The next decade will be a time of significant and noticeable change in this area. Schofield Barracks will build new facilities, add personnel and increase its land area to accommodate a much more lethal, swift, and mobile Army. It will be the home of one of the six Army Stryker Brigades. (Incidentally, Stryker is spelled with a "y" and not an "i" because it is named after two Medal of Honor recipients – one from WWII and one from the Vietnam War. The men were not related.)

An "official" decision will be made in July, but I am assured personally that Hawaii will get its Stryker Brigade.

The Army has successfully demonstrated the results of extensive training and the effective deployment of the latest weapons in the swift capture of Baghdad. The Army and its outgoing Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki, should be commended for their display of discipline and extraordinary military achievement. One doesn't become a soldier in a week – it takes training, study and discipline. There is no question that the finest Army in the world is found in the United States. The Stryker Brigade will make the Army even more swift, mobile and lethal.

To assure the mobility and swift movement of this new brigade, the Hickam Air Force Base will add 8 C-17's – the latest aircraft to airlift personnel and equipment – which will be manned and maintained by a combination of active duty Air Force and Air National Guard. To prepare for this new detachment, a sizable infrastructure investment is going to be made – probably about $65 million this budget year alone – to prepare for the arrival of these new "birds".

In addition to the transformation of the 25th Infantry Division, there will also be a transformation of the military housing portfolio in Hawaii, beginning with the Army, and followed by the Navy. In response to a reduction in federal funds available for military housing, the Department of Defense came out with what is being called the Residential Communities Initiative, or "RCI."

The government will provide a 50-year lease to a private contractor who, in return for the housing allowance at a set occupancy level, will renovate, remodel and maintain the military housing portfolio. It may interest you to know that the pioneering work that led to RCI occurred at our own Kaneohe Marine Base. This new initiative provides a higher quality of housing for military families, and in doing so, I hope fosters a greater sense of community, both on and off base.

There has been much interest expressed in the Army RCI with about 7,700 Schofield homes at issue, making it the largest single privatization effort in the nation. It also represents about 10% of the total Army inventory of military homes. I understand that the Army selection panel has narrowed the bidders down to a "short list" which is longer than usual, because of the high quality of the bids submitted. The selection panel is sequestered away, with a decision expected in August.

This will be a huge contract – about $100 million in housing allowances annually, combined with the several hundred million dollar investment the contractor is expected to make throughout the life of the contract. This will result in better living conditions for our soldiers and their families.

Also during this next decade, Ford Island will be transformed with 600 family units and 1000 bachelor quarters, a conferencing center, shops, restaurants, a museum and historic areas. I look forward to participating in the signing ceremony between the Navy and Fluor Hawaii in early July. This has been a long awaited day.

And, in a year from now, we will open the doors to a new Pacific Command headquarters at a cost of approximately $150 million, further solidifying Hawaii's strategic place in the Pacific.

At this moment, while I am not able to discuss it in further detail, I can say that there will be a change in the formation of ships at Pearl Harbor. And, it will not be a decrease.

There will also be an upgrade in the level of intelligence activities in this area.

What I am trying to say is that at a time of serious discussions about the next round of base closings, it would be quite safe to predict that Hawaii will not lose any bases, but rather will increase its level of activities. A key indication is the increase in acreage – from Kahuku to Kunia to Pohakuloa.

And, I do not need to tell all you business people that with each of these new initiatives will come a substantial infusion of funds into our economy. This means jobs, jobs, and more jobs.

The Stryker Brigade alone is anticipated to bring about $750 million over the next decade. Add to this, Ford Island, the Army and Navy housing privatization, the C-17 additions, and we are talking billions of dollars. These actions will be primarily on this side of the island.

We must focus now on adding training programs to increase the number of tradesmen and women for the jobs that will come. We must focus now on supporting our small businesses to ensure that they can get a piece of the work and gain experience in working with the federal government. I am committed to both these ends.

On a separate note, there continues to be much coverage in the news about crystal meth or "ice". The outpouring of community sentiment on this island that "enough is enough" is indeed an important step in taking back communities lost to drug abuse.

The recent statistics showing that 44% of the male inmates in Hawaii prisons test positive for "ice," the highest in the nation, is tragic. That should give us all a reason to pause as it demonstrates the clear link between violence, crime, and this horrible drug.

We all have a story about somebody we know who's addicted. And sadly, we know that it does not stop at the addict, but ruins the whole family. It affects children, parents, and siblings.

Unlike other drugs, "ice" is easy to produce. You don't need the financial backing of the mafia for a sophisticated factory. You can get what you need from a drug store, and you can produce it in your garage or even car trunk. All of this makes the police work even more difficult.

Shortly after Big Island Mayor Harry Kim was elected in 2000, he and I met in his Hilo office to discuss the crystal meth epidemic on his island. We agreed to work together. In August of last year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, at my request, hosted the 4th National Crystal Meth Summit in Kona. There were about 375 participants, with about another 100 turned away.

This August, Mayor Kim and I will convene Summit II, a year in review, to chart our progress and to unveil initiatives that will be undertaken utilizing federal, state, county and private funds. About $5 million in federal dollars alone will go to help make a difference.

But the biggest thing that first impressed me on the Big Island, and now on Kauai and Oahu, including Mililani and Haleiwa, has been the grassroots efforts – a coming together and a taking of responsibility. Rallies, sign-waving, a community uprising – that is the first step. Enforcement, rehabilitation, outreach education and prevention all follow.

I understand that the House and Senate legislators, and Lt. Governor Aiona are looking at ways to halt this epidemic, through a gathering of information that will then be acted upon. I commend all for getting involved. This is such an enormous issue that there is more than enough room for all of us to make a difference.

As Mayor Kim has demonstrated, when communities come together, good things can happen. I am committed to do my part to support efforts throughout the State to rid ourselves of this horrible drug.

In closing, I would like to thank the Mililani Rotary Club for its support of Hawaii 3R's and the assistance you provided to Mililani Uka and Mililani Waena Elementary Schools. 3R's is about volunteerism and sweat, hope, and a renewed community commitment to student learning. Your support has made a difference to the students and teachers of these schools.

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