Pohakuloa Training Area
Encyclopedia
Pōhakuloa Training Area is located on the island of Hawaii
in the high plateau between Mauna Loa
, Mauna Kea
and the Hualālai
volcanic mountains. It includes a small military airstrip known as Bradshaw Army Airfield.
installation in the state of Hawaii
, or anywhere in the Pacific.
The region was used for live fire exercise
s in 1943 during World War II
when Camp Tarawa
temporarily held troops on Parker Ranch
.
About 91000 acres (36,826.4 ha) were leased from Richard Smart
, owner of the ranch.
At that time it was called the Waikoloa Maneuver Area, and located northwest of current base, south of Waimea. In September 1946 the land used for the old maneuver area and camp was returned to the ranch, and a smaller Lalamilo Firing Range used until 1953. Since coastal areas were developed into tourist resorts, military areas were moved inland to more remote locations.
, although like many other Hawaiian names, the same name has been used for other places on the island.
Pōhakuloa Training Area lies in a high plateau between lower slopes of Mauna Kea to approximately 6800 feet (2,072.6 m) in elevation and to about 9000 feet (2,743.2 m) on Mauna Loa. The training area is about midway between Hilo, on the east coast and the Army landing site at Kawaihae Harbor.
It is used by both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
The only road access is via the narrow Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200), which is paralleled by a tank trail.
Heavy equipment is either flown into Hilo, or else shipped via barge to Kawaihae Harbor, about 40 miles (64.4 km) away on the Saddle Road.
Because of this remoteness, the area is used mostly for short training sessions.
The support area includes 600 acres (242.8 ha) of logistic and administrative facilities.
In July 2006 an additional 24000 acres (9,712.5 ha) were purchased from Parker Ranch in an area known as Keʻāmuku,
which means "cut-off lava" in Hawaiian, from to the 19th century lava flows through the area.
Located at 19°50′24"N 155°43′1"W, the realignment of the Saddle Road is planned to bypass the Ke‘āmuku addition.
PTA has a 51000 acres (20,639 ha) impact area used for bombing and gunnery practice, refurbished in March 2009 to allow helicopter training.
There are approximately 32000 acres (129.5 km²) of land level enough for large maneuvers, more than twice the area available on Oahu
.
Its remoteness allows a wide range of weapons to be used.
The 25th Infantry Division and 3rd Marine Regiment often use the base for four to six-week training periods.
Weapons such as the Davy Crockett
nuclear rifle (with dummy warheads) and depleted Uranium
have been used at PTA.
After initial denials, an investigation concluded the spotting rounds used in the 1960s. Measurements detected radiation, but reportedly not above life-threatening levels.
The runway is only 3700 feet (1,127.8 m) long, which only accommodates small aircraft.
Fog often restricts helicopters, which can also fly in from the larger bases on Oahu
.
forest. Despite the volcanic terrain, some of the areas contain protected wildlife. Within the borders of the training area, ten different endangered species
can be found. These include the native Hawaiian mint honohono
(Haplostachys haplostachya) and the shrub 'kio'ele
(Kadua coriacea). This area has more endangered species than any other US Army installation. The northeastern portion of the site near Mauna Kea provides habitat for the endangered bird Palila
(Loxioides bailleui), for example.
Several archaeological sites have been found in the training area, including the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave
, listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
To reduce fire danger and damage from feral goats, areas were fenced.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
in the high plateau between Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. It is an active shield volcano, with a volume estimated at approximately , although its peak is about lower than that...
, Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
and the Hualālai
Hualalai
Hualālai is a dormant shield volcano on the island of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the third-youngest and the third most active of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, following Kīlauea and the much larger Mauna Loa, and also the westernmost. Its peak is above sea...
volcanic mountains. It includes a small military airstrip known as Bradshaw Army Airfield.
Description
The area of 108863 acres (440.6 km²) is the largest United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
installation in the state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, or anywhere in the Pacific.
The region was used for live fire exercise
Live fire exercise
A live fire exercise or LFX is any exercise in which a realistic scenario for the use of specific equipment is simulated. In the popular lexicon this is applied primarily to tests of weapons or weapon systems that are associated with the various branches of a nation's armed forces, although the...
s in 1943 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when Camp Tarawa
Camp Tarawa
Camp Tarawa was a training camp located on the big island of Hawaii constructed and used by the 2nd Marine Division during World War II. The grounds of the camp were situated between the volcanic peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Marines were sent straight from the bloodly Battle of Tarawa to the...
temporarily held troops on Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust.-History:The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30...
.
About 91000 acres (36,826.4 ha) were leased from Richard Smart
Richard Smart (actor)
Richard Palmer Kaleioku Smart was a musical theatre actor and singer who became owner of the largest private ranch in Hawaii.-Early life:...
, owner of the ranch.
At that time it was called the Waikoloa Maneuver Area, and located northwest of current base, south of Waimea. In September 1946 the land used for the old maneuver area and camp was returned to the ranch, and a smaller Lalamilo Firing Range used until 1953. Since coastal areas were developed into tourist resorts, military areas were moved inland to more remote locations.
Location
The name of the current facility comes from puu pōhaku loa, which means "long rocky cinder cone" in the Hawaiian LanguageHawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, although like many other Hawaiian names, the same name has been used for other places on the island.
Pōhakuloa Training Area lies in a high plateau between lower slopes of Mauna Kea to approximately 6800 feet (2,072.6 m) in elevation and to about 9000 feet (2,743.2 m) on Mauna Loa. The training area is about midway between Hilo, on the east coast and the Army landing site at Kawaihae Harbor.
It is used by both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
The only road access is via the narrow Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200), which is paralleled by a tank trail.
Heavy equipment is either flown into Hilo, or else shipped via barge to Kawaihae Harbor, about 40 miles (64.4 km) away on the Saddle Road.
Because of this remoteness, the area is used mostly for short training sessions.
Facilities
The barracks for about 2,000 troops were constructed in April 1955 from prefabricated buildings used in World War II.The support area includes 600 acres (242.8 ha) of logistic and administrative facilities.
In July 2006 an additional 24000 acres (9,712.5 ha) were purchased from Parker Ranch in an area known as Keʻāmuku,
which means "cut-off lava" in Hawaiian, from to the 19th century lava flows through the area.
Located at 19°50′24"N 155°43′1"W, the realignment of the Saddle Road is planned to bypass the Ke‘āmuku addition.
PTA has a 51000 acres (20,639 ha) impact area used for bombing and gunnery practice, refurbished in March 2009 to allow helicopter training.
There are approximately 32000 acres (129.5 km²) of land level enough for large maneuvers, more than twice the area available on Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
.
Its remoteness allows a wide range of weapons to be used.
The 25th Infantry Division and 3rd Marine Regiment often use the base for four to six-week training periods.
Weapons such as the Davy Crockett
Davy Crockett (nuclear device)
The M-28 or M-29 Davy Crockett Weapon System was a tactical nuclear recoilless gun for firing the M388 nuclear projectile that was deployed by the United States during the Cold War...
nuclear rifle (with dummy warheads) and depleted Uranium
Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope U-235 than natural uranium . Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3...
have been used at PTA.
After initial denials, an investigation concluded the spotting rounds used in the 1960s. Measurements detected radiation, but reportedly not above life-threatening levels.
Bradshaw Army Airfield
The airstrip was constructed at the area in 1956.The runway is only 3700 feet (1,127.8 m) long, which only accommodates small aircraft.
Fog often restricts helicopters, which can also fly in from the larger bases on Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
.
Environment
Vegetation varies from sparse grassland and low shrubs to open māmaneMamane
Sophora chrysophylla, known as Māmane in Hawaiian, is a species of flowering plant in the pea and bean family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is highly polymorphic, growing as a shrub or tree, and able to reach a height of in tree form. Yellow flowers are produced in winter and...
forest. Despite the volcanic terrain, some of the areas contain protected wildlife. Within the borders of the training area, ten different endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
can be found. These include the native Hawaiian mint honohono
Haplostachys haplostachya
Haplostachys haplostachya is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name honohono. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is now limited to the island of Hawaii and has been extirpated from Kauai and Maui...
(Haplostachys haplostachya) and the shrub 'kio'ele
Kadua coriacea
Kadua coriacea is a rare species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name kioele. It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the island of Hawaii and one individual remaining on Maui...
(Kadua coriacea). This area has more endangered species than any other US Army installation. The northeastern portion of the site near Mauna Kea provides habitat for the endangered bird Palila
Palila
The Palila is a critically endangered finch-billed species of Hawaiian honeycreeper. It has a golden-yellow head and breast, with a light belly, gray back, and greenish wings and tail...
(Loxioides bailleui), for example.
Several archaeological sites have been found in the training area, including the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave
Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave
Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave is a historic site of Ancient Hawaiian living quarters in a remote interior area of the island of Hawaii.-Location:...
, listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
To reduce fire danger and damage from feral goats, areas were fenced.