Command name change salutes US-India ties
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — In a bow to America’s growing connection to India and its expanding security role in the region, the Pentagon is changing the name of the U.S. military’s Pacific headquarters to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Under cloudy Pearl Harbor skies, with the USS Arizona Memorial as a backdrop, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis formally announced the name change Wednesday. He spoke during a leadership change ceremony as U.S. Navy Adm. Philip Davidson took over the command from Adm. Harry Harris, who was nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
The change is largely symbolic in nature and carries no fundamental shifts in troops, military missions or other Pentagon activities. Instead, Mattis said, it’s a “recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific oceans.”
Mattis said the new defense strategy released last year “acknowledges Pacific challenges and signals America’s resolve and lasting commitment to the Indo-Pacific.” And he said relationships with Pacific and Indian Ocean allies have been critical to maintaining regional security.
In leaving the command post, Harris laid out the threats throughout the region. He said North Korea “remains our most imminent threat” and a nuclear-capable Pyongyang is unacceptable.
He added that the U.S. should “cooperate with Beijing where we can” but must stand ready to confront China when necessary.
Computer science programs to increase in schools
HONOLULU — The state Board of Education adopted the national Computer Science Teachers Association’s K-12 Computer Science Standards, joining a growing national movement.
The board, state Legislature and the University of Hawaii took action to increase computer science programs in schools in response to positive feedback by students.
Legislators on May 1 passed a bill that provides $500,000 for teacher training in computer science and mandates every public high school to offer the subject by 2021. The bill awaits Gov. David Ige’s signature.
UH-Manoa landed a three-year National Science Foundation grant worth nearly $1 million to train public school teachers to teach courses in computer science principles. The first cohort of teachers will be trained this summer.
This academic year, 21 of the state’s 45 public high schools offered computer science. Students at the other campuses can sign up to study it online.
A separate grant awarded to UH-Manoa will provide scholarships for students pursuing cybersecurity-related degrees. The CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program aims to train cybersecurity professionals to enter the government workforce. It runs through 2021 and is worth about $1 million a year.
State prepares to limit park’s daily visitors
HONOLULU — The state is moving forward with plans to limit the number of daily visitors to the popular Haena State Park on Kauai’s north shore.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday reviewed a master plan that would only allow 900 — rather than 2,000 — visitors per day at the park.
The board recommended Gov. David Ige approve the final environmental impact statement and give the board leader authority to approve the final master plan, which has been in the works for 20 years.
It’s the state park division’s first attempt to reduce daily patronage at a park.
Haena State Park is the gateway to the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park and Kalalau Trail.
The 900-person limit does not include permitted overnight campers, hunters with valid permits, local residents, cemetery caretakers, volunteers attending various events or kupuna or cultural practitioners with cultural or ancestral ties to the area.
Haena State Park and Napali Coast State Wilderness parks currently remain closed for months-long clearing and repairs following severe damage from mid-April floods.