{"id":44775,"date":"2014-07-21T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2014-07-21T11:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=44775"},"modified":"2015-05-05T21:33:39","modified_gmt":"2015-05-05T20:33:39","slug":"30th-anniversary-hilo-bay-nuclear-warship-blockade-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2014\/07\/30th-anniversary-hilo-bay-nuclear-warship-blockade-hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"30th Anniversary! Hilo Bay Nuclear Warship Blockade (Hawai\u2019i)"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE – Malu ‘Aina Center for Nonviolent Education & Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 18, 2014 marks the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of an historic protest in Hilo Bay to uphold the spirit, if not the letter, of Hawaii County\u2019s Nuclear-Free law (ordinance #665) passed unanimously in 1981.<\/p>\n

On July 18, 1984 hundreds of people gathered on the Hilo docks in protest of a Pearl Harbor based visiting U.S. nuclear armed warship, USS Ouellet. The ship was coming to Hilo at the invitation of the Hawaii Japanese Chamber of Commerce for its \u201cLet\u2019s Sell Hawaii\u201d Festival of the Pacific.<\/p>\n

For three years, despite numerous requests to respect our law, the Navy repeatedly violated the law. In June of 1984 peace activists announced a nonviolent blockade of the next nuclear ship visiting Hilo. In response, the Navy got federal authorities to establish a martial law situation in Hilo Bay.<\/p>\n

On July 18 two Coast Guard cutters escorted the warship. Military speed boats, zodiacs, helicopters and Navy Seal teams were also in the harbor. Federal authorities declared that anyone entering Hilo Bay to peacefully protest the nuclear warship would be subject to a felony criminal violation with a federal prison term up to three years and a $50,000 fine.<\/p>\n

Three people entered the water from the point of pier 2 and 3 swimming toward the arriving warship in the harbor channel. They held their hands up in a symbolic message to the ship \u2013\u201dSTOP.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"hilo<\/a><\/p>\n

Jim Snyder, Warren Wineman and Jim Albertini were imprisoned and\/or fined for their nonviolent protest. Jim Albertini was released from federal prison after a little more than a year of his 3-year sentence mainly due to international protest. For nearly 10 consecutive years, because of his nonviolent protests, Jim had to obtain a federal court order to travel from Hawai’i Island.<\/p>\n

********************<\/p>\n

The Ballad of Pearl Harbor<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Jim Albertini, composed in 12 December, 1983<\/p>\n

Below are the lyrics to the song:\u00a0 Jim and Bernard Punikaia of Hale Mohalu recorded the song together in 1985.\u00a0 Link for the audio:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/malu-aina.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Taro-Patch-03-Ballad-of-Pearl-Harbor-Folk.wma<\/a>“><\/p>\n

\u201cDo not give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before swine. They will trample them under foot at best, and perhaps even tear you to shreds.\u201d (Matthew 7:6)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Chorus: Take back the Pearl for the people. Let Mother Pearl shine again, and give life back to the land, and welcome all of her rainbow children that bridge the ocean of peace.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. We showered you with our pearls, but you wanted even more. You took away our Mother Pearl \u2013raped, plundered, and trampled her.<\/em><\/p>\n

2. We were blinded by your breath of fire. You made us very proud. We worshiped you not knowing, we were losing our souls.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Chorus<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a03. You poisoned the waters and destroyed the fish ponds. You killed the fish and the oysters and desecrated holy lands. You put up fences and iron gates. You brought in disease and waves of death.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Chorus<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a04. We have been fools. But our eyes are now opening. No longer will we worship you or follow in your ways. Depart from us with your poison quills and deadly unhatched eggs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chorus<\/em><\/p>\n

*********************<\/p>\n

Free Hawai’i & the World from the Curse of Militarism! <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ground the Drones!\u00a0 Say No to War!<\/strong><\/p>\n