Alright, let's dissect this little corner of the world. Don't expect sunshine and rainbows; military installations, especially ones tucked away on volcanic slopes, tend to have a certain… grit.
Pōhakuloa Training Area: The Island's Scar Tissue
Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA), a name that rolls off the tongue like volcanic rock, is a US military training base situated on the high plateau of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It’s nestled strategically between the colossal Mauna Loa, the imposing Mauna Kea, and the jagged Hualālai volcanic mountains. Think of it as a desolate, strategic scar on an otherwise breathtaking landscape. It also happens to house a rather unassuming military airstrip, known as Bradshaw Army Airfield, which, frankly, sounds more like a character from a forgotten Western than a place where serious hardware gets deployed.
Site Information
- Type: Training facility. Because where else would you want to practice blowing things up if not on pristine, geologically significant land?
- Owner: The United States Army. Naturally.
- Controlled by: The United States. Because the whole "owner" thing wasn't clear enough.
- Location: Pōhakuloa Training Area. The name itself, derived from the Hawaiian words puʻu pōhaku loa, meaning "long rocky cinder cone," is a bit of a misnomer, much like claiming a desert is "lush." It's a name shared across the island, a common enough occurrence in a place steeped in history.
- Coordinates: 19°45′21.6″N 155°32′49.2″W / 19.756000°N 155.547000°W / 19.756000; -155.547000. Precise, yet somehow still feels vague, like a whispered threat.
- Site History: Established in 1955. A relatively recent addition to an ancient land, when you consider the geological timescale.
- In Use: Yes. It’s not a museum piece, unfortunately.
- Garrison Information:
- Current Commander: Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado. A name. A rank. A placeholder in a much larger, indifferent machine.
- Airfield Information:
- Identifiers: IATA: BSF, ICAO: PHSF, FAA LID: BSF. Technical jargon for a landing strip that probably sees more dust than traffic.
- Elevation: 1,886.8 metres (6,190 ft) AMSL. High enough to feel detached from the world below.
- Runways:
- 9/27: 1,126 metres (3,694 ft) of Asphalt. Enough for small craft, not enough for anything that truly matters.
PTA sprawls across 108,863 acres (440.55 km²), making it the absolute largest United States Department of Defense installation in all of Hawaii, and frankly, anywhere else in the vast Pacific. It’s a significant chunk of land, chosen for its remoteness and, one assumes, its resilience.
History
The land's military application stretches back to 1943, during the throes of World War II. Camp Tarawa, a temporary holding pen for troops, was established on Parker Ranch. Approximately 91,000 acres were leased from the ranch's owner, Richard Smart. Back then, it was known as the Waikoloa Maneuver Area, situated northwest of the current base, south of Waimea. By September 1946, this land was returned to the ranch. A smaller Lalamilo Firing Range served its purpose until 1953. As coastal areas began to morph into tourist resorts – a predictable trajectory – military operations were pushed inland, seeking out these more isolated, less… developed locations. It’s a classic story of progress displacing the practical.
In 1989, the Army faced a challenge from local botanist Lani Stemmermann, who, with the backing of the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, took them to court. She'd witnessed the bulldozing of endangered species for construction, a rather blunt demonstration of priorities. The Army, predictably, settled before things got too messy, agreeing to restore the damaged area. Yet, PTA continues its role as a live-fire combat training zone in the Pacific theater, serving all ground forces, and even hosting local national guard and law enforcement units. It's a persistent presence.
Location
This expansive 108,863-acre (440.55 km²) territory is the undisputed titan of United States Department of Defense installations within Hawaii, and indeed, across the entire Pacific. The name, Pōhakuloa, translates to "long rocky cinder cone" in the Hawaiian Language. It's a poetic description, though the reality is a functional, utilitarian landscape. The training area itself occupies a high plateau, sitting between the lower slopes of Mauna Kea, around 6,800 feet (2,100 m), and reaching up to about 9,000 feet (2,700 m) on Mauna Loa. This strategic position places it roughly midway between Hilo on the east coast and the Army's landing site at Kawaihae Harbor. Both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps utilize this desolate training ground.
Access is primarily through the Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200), a road that runs parallel to a rather imposing tank trail. Heavy equipment, the kind that doesn't fly itself, arrives either by air into Hilo or via barge to Kawaihae Harbor, a good 40 miles (64 km) away along the Saddle Road. This remoteness dictates the nature of the training conducted here; it's largely comprised of shorter, focused sessions. Efficiency over endurance, perhaps.
Facilities
The barracks, capable of housing around 2,000 troops, were erected in April 1955. They were constructed from prefabricated buildings, relics of World War II, given a new, albeit grim, purpose. The support area encompasses 600 acres (240 ha) dedicated to logistic and administrative functions – the necessary machinery that keeps the training machine running. In July 2006, an additional 24,000 acres (9,700 ha) were acquired from Parker Ranch, an area known as Keʻāmuku. The name, meaning "cut-off lava" in Hawaiian, hints at the volcanic history that shaped it. This addition, located at approximately 19°50′24″N 155°43′1″W / 19.84000°N 155.71694°W / 19.84000; -155.71694, is slated for a realignment of the Saddle Road to bypass it. A further 51,000-acre (21,000 ha) impact zone is reserved for bombing and gunnery practice, refurbished in March 2009 to accommodate helicopter training. This leaves approximately 32,000 acres (130 km²) of relatively level ground suitable for large-scale maneuvers – more than double what's available on Oʻahu. Its isolation is its greatest asset, allowing for the use of a wide spectrum of weaponry. The U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) and the 3rd Marine Regiment are frequent visitors, typically engaging in four to six-week training periods.
Bradshaw Army Airfield
This airstrip, constructed between 1955 and 1956 and formally dedicated in August 1957, is rather modest. The runway measures 3,700 feet (1,100 m), sufficient only for smaller aircraft. Fog, a common companion in these high altitudes, frequently disrupts helicopter operations, which could otherwise fly in from the larger bases on Oʻahu. It's a functional piece of infrastructure, nothing more.
Environment
The vegetation here is a study in extremes, ranging from sparse grasslands and low shrubs to scattered māmane forests. The volcanic terrain, while stark, harbors pockets of protected wildlife. Within the boundaries of PTA, ten distinct endangered species have been identified. This includes the native Hawaiian mint, honohono (Haplostachys haplostachya), and the shrub ‘kio‘ele (Kadua coriacea). It’s a grim distinction: this installation hosts more endangered species than any other U.S. Army installation. The northeastern section, near Mauna Kea, provides a crucial habitat for the endangered bird, the Palila (Loxioides bailleui).
Beyond the living, the area is also rich in archaeological sites. The Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave, for instance, is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. To mitigate the risk of fires and damage from feral goats, certain areas have been fenced off.
The weapons employed here are not to be trifled with. The Davy Crockett nuclear rifle, even with dummy warheads, and depleted Uranium have been used at PTA. Initial denials notwithstanding, investigations confirmed the use of spotting rounds in the 1960s. While radiation measurements detected, they were reportedly not at life-threatening levels. Still, the lingering presence of such materials, even in residual forms, is a testament to the intensity of the training conducted here. It’s a landscape marked by both natural wonder and man-made impact.