On October 4, 2019, the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i (RCUH) withdrew its Use Determination Application for the giant drones!
They were seeking to use agricultural lands for massive experimental stratospheric drones in partnership with global high tech corporations Google (Alphabet), SoftBank and AeroVironment.
You, my dear friends, sent HUNDREDS of emails opposing the giant 5G drones and caused RCUH to immediately drop 5G from the project.
Then three Hawaiian cultural practitioners, represented by attorneys Lance Collins and Bianca Isaki, petitioned the Commission to intervene in the application regarding industrial use of lands zoned for agriculture as well as impacts to traditional Native Hawaiian rights.
And you, my dear friends, nearly a THOUSAND of you, signed the petition to stop the drones. Each signature triggered emails that were sent to the appropriate officials.
And you turned out in impressive numbers in August to the County Council meeting and testified with such passion and profound clarity. I'm so proud of you!
The project also received a notice of violation for constructing the drone airstrip without county permits or approvals.
Also last month Lance Collins wrote to our Maui county Planning Director questioning whether the Commission could entertain the application until an environmental assessment (EA) had been completed because RCUH is a state agency, which typically triggers an EA.
Is it over, you may ask?
They will not walk away that easily, especially with their illegal drone hangar and airstrip already built. But still, it's important to celebrate!
As of October 16, project officials stated that they plan to submit a new application, this time a Special Use Permit application, which will be handled by the state Land Use Commission.
The bad news is, they have not given up. The good news is, 5G is still off the table - a sustained victory for us! (They will use 4G, which we know is not safe, but is better than 5G).
More good news is, they will be doing an Environmental Assessment for the new proposed application. Yay!
More good news is that the state Land Use Commission has the authority to impose an array restrictions. We hope they will!
Even more good news is that this buys us time. We will continue to educate, inform, speak out and mobilize. Imua!
If you have not yet signed the petition, it is here: www.KeepYourPower.org
Thank you ALL for your service of the greater good.
Mahalo,
Debra
Debra Greene, PhD
