Hovercraft coming to Kaneohe Bay

A new source of noise for Kaneohe.  

 Report says the LCAC vehicles will make no more noise than the aircraft currently using the Marine Corp Base Hawaii.  One difference, LCACs don't fly away.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | Feb 22, 2016 | by William Cole
Marine Corps Base Hawaii is looking at repurposing at least one of its pre-World War II seaplane ramps -- which figured in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack -- for a 21st-century need: big hovercraft that ferry equipment from ship to shore.The Landing Craft, Air Cushion vehicles, with two giant fans for propulsion, are more often seen hitting the beach at Bellows during training by visiting amphibious ships.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/02/22/marines-seek-new-use-for-old-seaplane-ramps.html

More Noise

Date: Feb. 4, 2016

Increased aircraft activity at MCB Hawaii

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay - Residents on Oahu should anticipate an increase in military aircraft and ground operations due to multiple training events occurring in February 2016 at all Marine Corps Base (MCB) Hawaii locations, which include the base at Kaneohe Bay and Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB).  

Oahu residents may see and hear increased aircraft activity surrounding the base during the hours listed below. F/A-18 Hornet aircraft will be temporarily based at MCB Hawaii for approximately 30 days starting mid-February; these aircraft will follow normal airfield hours.  Additionally, there will be periods of 24-hour airfield operations, and maintenance may occur overnight to ensure the safe operation of all aircraft. 

Expected Airfield Hours, February 2016     
Normal Operations: 
Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. to midnight  
Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.  
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   
Exceptions: Feb. 8 - 10 and Feb. 15-19, 24-hour operations
Note: Airfield hours may change without notice due to operational commitments.  Aircraft maintenance will occur 24 hours a day as required to maintain aircraft safety.

Bellows Beach Park located at MCTAB will be closed due to amphibious operations from Feb. 19 to 22, and is expected to reopen at noon on Feb. 26. The City and County of Honolulu's notification is available here: https://camping.honolulu.gov/ 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii sincerely appreciates the community's support and understanding as service members train to defend this great nation and prepare for overseas contingencies. The exercises and real-world military operations sometimes generate an increase in aircraft and weapon noise.  Community members can report noise concerns through our website at http://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/Departments/PublicAffairs/NoiseConcerns.aspx or call us at 808-257-8832. The Noise Concern phone number is monitored Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily; we are closed all federal holidays and may close at other times due to operational or training commitments.  

Volunteers Sought For Kaneohe Bay Air Show

Here's a chance to support a major community event and see some unbelievable flying at the same time.

The Kaneohe Bay Air Show needs volunteers to assist with a wide range of services, including welcoming people to the event, providing assistance at information booths and serving food.

Volunteers are needed October 16, 17 and 18. To learn more about volunteering, click here.

To learn more about this exciting event, click here.

Kaneohe's Doing The Wave, For Real Power

In what could be a step toward sustainability, Kaneohe Bay now boasts the first wave-energy generator in the U.S. that is connected to the power grid for independent evaluation.

The Azura generator went on line earlier this month in the U.S. Navy's Wave Energy Test Site. The generator will feed power to Marine Corps Base Hawaii during a 12-month test period.

Sea Engineering, based in Honolulu, deployed the generator, which was built by Northwest Energy Innovations of Portland, OR. The Navy, U.S. Department of Energy and University of Hawaii are funding the project.

The university will collect, analyze and report data from the project to validate its performance.

Sustainability is a priority for the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board, which supports livable-community initiatives like the Blue Zones Project. Renewable energy also is a priority for the Marine Base, which is a regular presenter at Neighborhood Board meetings.

Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Hears From -- And About -- Marine Base

Marine Corps Base Hawaii got lots of attention at the May meeting of the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board. 

The Board reviewed a report that calculated the economic impact of the base on its neighboring communities at $1.26 billion. Base-related spending supported 17,243 military and civilian jobs. 

The report also indicated that the base’s economic impact was overwhelmingly focused on Windward Oahu. For example, the report said that the base was the largest civilian employer on the Windward side and that its personnel represented “the main client base of most local businesses.” 

Only 14 percent of the base’s total economic impact occurred outside of neighboring communities. Neighboring communities of the base’s three locations are Kaneohe, Kailua, Waimanalo and Aiea. The full report is available online at http://ow.ly/Nz5lN. 

Overflights Prompt Community Concern

The Board also heard testimony about overflights of residential communities by Marine V-22 Osprey aircraft. One speaker was very vehement and described an Osprey flight pattern that was “fast, low and wobbly” over homes in the Keolu Hills. Another offered a very heartfelt comment thanking the MCBH for their part in the defense of our nation.

The overflights occurred during a training exercise that was marred by an Osprey crash at Bellows Air Force Station. The crash left two Marines dead and 20 injured. A Marine Corps representative explained that the flights involved mainland units that were not as familiar with flight protocols as pilots stationed at the Kaneohe base. 

In response to questions, the Marine representative said the mainland units had received pre-flight briefings.  However, the representative said that, although the Kaneohe base provided facilities for the training exercises, their conduct was the responsibility of the mainland units. The representative said the Kaneohe base could not hold any visiting unit accountable for the overflights. 

Share Your Thoughts

The testimony and questions came during the board’s meeting on May 21. The board meets on the third Thursday of each month at Benjamin Parker Elementary School, starting at 7 p.m. The agenda always includes time for comments from the audience. In addition, Marine Corps Base Hawaii is one of the organizations that routinely sends a representative to the meetings. 

To report concerns related to training or noise to the base, community members may call a dedicated hotline at (808) 257-8832 or email kbaz.pao.fct@usmc.mil. The base Public Affairs Office responds to reported concerns during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.