His company buys gold bars from local investors and resells them overseas. But much of his gold is stuck in cargo, he says, making it impossible to complete sales to keep his business funded.

And there's no shortage of oil spills for it to work on. The latest is underway in New Zealand, as a stranded cargo ship leaks heavy oil onto a coral reef and local beaches.

"It's not right to portray all American soldiers as potential criminals, " said Hiroshi Matayoshi, a retired cargo handler who worked at the biggest local air force base for 35 years.