6 more wind-farm protesters arrested in Kalaeloa and Kahuku
UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.
AES Corp. has moved 15 of 88 wind turbine parts so far to Kahuku from Kalaeloa after four days of transportation work in which 107 people objecting to the Na Pua Makani project have been arrested.
The company still expects the work will last until or around Nov. 26.
The arrival of four trucks loaded with turbine parts this morning in Kahuku happened around 2:45 a.m., compared with about 4 a.m. in the prior two days.
The first delivery day Friday morning was beset by longer delays because a utility pole was cut down and blocked Kamehameha Highway near Sunset Beach.
Also, the number of arrests in Kalaeloa and Kahuku has declined. There were 55 on the first day, 40 on the second day and six in each of the last two days.
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Mark Miller, chief operating officer of US Generation for Virginia-based AES, said in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today that deliveries have been getting smoother.
Miller also said that assembly of the first turbine began Saturday on land being leased from the state.
The company expects the project to be operational next summer. Demonstrators have vowed to continue to express their opposition.
4:50 a.m.
Two people were arrested in Kahuku this morning as part of the protests against the Na Pua Makani wind farm planned in the area.
The arrests and delivery of wind turbine parts by truck from Kalaeloa happened earlier than usual this morning, at about 2:45 a.m.
12:40 a.m.
Four protesters were arrested at Kalaeloa Tuesday night, bringing the total arrest count up to 105. The protesters chained and taped their wrists together, with their arms placed in PVC pipes.
Just after 10 p.m., police moved to arrest the protesters, who were lying on the road. Over 70 officers were present Tuesday night, and over 40 on bicycles created a bicycle blockade around those lying on the ground.
Police moved the protesters away from the road around in pairs at around 11:20 p.m., still bound by the PVC piping. They were put in the middle of Malakole Street instead of being immediately arrested like previous nights, and were put into paddy wagons at 11:40 p.m.
Four trucks, one carrying a part of a wind turbine tower and three carrying blades, left for Kahuku while the protesters were still on the ground chained to each other.
Prior to the Tuesday night’s confrontation, Nakia Naeole, one of the leaders of those opposed to the project, said the change in numbers of those arrested on a daily basis doesn’t reflect a change in strategy but that the group is adapting to the situation.
“Everyday’s a new day,” he said.
On Thursday night and Friday morning, 55 people were arrested between protests at Kalaeloa and Kahuku. The following night it was 40, and after it was 6.
Naeole described the situation as “nalu,” which means “going the flow,” he said.
In a group meeting at the site before protesters prepares themselves, there was a lengthy discussion about keeping with the “kapu aloha” philosophy of protesting. Protesters were asked not to protest in a way that was demeaning to the officers, for example.
One of the reasons why kapu aloha is so important is because it keeps the focus.
“We come from a people that’s always been inclusive,” Kaokaohu Wahilani from Waianae said. “We use kapu aloha as the motor to keep us grounded.”
Wahilani as well as other protests also said that they had nothing to do with the utility pole that was cut down Friday morning presumably to stop wind turbine materials from getting to Kahuku.
Tuesday, 11 p.m.
Honolulu police began arresting protesters Tuesday night after warning them they were illegally occupying the road.
At least 80 protesters against the Na Pua Makani wind farm project have gathered at Kalaeloa tonight. Many have already occupied the road that developer AES Corp. has been using to bring trucks carrying wind turbine parts to Kahuku, where the turbines will be assembled and built.
Three protesters were arrested Tuesday morning, bringing the total arrest number related to the project to 101.
There are over 20 officers present.