University of Hawaii SJP calls on U.S. military to cancel decades-old maritime exercise 'RIMPAC'

​​​The University of Hawaii Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine called on the U.S. military to cancel a maritime exercise that has been in existence since 1971, Rim of the Pacific.

by Adam Sabes, Campus Reform, July 3, 2024

The University of Hawaii Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine called on the U.S. military to cancel a maritime exercise that has been in existence since 1971, Rim of the Pacific.

In an Instagram post made on Saturday, the University of Hawaii Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine chapter wrote “A’OLE RIMPAC.” A’ole is a Hawaiian phrase for “no” or “never.”

”SFJP@UH joined its sibling orgs at the headquarters for the Commander of the Pacific Fleet in saying A’OLE RIMPAC on the opening day of these hideous war games. We could see the monstrous killing equipment desecrating the waters from where we stood,” the anti-Israel group wrote.

Rim of the Pacific a maritime military exercise held biennially and includes 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and over 25,000 personnel, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. It takes place around and in the Hawaiian islands and runs from June 28 to Aug. 1.

“The Rim of the Pacific exercise has grown over the years to be the world’s largest and premier joint combined maritime training opportunity,” said Vice Adm. John Wade, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet and RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. “The exercise’s purpose is to build relationships, to enhance interoperability and proficiency and, ultimately, contribute to the peace and stability in the vitally-important Indo-Pacific region.”

Among the reasons that the University of Hawaii Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine chapter is opposed to RIMPAC is that Israel is listed as a participant among several other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and more.

”A’ole IOF. A’ole RIMPAC,” read one sign at a protest against the military exercise.

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University of Hawaii instructor calls on institution to 'cut ties' with U.S. Navy and Israel

A University of Hawaii instructor is calling on the institution to cut ties with the U.S. Navy and Israel.

by Adam Sabes, Campus Reform, July 3, 2024

A University of Hawaii instructor is calling on the institution to cut ties with the U.S. Navy and Israel.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Instructor Colleen Rost-Banik and Ph.D. student Ia Maranon wrote a June 23 Op-Ed in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser which called on the institution to cut ties with both the U.S. Navy and Israel. The authors are both members of Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine at the University of Hawaii.

Rost-Banik and Maranon wrote that the University of Hawaii partners with the U.S. Navy at the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). According to its website, the UARC “serves as a center of excellence for critical Navy and national defense needs, conducting research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) to address challenging and emerging problems.”

The authors describe this partnership as “insidious” as it “allows the U.S. Navy to determine the direction, scope, use and dissemination of research conducted within UARC.”

”Even though annual reports are released on the positive research developments produced, the future application and use of the technologies remain undisclosed,” Rost-Banik and Maranon wrote. “Limiting scholars’ research imagination to task orders of the military not only advances imperialism but also destroys life on land and in seas, as is evident in practice bombing (e.g. Kahoolawe, Makua Valley), toxic pollution (e.g. Pohaukuloa, Red Hill, Puuloa), profusion of undetonated munitions, and the development and testing of Agent Orange in Kauai.”

Rost-Banik and Maranon also accuse the University of Hawaii of being complicit in the “genocide of Palestinians via investments that support Israel,” stating that the institution should “completely divest from Israel.”

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