HONOLULU -- A coalition of community groups spoke out Monday over the Army's proposed Stryker Brigade.

The groups gathered at the Iolani Palace grounds to voice their opposition to the plan.

A brigade made up of about 300, 19-ton armored attack vehicles. The Army also wants to acquire 24,000 acres of land, the vast majority on the Big Island next to the Pohakuloa Training area.

"We don't think that there is a need for the state of Hawaii to offer more pristine valuable land for military training. We think enough is enough," Hawaiian activist Victoria Holt-Takamine said.

"For us at Ohana Koa, we don't see this as a real process. This is a bullying," said Terri Keko'olani Raymond of the group Ohana Koa, Nuclear Free Pacific.

An Army spokeswoman said the Army is encouraging public comment on the plans and is holding a series of public meetings beginning Tuesday.

The Army is holding the meetings on Oahu and the Big Island to get required public comment on a draft environmental impact statement on the Stryker Brigade.

Meeting schedule:
Oahu:

Oct. 28 Honolulu Country Club

Oct. 29 Helemano Plantation

Oct. 30 Makaha Resort Golf Club

Nov. 4 Turtle Bay Resort

Big Island:

Nov. 5 Waikoloa Beach Marriot Resort

Nov. 6 Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

U.S. Army Web site about the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Army Transformation of the 2nd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team