Wai‘anae, Hawaiʻi – Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro (D-22 Ko ‘Olina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Mākua), Representative Cedric Gates (D-45 Wai‘anae, Mākaha), and Representative Darius K. Kila (D-44 Honokai Hale, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili) issued a joint statement in response to the U.S. Department of Defense's stance on live-fire training in Mākua Valley:
"Today marks a significant milestone for us and our kūpuna. We are pleased by the Army's decision to permanently cease live-fire training at Mākua. We have been working on this for years, and those before us have been fighting for this matter for decades. Our hearts are with the many families who were once caretakers of this sacred place but were wrongfully evicted during the war.
Mahalo to the residents who came before us to fight against the desecration of Mākua and bravely upheld their commitment to Mālama Mākua. We are grateful to the Army for stepping up, and we ask for their continued cooperation and full support in clearing all unexploded ordnance before the ʻāina is rightfully returned to our Native Hawaiian community. Today marks the beginning of a full return of Mākua back to its people.
We look forward to seeing the continuation of the no-live fire agreement and ultimately seeing Mākua Valley restored to what it once was. I Mua Mākua!"
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