This article summarizes a book signing event for author Robert Scheer's latest book that is critical of U.S. military spending and foreign policy since 9/11. It discusses an interview with Scheer where he argues the War on Terror has been used to justify excessive military budgets that have little to do with fighting terrorism. Scheer believes politicians are afraid to rationally discuss defense spending and advocates retraining military personnel for jobs in renewable energy. The article also provides details of Scheer's two book signing events in Hawaii.

1. Island Life
SECTION
D FEATURES EDITOR | ELIZABETH KIESZKOWSKI
E-mail: ekieszkowski@HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Telephone: 525-8034
SUNDAY | August 10, 2008
[ ]
HONOLULUADVERTISER.COM/islandlife
Taking BY LACY MATSUMOTO
Tilling the
Advertiser Staff Writer
a hard
D
ressed in a MA‘O T-
shirt, jeans and a
land
plastic apron that
look at practically swallows
her whole, Mandy
Qutal stands in front of a steel
basin in the farm’s wash room,
defense gently cleaning greens headed
for a Honolulu farmers market.
She washes each leaf gently, her
tiny hands barely big enough to
War on Terror, says
grab more than six leaves at a
author Robert Scheer, Farming program offers world of time.
is a huge boondoggle At 17, Qutal is the youngest of
opportunities to Wai‘anae youths the 25 students attending the
BY MIKE GORDON
MA‘O Organic Farms educa-
Advertiser Staff Writer
TOP: Mandy Qutal, 17, washes onions as part of
tional program this summer.
For more than 40 years, jour- MA‘O’s educational program. She says she’s in
“I heard about this program
nalist and author Robert the program so she can go to college.
cheer has covered political from a few friends at school. BOTTOM: At MA‘O Organic Farm, work is a
nd social issues, often taking I applied so that I could go to muddy endeavor for the student interns.
im at U.S. government offi-
college,” she said.
ials. Photos by JEFF WIDENER
SEE FARM, D8 | The Honolulu Advertiser
Scheer, 72, covered the Viet-
am War, interviewed every
.S. president from Richard
ixon to Bill Clinton — he got
ormer President Jimmy Carter
o tell him he had lust in his
eart — and worked at the Los
ngeles Times for 29 years as
national reporter, a national-
y syndicated columnist and a
ontributing editor. His range
ncluded the Soviet Union,
rms control, national politics
nd the military. He is now the
ditor of TruthDig.com, an on-
ine magazine specializing in
urrent affairs, and his nation-
lly syndicated column is
ased out of the San Francisco
hronicle.
The author of nine books,
cheer recently published
The Pornography of Power:
ow Defense Hawks Hijacked
/11 and Weakened America”
Twelve Books), a scathing at-
ack on the nation’s military-in-
ustrial complex. Scheer ex-
mines U.S. military expansion
hroughout the world, its nu-
lear strategy and what he calls
the immorality of corpora-
tions profiting in Iraq.”
Scheer argues that U.S. mil-
itary spending — $625 billion
for fiscal year 2008 — is “ab-
surdly disproportionate to the
task at hand.”
Terrorism could be fought
SEE SCHEER, D6
Robert Scheer will be in Hawaiçi
to sign copies of his latest book.
Beach glass is a treasure of the past from the sea
This beach glass
sand, the sea,
Popularity of plastic, COMMENTARY has been traced
and time. In the
recycling mean fewer to its probable
’60s, I could of-
colored gems to find origins. Clockwise
ten find a dozen pieces in a given
from top left: blue
morning; by the late ’70s, when I
BY PAULA RATH walked the beach with my son, Dun- (chemist’s bottle),
Advertiser Staff Writer can, we seldom found more than a gray-green (wine
piece or two. By the late ’90s, a tiny
When I was growing up on the bottle), red
sliver of beach glass was a rare find.
North Shore, I always tried to be (shooter marble),
Now beach glass seems to have dis-
the first person on the beach in the gray (bottleneck),
appeared from our stretch of sand
early morning so I could have first blue (end-of-day
near Laniäkea.
dibs at the beach glass scattered glass), clear
During the first decade we lived
across the sand. Our family beach- (bottle stopper);
at the beach house, the family col-
glass rules were strict: no see-
amber (signal
lected enough beach glass to fill two
through pieces, no jagged edges;
light), green
3-foot high apothecary jars. To fill
those did not qualify as beach
(bottleneck rim).
those now would take a lifetime,
glass yet and were to be
thrown back in the ocean to be National Geographic
polished to perfection by the SEE GLASS, D6 Magazine photo
Uncle Bo’s is hip to local tastes — stylish Christine Thomas rounds up books with a Think green, deeply, with the artists of Pets blogger Leslie Kawamoto tells all on Meet HawaiiMoms.com Mom of the Week
and open late. Chinese connection. “Eco/Logic” at The ARTS at Marks Garage. her adventures in fur-clipping. Nadia Kawaihaola Kikuyama.
From the Hip l | D3 Books | D4 Art | D5 Island Tails | D10 çOhana | D11

2. The Honolulu Advertiser •
D6 | Sunday, August 10, 2008
ting Pentagon waste. I think
Glass Scheer ROBERT SCHEER Barack Obama is absolutely
WILL BE IN HAWAIÇI correct in saying we have to
start negotiating with these
FOR TWO BOOK
CONTINUED FROM D1 CONTINUED FROM D1 people and not try to be the
SIGNINGS: policemen everywhere.
and a lifetime may not be long with police work and not
enough. Beach glass has become • 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at
$2.5 billion submarines to battle Q. But do either McCain or
the Maui Tropical Plantation,
increasingly rare on Oçahu’s a foe that doesn’t even own a Obama have the desire to pur-
1670 Honoapiçilani Highway,
beaches. Now, it seems, these boat, he said. sue that challenge?
Maui.
frosted gems may be endangered. “What we have seen since 9/11
A. I am worried about that. I
is the military-industrial com-
In the August issue of Nation- • 11 a.m. Aug. 23 at Barnes
plex has roared up to take on think the pressure has to come
al Geographic magazine, writer and Noble, 1450 Ala Moana
an enemy that can buy its arse-
Margaret G. Zackowitz says we from people and the media. I
Blvd.
nal at Home Depot,” Scheer said
can blame the disappearance of think the media has not played
by telephone from California.
beach glass on the arrival of plas- a good role. ... When it comes to
“To combat that kind of an ene-
tic. She quotes Mary Beth Beuke, the price of oil went up five- domestic programs, we look un-
my, we now spend more than
president of the North Ameri- fold under Bush. Imperialism der one microscope, but when
all of the nations of the world
can Sea Glass Association: doesn’t pay, and people pretty it comes to defense spending,
combined.”
“We’re at the end of the sea glass much know that when they we don’t have any microscope.
Sheer, who will be in Hawaiçi
window. ... There is less glass pump their gas.
Go ahead, take what you want,
for two book signings, spoke
packaging now and more recy-
Q. Who do you blame for this make any claim you want and
with The Advertiser by phone
cling.”
situation? everybody panics. We need po-
from California.
Of course, Zackowitz points
litical leadership.
A. In part, I blame the politi-
ut, beach glass “started out as Q. Would you consider your-
cians. The Democrats and the
omething not worth keeping. self anti-military? Q. Hawaiçi has a large mili-
Republicans are all afraid. This
rash tossed off ships or washed tary presence. What will be
A. I have covered defense is-
is the elephant in the room.
rom dumps must spend years your message to your audiences
sues a lot. I don’t think of my-
Everyone wants to be tough on
n the water to become good sea self as anti-defense. I think of here who depend on that?
defense and take it to the ene-
lass. Wave churn, shore terrain, myself as anti-waste. A really
my. They don’t want to talk ra-
ater acidity and composition A. I am aware of how impor-
huge amount of money is go-
tionally on that. But people
f the glass itself all play a part in tant the military is in Honolu-
ing to this stuff, and it has
can see that the money is leak-
reating the smoothed shards’ lu. My message is this: I don’t
nothing to do with fighting ter-
ing in all directions and not
haracteristic matte texture.” rorism. want to fire anyone. We can
going to stuff they need. Most
My family feels fortunate to give these people golden para-
Q. Why do you think Ameri- of us don’t benefit from this.
have a treasure from the sea that chutes. These people can be
cans are not paying attention to
my parents found on the beach at
Q. Which of the two presiden- paid to make electric cars.
their nation’s military expan-
Punaluçu on their honeymoon in
tial candidates has the skills to They’re smart people. They
sion and what you describe as
1940: a lavender glass ball, 14 deal with the problems of Iraq
the arrogance of their leaders are hard-working people. I am
inches in diameter. They always and Afghanistan?
when it comes to foreign policy? all for job retraining. I am all
joked that if it ever broke, they
for being humane about it.
A. I think both of them have
A. I think they are paying at-
would divorce. Needless to say, it
Barnes & Noble photo
the skills if they would play to
tention now. It’s always catch-
is still intact and more beautiful
Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon Scheer’s latest book focuses on U.S. war profiteering. Terrorism could
up. We conquered the country their better nature. I think
— and rare — than ever.
be better fought with police work rather than $2.5 billion submarines
@honoluluadvertiser.com or
that had the second-biggest John McCain has been a good
to battle a foe that doesn’t even own a boat, the author asserts.
supply of oil in the world, and
Reach Paula Rath at paularath senator in that regard, in cut- 525-8012.
@aol.com.
ment, set design, lighting design and Julie Carlson, 510 18th Ave., Honolu- for principal and supporting roles for 5-6; 7-9; and 10-12 years, with one
Cut TRYOUTS phase: party attire. Deadline to enter
local Asian and hapa talent, male
costume design for the 2008-09 lu, HI 96816.
is Sept. 3; application and informa-
and female ages 25-30 and 40-60;
school year. Interviews will be 4:30 KUMU KAHUA THEATRE seeks sev-
Through
tion: 520-8119.
561-0820, www.layoverthefilm.com.
p.m. Aug. 26; Hawaiçi Theatre; $250 en actors for its production of “Rolling
See a comprehensive listing at for lab cost; 791-1314.
PAGEANTS ISLAND BEAUTY PRODUCTIONS
the R’s” by R. Zamora Linmark. Actors
www.honoluluadvertiser.com seeks candidates, female ages 1-55
should be able to speak Pidgin and
The STAGE/TV/FILM HONOLULU JAPANESE JUNIOR and male ages 1-18, for the annual
/islandlife. with a Filipino accent. Auditions 6-9
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE seeks State Scholarship Pageant in October
p.m. Aug. 10; The Academy of Film &
“LOST,” the ABC TV show, seeks
SPECIAL contestants, 19-26, for 57th Cherry
RED TAPE
2008; winners to continue on to a Na-
Television, 1174 Waimanu St., Suite
new faces to cast in Season 5, all Blossom Festival. Applicants must be tional Scholarship pageant in Las Ve-
A; scripts available for loan with a $10
GIRL FEST HAWAIÇI is accepting ethnic backgrounds and ages wel- at least 50 percent Japanese, single, gas; $50 registration fee; 223-4482.
cash deposit; 536-4222.
submissions for performers, filmmak- come, especially looking for people a U.S. citizen and Hawaiçi resident.
HAWAIçI YOUNG ACTORS’
ers, artists and volunteers for its fifth who speak a foreign language; Deadline for applications is Aug. 15;
Bureaucracy Buster Send announcements to: Tryouts
ENSEMBLE is holding auditions for
anniversary multimedia festival and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 16; Ala Wai Ele- www.cbfhawaii.com.
Calendar, Island Life, The Ad-
students ages 13-18; 7 p.m. Aug. 26;
conference, Nov. 7-15. Deadline for mentary School, 503 Kamoku St. LITTLE MISS AND LITTLE MR.
Thursdays inside
Hawaiçi Theatre; $350 for participa-
artists is Aug. 30; www.girlfesthawaii vertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu,
“LOST” seeks babies for the role of HAWAIÇI STATE is accepting appli-
The Honolulu Advertiser tion in the program; register:
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Don’t miss a single column! HAWAIÇI THEATRE CENTER is ac- 11-16 pounds, with blue or green Warehouse. There are six age divi-
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level apprentices in stage manage- photos, name and phone number to graduate student film, is auditioning months; 11 months-2 years; 3-4; 525-8055.

3. The Honolulu Advertiser •
D8 | Sunday, August 10, 2008
workers laugh as they lift one land.
Farm girl up on the shoulders of an- “I’ve learned a lot since I’ve
other to pick a golden Haden been here. I’ve learned about
mango. Their pockets bulge with different plants, how to take care
freshly picked tangerines, stored of them, the history of this area,
CONTINUED FROM D1
away for an afternoon snack. As and I’ve made some neat
Her summer has been full, the girl on top passes down friends,” Qutal says shyly.
with classes two days a week, mangoes, the other three use The executive director, Kukui
and farm work that begins in their T-shirts as slings to carry Maunakea-Forth, walks into the
the early dawn on Mondays, the fruit — all working in unison room, smiling. “Hey, how you
Wednesdays and Fridays. In re- to gather the day’s harvest. guys doin’ — you OK?” she asks.
turn for her dedication, the pro- In the nearby farm building, After a short conversation
gram provides her with a paid Qutal continues washing. “I’ve with a student, Maunakea-Forth
scholarship to Leeward Com- made a lot of friends here. walks to her office. On the out-
Everyone is so nice. We work
munity College, as well as a side wall, a dry-erase board lists
in the field together and go to
monthly $500 stipend. suggested field trips — to Ice
school together. We are even
A nonprofit organization, Palace, movie theaters and
planning an outing,” she says,
MAçO — an acronym for mäla ‘ai Hawaiian Waters Adventure
as she moves a full bin of fresh-
‘öpio, which translates as “the Park.
ly washed greens to a shelf.
youth food garden” — intends to In the small, windowless of-
Qutal’s mother is a cafeteria
build opportunities for Waiçanae fice, Maunakea sits on an office
attendant at Waiçanae Elemen-
and Native Hawaiian youth, chair, poised to explain MAçO.
tary School, and her father owns
while producing organic pro- Maunakea-Forth and her hus-
ABOVE: Dana a fire-safety business. With an
duce of the highest quality. But band, farm manager Gary Mau-
Katsukani, left, and older sister at Leeward Com-
MAçO’s goals fly higher than nakea-Forth, established MAçO
Mickey Molina carry munity College and a younger
mere education or agriculture. It as part of the nonprofit umbrel-
a bucket of Tahitian sister at Waiçanae High School,
wants to change hearts and la organization Waianae Com-
limes from the fields it was going to be tough for her
minds, and youth like Qutal are munity Redevelopment Corpo-
at MA‘O Farms. family to help her with college.
key to its intentions. ration. The title hints at MAçO’s
Her eventual goal is a degree larger goal — to invigorate
‘EVERYONE IS SO NICE’
RIGHT: Brian Cambra, in fashion design. In exchange Waiçanae, inspire pride and
right, takes a breather The Waiçanae mountain range for her work at MAçO, and re-
while Derrik Parker sense of purpose.
casts a shadow on the farm in quired courses on Hawaiian his-
harvests some collards. Raised in Nänäkuli herself,
the neighboring valley, where tory and agriculture, Qutal got a
Kukui Maunakea-Forth says the
five acres are being used to grow head start toward her degree.
Photos by JEFF WIDENER operation is informed by the his-
organic greens. Thin clouds fly The payoff for MAçO? A pro-
| The Honolulu Advertiser tory of the area — as well as
quickly over the budding rows gram graduate who knows more
“the people, the economy, the
of lettuce. about the roots of her commu-
SEE FARM, D9
In the foreground, five young nity and the treasures of the

4. • The Honolulu Advertiser Sunday, August 10, 2008 | D9
the Islands haven’t made it easy — and in the quality of its or- Town and Downtown restau-
Farm to survive by farming. MAçO is ganic produce. rants. Both restaurants are
With the rise in gas and food
able to make a go of it, in part, known for their commitment to
because its programs are grant- prices, the push for local sus- local produce and environmen-
funded. Its organizational budg- tainability has become more ap-
CONTINUED FROM D8 tally sensitive processes.
et is about $825,000, and less parent. Pulling up a chair at Town,
social impact and our Hawaiian than half of that comes from ag Support for agriculture has wearing a spotless white chef
culture.” sales. Other support comes from been a prime topic of discus- uniform with matching white
the state Office of Hawaiian Af- sion. As part of that effort, MAçO
A LINK TO HISTORY Crocs, Kenney expresses his ap-
is working toward supporting
preciation for MAçO greens.
Before the fall semester start- fairs, private donations and an economy in Waiçanae.
“Their produce is consistent-
ed at Leeward Community Col- fundraising. “We want to affect more
ly of the highest quality,” he
The farm is expected to grow young people. We want to serve
lege, MAçO students met regu-
says. “We will utilize anything
during a three-year expansion them because that’s part of the
larly in a Waiçanae classroom to that MAçO grows. Their organ-
period, helping to cover more cycle. The young people need
learn study habits, Hawaiian his- ic farming practices result in su-
tory and Waiçanae community perior product — always.”
“We’re doing this to help sustain the self-preservation of the
history. But it isn’t only quality that
The MAçO course require-
ments are meant to link students Hawaiian people. Agriculture is part of our culture, we have
influenced him. Kenney also
notes the organization’s impact
with the history of their com- that as our identity.” on the local economy and the
munity. environment.
KUKUI MAUNAKEA-FORTH | Executive Director, Ma`o Farms
Most of the students are Na- “MAçO is the future of Hawaiçi
tive Hawaiian. As they tell it, agriculture — to connect peo-
the program has become more
ple to the food they eat and the
than a gardening project — it’s costs for the education program to come back to the community
people they eat with. They are
ade them part of a movement in the future. and need to come back home to
growing our next generation of
A state economic agriculture do the work,” Maunakea-Forth
oward local sustainability.
growers,” he says.
“What got me interested was census for 2000 showed 655 Na- says.
“When shortening the food
As the day continues, Gary
ustice. It’s economic, cultural, tive Hawaiians employed in
chain, I’ve found that tilling the
ocial, it’s the justice issues,” agriculture in the Islands, out Maunakea-Forth and some stu-
soil, planting a garden and har-
dents gently stack freshly
aunakea-Forth says. “We’re of 38,000 ag jobs.
vesting the bounty is the ulti-
washed produce into a tall walk-
oing this to help sustain the The same census showed an mate connection to the land that
elf-preservation of the Hawai- estimated $1.94 billion dollars in refrigerator.
A white delivery truck pulls one can experience. I encour-
an people. Agriculture is part
in total statewide agricultural up. age all to make this connection
f our culture, we have that as
sales. Compare that to MAçO’s Keeping track of inventory, to the food we eat.”
ur identity.”
Her father was a farmer, on output, which was about Gary writes up the weekly or- Back on the farm, as the day
$294,000 in produce sales last ders on a wall-mounted board. comes to an end, the students
is own farm.
“He sold to Marukai market, year, and it’s apparent that the Students bag up produce for the gather in a circle for their daily
nd he grew whatever he operation is a drop in the buck- next day’s farmers market. meeting. Mandy Qutal listens as
could. My grandmother and I et in terms of all-Islands agri- her mentors recap the work
AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE
lways maintained gardens for culture. done and lessons learned.
The delivery truck is off to
But where the operation can
urself,” Maunakea-Forth says. Soon, Qutal will begin college JEFF WIDENER | The Honolulu Advertiser
But economic conditions in make a difference is in mindset buyer and cutting-edge Hono- — another step in creating a fu- MA‘O students say the educational program goes beyond gardening;
lulu chef Ed Kenney, who runs ture for herself. it’s part of a movement toward local sustainability.
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