HONOLULU -- A group opposed to the Army's Stryker Brigade coming to Hawaii lost a round in court Friday.

Federal Judge David Ezra denied a request to block deployment, saying the Army could go ahead with preliminary engineering studies and land preparation for the new unit.

Critics said the heavily armed Stryker vehicles and the training areas they require will damage the environment. They said the Army didn't adequately study places other than Hawaii for the new brigade.

The Army said the Hawaii location is important and disputes how much the brigade will affect the environment.