We can throw a lot of numbers out to make the point, but we would still be missing the target.

As part of the military re-balance or "pivot" to the Pacific, the Pentagon is looking at reducing the Army’s presence in Hawaii by nearly 20,000 soldiers over the next two years, which would seem to undermine any refocus on the Pacific arena. Nevertheless, the impact would be dramatic and economically devastating to the state.

Statistically:

» There are 50,000 active-duty military in Hawaii, 22,500 or 45 percent of whom are members of the Army.

» The military in Hawaii accounts for $6.5 billion in direct spending and $14.7 billion in overall economic activity.

» The Army’s presence in Hawaii represents about $3 billion of that economic impact, including $1 billion in active-duty Army pay, $475 million of Army civilian pay, more than 1,200 Army contracts to local businesses, and $12 million spent annually on natural and cultural resources.

» The potential loss from downsizing the military here is 19,800 soldiers and civilian workers.

But again, that’s still not the entire story.

Beyond the economics, Hawaii and the military have a long and symbiotic relationship going back to the 19th century.

It peaked during World War II when Pearl Harbor and the U.S. Pacific fleet became the fulcrum upon which the war in the Pacific turned.

The relationship peaked and evolved again during the Korean War and Vietnam era.

In the process, the military and its families have become an integral and intimate part of our ohana. Our children go to school and grow up together. Our families pray and play together in our churches and parks. And our leaders discuss the collective future of our communities.

Their members have become a strong part of our volunteer force and our nonprofit community service organizations.

They have become our neighbors and friends especially in such communities as Wahiawa, Schofield, Waialua, Mililani and Kunia.

They have celebrated with us in good times and closed ranks with us in bad.

In instances where we’ve provided special services to help military families, we’ve found the outreach efforts have helped local kids as well, as in the case of Wahiawa Elementary School’s Ike Pili Aloha program. The school’s behavioral psychiatric counseling was initially created to help students from military families adjust to school and island life. It has since been opened to students from non-military families as well and expanded to Wahiawa Middle School.

Most important, we learn from each other through our diversity of backgrounds and upbringing.

Military families inject into our local perspective a broader view of the world. In turn, we provide them with an immeasurable understanding of our unique island perspective.

The result is growth and difference making insight in all of us.

The Army will be conducting "listening" sessions on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Leilehua High School cafeteria to get input from the community on the proposed reductions.

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has organized a local "Keep Hawaii’s Heroes" petition drive as part of a national campaign in response to the Army’s decision to close 30 bases around the country.

For Hawaii, the concern is for Schofield Barracks and the rippling economic and social impact it will have for the entire state.

We encourage everyone in Hawaii to voice their strong support of our military ohana.