FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii ~ 19 June 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | laurenmarlowe

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii

Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) is located on the island of Hawaii between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Hualalai Volcanic Mountains. It extends up the lower slopes of Mauna Kea to approximately 6,800 feet in elevation and to about 9,000 feet on Mauna Loa. The training area is about midway between Hilo, on the east coast and the Army landing site at Kawaihae Harbor. The area is the largest DOD installation in Hawaii.

The PTA consists of 108,863 acres, of which 24,048 are leased by the Army from the State of Hawaii. The remaining land is ceded and includes the impact and range areas and a portion of the west maneuver area. The leased areas include the northern maneuver areas and the support complex.

The training site can be reached from Oahu by either direct military helicopter or fixed wing flights to PTA or by using commercial airlines to either Hilo or Kona. From Hilo or Kona the site is reached by using Saddle Road. The distance is approximately 40 miles to both towns. The Saddle Road is frequently closed to the public due to poor surface conditions caused by storms and heavy military vehicles.

In preparation for large scale training exercises at PTA, the ground forces are flown to Hilo and transported over Saddle Road. Supporting equipment and vehicles are transported from Oahu by ship or barge to Kawaihae and driven to the site. A tank trail parallels much of the Saddle Road. These movements involving personnel, equipment and light vehicles could ideally be accomplished by flying directly to PTA; however the 3,700 foot Bradshaw Air Field runway is inadequate to accommodate large transport aircraft such as the Air Force C-141's.

The physiography of Pohakuloa is deceptive in terms of training suitability.  Almost the entire site is level or gently sloping, uninhabited, and having few trees or deep gullies to inhibit training.  Nevertheless, a large percent of it is almost completely unusable for maneuvers due to the rough lava flows that occur over much of the surface area.  There are several geological features within the installation. Cinder cone hills or puu's, products of the latest eruptive activity on Mauna Kea, are found in the northern part of the installation and are surrounded by more recent lava flows from Mauna Loa. 

These recent flows (less than 200 years) are the most notable features of the central and southern landscape and together with the northern flows cover approximately 30% of the training area.  Recent lava flows surround and contrast with islands of vegetation call kipukas.  The two types of lava found throughout Hawaii, pahoehoe and 'a'a, are present at PTA as well.  The pahoehoe flows have smooth undulating surfaces and can be traversed on foot for short distances. The rough 'a'a, however, are jagged, slag-like piles of impassable material.

As the largest training area in Hawaii, Pohakuloa can be used to accomplish nearly all of the varying types of training required by the military forces.  PTA has a 51,000 acre impact area which is over 10 times the size of the one at Schofield Barracks.  There are approximately 32,000 acres free of recent lava flows and are considered fully usable for large maneuver exercises. 

Learn More About Pohakuloa Training Area HERE!!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Pro...having fun on vacation?

[TADSLOS]

Been there. Done that. The land of Puus, collapsing lava tubes, goats, ruined boots and tires. Was there in early ‘78 when a couple of knuckleheads from our Bn Task Force started a fire on the slope of Maura Kea while smoking cigarettes coming down the trail from the top. The entire Bn spent the rest of our training time putting out the fire.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman...Monday has only been so-so.

Rain is supposed to be on the way later this evening.

And a Happy Monday to you!

[luvie]

It’s all perspective. When it’s 90 after being 106, it feels cool. LOL!

Sorry it was so hot and humid there. That always makes it seem worse. How is Suvi doing tonight? Hope she’s feeling better, poor li’l gal!

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy! Good fun and good eats with the boy on our mini vacay to 'Bavaria'. Lots of touristy things to do and we walked around the town until our legs ached, LOL.

Home now and unwinding.

[luvie]

I’ll be curious to see if they can get decent pictures from that far away. Maybe they have an awesome zoom lens.

[radu]

LOL! Yep, it IS a matter of perspective.
We have occasional summers with stretches of 100-plus degree days and its a relief to get down to 90. I have a sinking feeling this could be one of those summers since it’s been so hot so early.

Suvi seems to feel better though she hasn’t eaten yet. She did drink some water a little while ago, and she chased the laser dot a little with the others. She should be her rowdy lil self tomorrow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion....20 whole minutes, huh?

Not quite enough to enjoy any of the area.

[radu]

He’s set up very far away so I don’t know what to expect. Guess we’ll find out tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it!

[luvie]

Me, too. The new homeowner looks like a pretty laid-back agreeable guy and now they won’t have the TV idiots ruining their experience!

[radu]

That ol’ feller looks like a real character. I wish I’d listened while the stream was running but I listening to the hearing and didn’t want to miss anything.

They’ll LOVE not having the tv fools around with them this time. LOL

Now that the hearing is over, I need to check in on Scott’s videos for today. Didn’t get a chance this afternoon.

[luvie]

I imagine her little immune system isn't just real good right now, but hope she'll be eating soon.

I have two new pictures of the Ghost Family. sigh

Ghost Jr. :)

[radu]

I’d say it didn’t help her being tossed out and going without food for a few days at such a young age. But she’s doing well over all. Not sure what brought this on since no one else has been sick lately but whatever it was, it was bad.

Just love the shot of Ghost with the kids. The look on his face is like, “What have I done?” LOL!

[luvie]

Yes...I’ve been asking him the same thing. LOL! It’s amazing how good he is to LBK and the kittens, though. I always thought male cats hated their own kittens. He is very tolerant.

I’m glad Suvi is feeling better. is she eating tonight?

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first....The Mayor grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....Pro snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three.....lightman bags the bronze!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, DesertRhino...thank you for the 1st hand experience.

Does NOT sound like fun trying to not break something or cut yourselves to pieces.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu....I sure wish you and the soybeans would get some good rain.

They said more tonight, but that time has passed. LOL!! Maybe over the next few days.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, ML...((HUGS))...did you and Blue get out?

Hope you get a pub night this week.