Makua Valley

I knew Makua would be an interesting field trip. That's why I went in the first place, although it was not quite what I expected. I was hoping we would get to walk through more of the beautiful valley. I had heard that there was a designated path that had been checked for unexploded ordinances, but I was picturing it winding through the valley like a hiking trail. I hadn't realized how much of the area was actually damaged, and to such an extent, by the bombing. Even though the surrounding green hills look healthy at first glance, they are clearly full of debris and possibly live explosives.
It was a different experience for me to be in such proximity to the army and having them practically guarding us from something we couldn't see. You can almost feel the tension present in the area from the uneasy partnership that has been formed between the opposing parties of the army and the groups of people who are trying to restore the valley.
I never knew that after WWII, the U.S. had bases in Germany and other European countries, but were forced to clean them up and give them back. I heard what he was saying about giving Makua back to Hawai`i, but it does seem like a slightly different situation since Hawai`i is now a part of the U.S. (Plus Hawai`i is such a strategically valuable place for military bases, I'm sure nothing would make the country want to give it up) Maybe they feel they are still entitled to using the area. Or maybe it just makes it easier to ignore the people in your own country. It's not admirable, but it makes sense. They could have at least told the truth, though, instead of promising to give it back, then saying it is too dangerous (but at the same time not doing anything to clean it up).
Even though I wanted to see more of the valley, I was really glad we got to see heiau and get a bit of a cultural lesson out of the trip. The women guiding us sang the chant to ask permission to enter the valley. I've always been more logical than spiritual, but I can't deny that the wind has picked up every time I have seen someone sing that chant. Even if I am just an observer to something that seems foreign to me, that's as close to a spiritual experience as I have had.