It's been five years since the army last conducted live-fire exercises in Makua Valley.
The army is ready to resume its training.
The army reached that decision after conducting an environmental impact statement.
It was a study that took eight years to complete.
That sound hasn't been heard in a while in Makua Valley
That could soon change with live fire training about to restart later this fall.
"The army thinks it's done an extensive analysis of all the potential impacts. we're very, very comfortable with that. if our opponents choose to go forward with that, it's up to them", said Matthew T. Margotta, U.S.Army Garrison Hawaii Commander.
The analysis done by order of the court. opponents Malama Makua sued to halt live fire training -- that stopped the army in their tracks for years of environmental studies. the results are in, and the army's decision now limits the total number of live-fire exercises to 182 per year... instead of its original option which would have allowed 250 exercises.
"We feel comfortable proceeding ahead."
But more than 80 years after the first shot was fired in Makua Valley-- questions from community members still linger in the air.
"My concern is that there is still going to be live ammunition used in the training and so the question is, how do we mitigate that for the future? in other words, what's the clean-up?", asked Leimomi Khan, President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.
One concern is that using live-fire weapons could cause fires.
The fire of 2003 was a prescribed fire started by the army to clear grass to clean up unexploded weapons-- but it broke out on different fronts.
Some are concerned that resuming live-fire training could cause fires that destroy cultural and environmental sites or plants and wildlife -- but the army says not to worry.
"Yes, the army has had some part in reducing the numbers of individuals of those species but we're not the reason that they're endangered. they're endangered because of invasive species encroachment", said Army Natural Resource Program.
Talks continue between the army and community members-- now also through the establishment of a native hawaiian advisory council.
Meanwhile, community members are looking to take one step at a time to protect the valley.
"We are hopeful that throughout the year there will be opportunity for the land to just rest."
The army plans to resume live-fire training exercises by August 31.
Malama Makua-- the community group that demanded the army write up an EIS says they'll take this to court again.
