More than a decade ago, southern Nevada became the epicenter of the largest government-funded UFO investigation in U.S. history. Launched in 2007, the Advanced Aerospace Weapons Systems Application Program (AAWSAP) sought to understand and exploit the technology behind unidentified aerial phenomena. Although the program lasted only 27 months, its legacy laid the groundwork for an even more ambitious initiative: Kona Blue. Documents recently declassified by the Department of Homeland Security shed new light on the previously undisclosed program, revealing a bold and audacious effort to study UFO technology, interview witnesses, and understand the physical and psychological effects of extraterrestrial encounters.

The declassified documents portray a program intended to delve deeper into unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) mysteries than any government investigation before it. Spearheaded by Dr. Jim Lacatski, an intelligence analyst and missile expert at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Kona Blue aimed to collect and analyze potentially disruptive technologies from recovered materials. It would have established a system to catalog UFO sightings and incidents, focusing on hotspots like Skinwalker Ranch in Utah. The program would have also explored recovered UFO technologies, established a medical division to study the effects of encounters with advanced aerial vehicles, and examined “unusual and unique biological specimens.”

Despite these bold ambitions, the project never moved beyond the planning stages. Opposition from Washington bureaucrats and skeptics derailed the program before it could gain traction. This new insight into the program’s objectives and its demise offers a rare glimpse into the secrecy and controversies that have long shrouded government-funded UFO research.

8 News Now — Las Vegas covers the classification of Kona Blue. This article is based on this excellent George Knapp story:

WebProNews recently covered another George Knapp report on the government’s raid on a website owner focusing on Area 51.

Background: From AAWSAP to Kona Blue

The Advanced Aerospace Weapons Systems Application Program (AAWSAP) was established in 2007 under the leadership of Dr. Jim Lacatski, a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) analyst with a background in missile technology. AAWSAP’s mission was to investigate reports of UFO activity, particularly at known hotspots like Skinwalker Ranch in Utah. With funding secured by Nevada Senator Harry Reid, the program received $22 million in Black Budget allocations. The contract for AAWSAP was awarded to Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS), a subsidiary of Bigelow Aerospace owned by Robert Bigelow, a known advocate of UFO research.

Under AAWSAP, Lacatski led a team of 50 full-time researchers, most of whom were based in Las Vegas. They compiled an extensive UFO data warehouse, collecting and analyzing thousands of sightings and incidents. The program also produced more than 100 technical papers on propulsion systems and energy generation to the physiological effects of close encounters. However, the DIA has not made a single page of these reports public. Despite its groundbreaking scope, AAWSAP was short-lived, lasting just 27 months before funding was diverted and the program disbanded.

AAWSAP Laid the Foundation

Nevertheless, the knowledge and expertise gained during AAWSAP laid the foundation for a far more ambitious program. Lacatski and his colleague, Dr. Colm Kelleher, envisioned Kona Blue as a successor that would build upon AAWSAP’s work while expanding the scope to include technology exploitation and medical research. The aim was to gain deeper insights into unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) by interviewing witnesses, studying physical evidence, and analyzing the psychological and physiological impacts of encounters.

Central to this vision was the idea of not just studying UFOs, but exploiting their technology. Kona Blue sought to identify potentially disruptive technologies by analyzing materials of “unique origin” recovered from UFO encounters. The program also aimed to gain access to special materials stored in secret compartments and establish a system for collecting and categorizing sightings, particularly from hotspots like Skinwalker Ranch. Furthermore, Kona Blue would have created a dedicated medical division to study the effects of encounters with advanced aerial vehicles, with chilling references to handling “unusual and unique biological specimens.”

In 2011, Lacatski revealed in a book that the U.S. possessed a craft of unknown origin—a “flying saucer” with no visible exhaust, wings, or fuel tanks. This revelation hinted at deeper knowledge of extraterrestrial technology than previously disclosed. Lacatski and Kelleher authored two books, revealing as much as Pentagon censors allowed, yet crucial details about AAWSAP and Kona Blue remained classified.

Proposal for Kona Blue

As AAWSAP was disbanded, Lacatski, Kelleher, and other AAWSAP veterans sought new support for their ambitious plans. In 2009, Senator Harry Reid wrote to the Department of Defense (DoD) to request special classification for the DIA program, triggering alarm bells in Washington. Concerns over transparency and national security ultimately led to the AAWSAP budget being diverted, halting the program. Despite this setback, Lacatski and his team drafted the proposal for Kona Blue, aiming to find a new home for their research.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Deputy Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr. Tara O’Toole, was briefed on the proposal and was impressed enough to sign off on Kona Blue. However, the program faced strong resistance from within Washington’s bureaucracy, particularly when high-ranking officials sought access to classified materials stored in special access programs. Opposition quickly mobilized, and the ambitious plans for Kona Blue were ultimately shelved.

In the years since both AAWSAP and Kona Blue have remained shrouded in secrecy. The declassification of Kona Blue provides a rare glimpse into these programs and their ambitious goals, offering an unparalleled view into how the U.S. government sought to understand and harness UFO technology. As more information emerges, the legacy of these programs continues to intrigue and challenge our understanding of extraterrestrial phenomena.

Kona Blue: A New Frontier

Kona Blue was designed to be a bold leap forward in UFO research, building on the foundation laid by the Advanced Aerospace Weapons Systems Application Program (AAWSAP). While AAWSAP’s primary focus was on gathering and analyzing data, Kona Blue was intended to move beyond investigation into the realm of technological exploitation. It was a program that envisioned nothing less than bridging the gap between current human technology and what was believed to be extraterrestrial engineering.

According to the documents, Kona Blue would have:

• Identified potentially disruptive technologies by analyzing material of unique origin.
• Engineered a system to collect sightings from hotspots, particularly at Skinwalker Ranch in Utah.
• Explored advanced technologies already recovered and housed within special access programs.
• Established a medical division to study the effects of encounters with advanced aerial vehicles.

Notably, the documents contained a chilling reference to handling and examining “unusual and unique biological specimens,” raising questions about potential alien encounters.

Access to Materials of “Unique Origin”

Central to the Kona Blue program was the intention to gain access to materials of “unique origin” believed to be stashed away in highly classified special access programs. The proposal outlined a system that would have collected and categorized reports of advanced aerial technology from witnesses and investigators at known hotspots like Skinwalker Ranch. It aimed to identify, study, and reverse-engineer disruptive technologies that could have transformative applications in fields like aerospace, energy generation, and materials science.

In addition to identifying and studying UFO technology, Kona Blue sought to understand the impact of extraterrestrial encounters on human witnesses. It proposed establishing a medical division to study the physical and psychological effects of interactions with advanced aerial vehicles. The program planned to collect and analyze medical data from those who had close encounters, aiming to understand the physiological changes and psychological effects that often accompanied such experiences.

One of the more unsettling aspects of the Kona Blue proposal was its intention to handle and examine “unusual and unique biological specimens.” While the documents did not specify exactly what these specimens were, the language suggested that the program was preparing to study extraterrestrial life forms or remnants thereof. This chilling aspect of the proposal hinted at a deeper level of knowledge about UFOs than had been publicly disclosed.

Kona Blue References Recovered UFOs

Furthermore, the Kona Blue documents contained references to advanced technology that had already been recovered and was being kept under tight security within special access programs. This technology included craft and materials that, according to Dr. Jim Lacatski, had no visible means of propulsion or control surfaces and seemed to defy known principles of physics. The documents noted that engineering success would depend on gaining access to such materials and understanding how they could be reverse-engineered for practical use.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Deputy Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr. Tara O’Toole, was sufficiently impressed by the Kona Blue proposal to approve it, providing a glimmer of hope for the project’s ambitious goals. However, as top officials sought access to the classified materials necessary for the program’s success, strong opposition quickly mobilized. Concerns over transparency, national security, and the potential implications of revealing extraterrestrial technology led to resistance from within the government. The proposed program was ultimately shut down before it could gain traction.

The Government’s Interest is Revealing in Itself

Despite its short lifespan, Kona Blue represented an ambitious attempt to understand and harness UFO technology. The program’s declassification offers a tantalizing glimpse into the level of knowledge and interest that the U.S. government had in unidentified aerial phenomena. It also raises questions about what other classified programs might be working in the shadows, seeking to unlock the secrets of advanced extraterrestrial technology.

In the aftermath of Kona Blue’s failure to launch, subsequent programs like the Pentagon’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) and its successor, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), have continued to grapple with the challenge of understanding UAPs. However, none have matched the ambitious scale and vision of Kona Blue, which sought not only to understand UFOs but also to leverage their technology for the benefit of humanity. The program remains a compelling testament to the government’s continued interest in extraterrestrial phenomena and the mysteries that lie beyond our current technological horizon.

Facing Opposition and the Program’s Demise

Despite the ambitious goals and strategic framework of Kona Blue, the program quickly encountered formidable opposition within the U.S. government. This resistance was not entirely unexpected, given the history of secrecy and skepticism surrounding UFO research. In 2009, Nevada Senator Harry Reid had written to the Department of Defense (DoD) requesting a special classification for the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) UFO program. His letter sought to provide Kona Blue with the protection and funding it required, given the sensitive nature of its objectives.

However, Reid’s letter set off alarm bells among senior officials in Washington. The request for special classification raised concerns about transparency, the potential release of classified information, and the implications of acknowledging the existence of recovered extraterrestrial technology. Critics within the DoD and other government agencies feared that Kona Blue’s mission could lead to unintentional disclosures that might have severe national security implications.

Government Hides UFO Secrets to Prevent Distrust!

Opponents of the program were also wary of the potential public reaction to any information about advanced extraterrestrial technology. They argued that even hinting at the existence of UFOs and their technological capabilities could cause panic or widespread distrust in government institutions. Additionally, some officials believed that the program’s focus on reverse-engineering alien technology was overly ambitious and impractical, given the secrecy surrounding such materials.

As a result, opposition quickly coalesced, and Kona Blue’s proposed budget was pilfered. The funding cuts left the program unable to fulfill its ambitious objectives, leading to its premature demise. The DoD subsequently directed resources toward other, less controversial programs, effectively putting an end to Kona Blue before it could gain traction.

In 2011, as the program was shuttered, Dr. Jim Lacatski, Dr. Colm Kelleher, and other AAWSAP colleagues attempted to find a new home for their work. They approached the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), briefing the Deputy Secretary for Science and Technology, Dr. Tara O’Toole, on what AAWSAP had learned and the potential benefits of Kona Blue. Although Dr. O’Toole was impressed and signed off on the project, the opposition proved too strong to overcome. When top officials began knocking on doors to access special materials believed to be hidden in secret government facilities, resistance mounted once again, and the proposed program was stopped dead in its tracks.

Real Purpose of AARO is To Discredit Credible Whistleblowers

Some saw the release of the Kona Blue documents by the current All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as an attempt to discredit evidence and testimony provided by whistleblowers and witnesses. Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the head of AARO, claimed that those who testified about crashed UFOs were all referring to Kona Blue, despite the fact that only a handful of people even knew the program was proposed.

Kona Blue’s demise highlights the immense challenges facing government programs that seek to investigate UFO phenomena. The combination of secrecy, skepticism, and strategic interests created an environment inhospitable to efforts requiring significant transparency and collaboration. Nevertheless, the program’s documentation remains a valuable glimpse into what could have been one of the most ambitious UFO research initiatives in history.

The Secret Keepers Win Again

While Kona Blue ultimately faltered due to bureaucratic resistance, its legacy endures in the growing acknowledgment of UFO phenomena at the highest levels of government. In recent years, renewed efforts to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) have gained traction, with high-profile hearings in Congress and increased public interest. Although subsequent programs like the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) and AARO have sought to address the issue, they have yet to match the scale and ambition of Kona Blue.

In retrospect, Kona Blue remains a “what if” of UFO research, a program that dared to dream of bridging the gap between human and extraterrestrial technology but fell victim to its own ambition and the secrecy that surrounded it. The program’s rise and fall serve as a stark reminder of the difficulties faced by those who seek to push the boundaries of understanding in a world where UFOs remain shrouded in mystery.

In February 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unexpectedly declassified documents detailing the Kona Blue program. The release came as a surprise to many, given the program’s highly classified status and the sensitive nature of its objectives. However, the declassification also coincided with increased scrutiny surrounding the government’s handling of UFO-related information. The documents offered a rare glimpse into a program that was once poised to revolutionize our understanding of extraterrestrial technology.

According to the declassified materials, Kona Blue aimed to “identify potentially disruptive technologies by analyzing material of unique origin.” The program’s overarching objective was to exploit UFO technology by collecting sightings data, gaining access to advanced materials, and establishing a medical division to study the physical and psychological effects of encounters with advanced aerial vehicles. The documents even included chilling references to handling “unusual and unique biological specimens,” hinting at the possibility of alien bodies or tissue samples being recovered alongside crashed craft.

Government Spin Doctors Do What They Do

Despite these tantalizing insights, the declassified documents were immediately met with skepticism and criticism. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the current UFO program led by Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, moved quickly to discredit the Kona Blue materials and the testimonies of witnesses and whistleblowers. Kirkpatrick asserted that individuals who had come forward with information about crash saucers were merely referring to Kona Blue, a program that supposedly “never existed.”

Such statements were met with disbelief from UFO researchers and insiders. They pointed out that only a small circle of individuals even knew of Kona Blue’s existence, making it highly unlikely that witnesses were referring to it when testifying about crashed saucers. Critics accused AARO of attempting to minimize the significance of the program while shielding the government from scrutiny. They also noted that Kirkpatrick’s assertion contradicted past testimonies from Dr. Jim Lacatski and Dr. Colm Kelleher, who had provided detailed accounts of their work on Kona Blue in their book Skinwalkers at the Pentagon.

Further complicating matters was the fact that the declassified documents themselves were incomplete. Although they offered valuable insights into the program’s scope and intentions, they left many questions unanswered. The documents lacked detailed information on the advanced technologies that Kona Blue sought to access or the results of its initial investigations. Additionally, the precise reasons behind the program’s cancellation remained obscured.

Will the Truth Ever be Revealed?

As the dust settled from the declassification, the controversy surrounding Kona Blue highlighted the enduring challenges faced by UFO research initiatives within the government. While the release of the documents provided a fleeting moment of transparency, the subsequent efforts to discredit the program underscored the secrecy and skepticism that continue to shroud the investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).

Kona Blue’s story remains a fascinating and cautionary tale of ambition and bureaucratic resistance. The program sought to transcend traditional boundaries in its pursuit of understanding UFO technology, but the weight of government opposition ultimately crushed its aspirations. Nevertheless, the declassified documents serve as a testament to what might have been, offering a glimpse into a world where the government was willing to acknowledge and harness the potential of extraterrestrial technology.

A Glimpse Into the Unknown

Kona Blue remains a story that straddles the line between the extraordinary and the obscure. While the program itself may never have realized its full potential, its legacy endures as a glimpse into the mysterious and often contentious world of government-sponsored UFO research. The ambition to “identify potentially disruptive technologies” and “handle unusual and unique biological specimens” offers a tantalizing picture of a world where the pursuit of truth about extraterrestrial life is not just confined to science fiction but firmly rooted in scientific inquiry.

Despite being discredited by AARO and dismissed by government officials, Kona Blue holds a unique place in the annals of UFO research. The program’s willingness to address the physical and psychological effects of encounters with advanced aerial vehicles demonstrates a seriousness not often associated with such investigations. The references to potential medical and psychological impacts on witnesses hint at an understanding of the profound consequences that such encounters might have on individuals and society at large.

The suppression and subsequent declassification of Kona Blue documents also highlight a broader challenge: the balancing act between national security concerns and public transparency. The abrupt cancellation of the program and the reluctance of higher-ups to grant access to “special materials” underscore the deep-seated institutional resistance to shedding light on UFO phenomena. Kona Blue’s demise serves as a stark reminder of the cultural and bureaucratic barriers that impede the advancement of knowledge in this field.

Yet, despite these challenges, Kona Blue’s story has resonated far beyond the confines of the Pentagon. It has reignited public interest and reinvigorated calls for greater transparency regarding government UFO programs. With Congress and the media giving increasing attention to UAPs, Kona Blue’s revelations have become part of a broader conversation about accountability and the public’s right to know.

In many ways, Kona Blue’s brief existence mirrors the fleeting nature of UFO sightings themselves—a flash of light, a moment of wonder, followed by a lingering sense of the unknown. While the program may have been shuttered, its spirit endures, inspiring a new generation of researchers to probe deeper into the mysteries of the cosmos. For those who believe in the pursuit of truth beyond Earth, Kona Blue represents not just a footnote in history but a call to arms to push the boundaries of human understanding.

As the UFO research landscape continues to evolve, the declassification of Kona Blue documents is a testament to the potential for change. It is a glimpse into a world where pursuing UFO technology and understanding is not stifled by institutional inertia but encouraged and celebrated. While Kona Blue may not have found the answers it sought, it has provided a roadmap for future endeavors—one that charts a course toward openness, scientific rigor, and the possibility that we may not be alone in the universe.