DISCLOSURE / FILE

KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification)

AARO's public release of all DHS records on KONA BLUE, a prospective Special Access Program at the Department of Homeland Security built on the premise that the US government holds off-world technology, which DHS terminated on February 10, 2012.

Brief

On February 5, 2024, Acting Deputy Secretary of DHS Kristie Canegallo wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks confirming DHS would hand DoD all documents on KONA BLUE, a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated February 10, 2012. DHS declassified every associated record, used the strike-out method to keep prior classifications visible, and applied redactions after policy and legal review. The released material ties KONA BLUE to AATIP and describes a planned Restricted SAP staffed by a small group of already-cleared DoD personnel handling what the documents call exotic technologies spanning quantum mechanics, nuclear science, electromagnetic theory, gravities, and thermodynamics. Per AARO's framing, the program never received empirical evidence supporting its off-world-technology premise.

Metadata

Agency: DHS / AARO
Release: 2024-04-16
Type: PDF • .pdf
Length: 56 pages
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Programs: KONA BLUE, AATIP
Tags: KONA BLUE, AATIP, Special Access Program, off-world technology, DHS, 2012, 2024

Key points

KONA BLUE was a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated on February 10, 2012.p.1
On February 5, 2024, DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks agreeing to provide DoD all documents and information associated with KONA BLUE.p.1
All DHS documents associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP were declassified and approved for public release.p.1
DHS used the strike-out method to retain visibility of prior classifications and made redactions based on policy and legal review.p.1
DHS searched all pertinent records and found no additional information associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP.p.1
The released material describes a planned Restricted SAP connected to AATIP, staffed by a small specialized group of DoD personnel who already held clearances and supported AATIP.p.52
The documents tie the program's associated exotic technologies to quantum mechanics, nuclear science, electromagnetic theory, gravities, and thermodynamics.p.52
Access to the program's overall intent was to be restricted to those on a strict Bigoted List, with senior-level approval required for how technologies would be collected, engineered, and applied.p.52

Verbatim

KONA BLUE was a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated on February 10, 2012.
p.1
All DHS documents associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP are declassified and approved for public release.
p.1
The strike-out method was utilized to retain visibility of prior classifications and redactions were made based on policy and legal review.
p.1
All pertinent DHS records have been searched and no additional information associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP has been discovered.
p.1
These decision makers must be afforded tl;le necessary time to make strategic decisions by restricting access to the "big picture" or overall intent of the program to those on a strict Bigoted List.
p.52
It is essential that the Government & military personnel who are already involved with this program are assigned to further support this program in a Restricted SAP capacity (see Attachment 1).
p.52

Most interesting

DHS declassified KONA BLUE using the strike-out method, which keeps prior classification markings visible rather than blacking them out, so readers can see what level the text once carried.
The program's premise, per AARO, was that the US government possessed off-world technology, but KONA BLUE never received empirical evidence to support that premise.
The released documents link KONA BLUE to AATIP and reference a 'Bigoted List' as the access-control mechanism for the program's overall intent.
DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo's February 5, 2024 letter was a direct response to a September 28, 2023 letter from Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Common questions

What is KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification)?

What does KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification) reveal?

KONA BLUE was a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated on February 10, 2012. On February 5, 2024, DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks agreeing to provide DoD all documents and information associated with KONA BLUE. All DHS documents associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP were…

Which agency produced KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification)?

KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification) is a primary-source record from DHS / AARO. Its original classification was UNCLASSIFIED.

When is KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification) dated?

KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification) is dated 2024-02-05. It was declassified 2024-04-16.

What programs and topics appear in KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification)?

KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification) references KONA BLUE, AATIP, Special Access Program, off-world technology and DHS.

What does KONA BLUE, DHS Document Set (AARO declassification) say, in its own words?

"KONA BLUE was a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated on February 10, 2012." (source p. 1).

Brief

Key points

KONA BLUE was a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated on February 10, 2012.p.1

On February 5, 2024, DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks agreeing to provide DoD all documents and information associated with KONA BLUE.p.1

All DHS documents associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP were declassified and approved for public release.p.1

DHS used the strike-out method to retain visibility of prior classifications and made redactions based on policy and legal review.p.1

DHS searched all pertinent records and found no additional information associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP.p.1

The released material describes a planned Restricted SAP connected to AATIP, staffed by a small specialized group of DoD personnel who already held clearances and supported AATIP.p.52

The documents tie the program's associated exotic technologies to quantum mechanics, nuclear science, electromagnetic theory, gravities, and thermodynamics.p.52

Access to the program's overall intent was to be restricted to those on a strict Bigoted List, with senior-level approval required for how technologies would be collected, engineered, and applied.p.52

Verbatim

KONA BLUE was a DHS prospective special access program (PSAP) terminated on February 10, 2012.

p.1

All DHS documents associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP are declassified and approved for public release.

p.1

The strike-out method was utilized to retain visibility of prior classifications and redactions were made based on policy and legal review.

p.1

All pertinent DHS records have been searched and no additional information associated with the KONA BLUE PSAP has been discovered.

p.1

These decision makers must be afforded tl;le necessary time to make strategic decisions by restricting access to the "big picture" or overall intent of the program to those on a strict Bigoted List.

p.52

It is essential that the Government & military personnel who are already involved with this program are assigned to further support this program in a Restricted SAP capacity (see Attachment 1).

p.52

Most interesting

DHS declassified KONA BLUE using the strike-out method, which keeps prior classification markings visible rather than blacking them out, so readers can see what level the text once carried.

The program's premise, per AARO, was that the US government possessed off-world technology, but KONA BLUE never received empirical evidence to support that premise.

The released documents link KONA BLUE to AATIP and reference a 'Bigoted List' as the access-control mechanism for the program's overall intent.

DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo's February 5, 2024 letter was a direct response to a September 28, 2023 letter from Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.