it is important to know the history of the many fires started at Pohakuloa.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the military’s lease of State (really Crown & Government) lands at Pohakuloa was rejected by the BLNR on May 9, 2025. In that EIS, the military admitted starting 1281 wildfires at PTA in the last 50 years. They add, that records prior to 2012 are incomplete so the actual number of fires could be much higher. The military also added that with increasing extremes in climate change, the likelihood of wildfires will only increase. Some of those 1281 plus fires started on the 133,000 acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) spread beyond the base, destroying thousands of acres, including endangered species habitat. PTA is zoned a conservation district, the highest protected land status. Bombing and shelling training is not a compatible use in a conservation district.
Read the important statement from the Federal Fire Fighters of Hawai`i Union, Local 263 on the dangers of wildfires at Pohakuloa: https://malu-aina.org/?p=12026
No New PTA Lease, Cash Deal, Land Swap, etc.
Clean up & Shut Down Pohakuloa Now!
1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian,
anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Russian, anti-LGBTQ, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622
Email j...@malu-aina.org to receive our posts. See our posts: https://www.malu-aina.org
February 13, 2026, Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1272– Fridays 3:30-5 PM downtown Post Office
--Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760Phone 808-966-7622 Email j...@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
On 2/11/26 1:41 PM, Pascual, Lani O CIV USARMY IMCOM PACIFIC (USA) wrote:
UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon Jim,
I completely understand.
Pohakuloa received rains during the storm this weekend.
The fire is 100% contained and our fire fighters worked diligently to respond.
Ms. Lani O. Pascual
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army Garrison-Pōhakuloa Training Area
P.O. Box 4607
Hilo, HI 96720-0607
UNCLASSIFIED
From: jim albertini <jimalb...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 7, 2026 8:10 PM
To: Pascual, Lani O CIV USARMY IMCOM PACIFIC (USA) <lani.o.pa...@army.mil>
Subject: Pohakuloa Fire update: 2/7/26 at 7:30 PM
You don't often get email from jimalb...@gmail.com. Learn why this is important
Pohakuloa Fire update:
My concern 2/7/26 7:30 PM, is that given the weather prediction of extremely strong winds, could this fire expand? From what I've seen in the weather forecast, heavy rain is predicted for the north of Hawaii Island and part of the Hamakua coast in the next day or so, but not the center of the island where Pohakuloa is located. If very strong trade winds go thru the Saddle, that Pohakuloa fire could spread quickly toward Waikoloa and Kona.
Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760Phone 808-966-7622 Email j...@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
-- Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email j...@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org