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

 

 

[radu]

He seems like a great boyfriend and daddy to LBK and the kittens. Some males are like that and there are those who will kill the kittens.

When our Murphy and Jade showed up, they were tiny. Their momma was a feral and apparently was killed by coyotes. Cooter, who’s a BIG boy, took charge of them and woe to any of the others if they so much as hissed at those two. LOL!

Suvi hasn’t eaten yet. There’s a can in the fridge with a little leftover food in it from supper and I let her smell it a couple of minutes ago. Just a little interest in it but she didn’t eat any. I’ll try again before I go to bed.

[radu]

Howdy there, Kathy.

Wasn’t sure if you’d have any free time to pop back in tonight. I reckon you’re loaded with homework. :-(

Indeed a little rain would be great right now. The beans really need it.
I just got back in from watering a few flowers that Dad sent a few years ago. All the rest around here are on their own but those are special.

Like y’all, maybe over the next few days .....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Interesting times for sure....the lava just will not stop.

[luvie]

It sure won’t. I can’t believe there’s so much of it. Kapoho Bay is now 6 miles of Kapoho Delta and still growing.

I would imagine there is a lot of depression there. But the miracle is that no one has been killed by the event. One man injured and one person committed suicide was the last thing I heard.

it’s fascinating to watch, though.

[radu]

It certainly is fascinating to watch. It stinks that it's so destructive because it's beautiful at the same time.

Aerial Survey of River of Lava as it Flows Down Valley in Hawaii, PAHOA, HI, UNITED STATES, 06.16.18

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, doorgunner69....with no ranges, do folks have guns?

[luvie]

Amazing. Just so much of it. I have visions of Earth deflating like a giant balloon. LOL!

Gotta go get some sleep. See ya for the quiz tomorrow night!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, TADSLOS....I imagine the knuckleheads didn’t forget the trouble they caused everyone for a while.

[radu]

Big Daddy 8 is sure pumping it out, isn’t it? Whew!

I hope Peaches is out tonight so you can get some uninterrupted sleep, LUV.

And I hope you’re able to get some sleep, period, Kathy and aren’t up ALL night with homework.

[left that other site]

Yesterday was too hot to do anything, and then it poured! There were a few tornadoes as well...not big Oklahoma tornadoes, just little Massachusetts ones.

[luvie]

How are all you Early Birds today?
Is it pretty weather where you are?
It is here. *yawn*
I'd give a lot for a cloudy, rainy day!
Anyhooooo....y'all have a Terrific Tuesday!
(((hugs)))

[doorgunner69]

Oh yes, lots of firearm owners. There are two places in hunting areas informally used for plinking ad target shooting. Supposed to have a hunting license to shoot there, but no one gets hassled.

Legal to shoot on agricultural zoned land so many that do own that have their own ranges.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, unique, for the rocker!!

ML.....#50!!

[left that other site]

That looks JUST LIKE my first electric guitar.
A red Gibson SG Custom.
I sold it to pay the rent.

It is probably worth five figures now.

(((sigh)))