HONOLULU (AP) — On the Big Island of Hawaii, a high-altitude plateau known as Pohakuloa stands at the center of a heated debate involving cultural significance, military needs, and environmental concerns.
This training ground is unique in Hawaii, enabling thousands of ground forces to practice with live munitions, which is vital for the U.S. military’s readiness in the Indo-Pacific region as tensions escalate with China, particularly regarding Taiwan.
However, as the Army’s lease for state lands expiring in 2029 approaches, Native Hawaiians are calling for the military to vacate the area.
Healing Sonoda-Pale, a community organizer with the Hawaiian sovereignty group Ka Lahui Hawaii, expressed the frustration of many, stating, “They have bombed and contaminated not just our land but our waters. When does this end?”
The military currently controls about 5% of Hawaii’s land, including installations for all service branches.
Despite various environmental programs aimed at protecting endangered species and preserving natural habitats, many Native Hawaiians are skeptical due to the military’s problematic past.
A notorious example includes the Navy’s transformation of the island of Kahoolawe into a bombing range following the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack.
After years of protests, the Navy returned the land in 1994, but cleanup efforts have been inadequate, leaving live ordnance scattered across a significant portion of the island.
Additionally, in 2021, a jet fuel leak from the Navy contaminated drinking water in Pearl Harbor, affecting approximately 6,000 individuals who sought medical attention for health issues related to the spill.
This disaster occurred despite ongoing community concerns regarding the safety of underground fuel storage tanks.
Furthermore, Army training in Makua Valley has been linked to wildfires and the destruction of native forests and sacred cultural sites, resulting in a legal settlement that halted training there in 2004.
Pohakuloa itself is not only significant for military exercises; it is also rich in cultural and historical relevance.
The area, located between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa at an altitude of about 6,200 feet, consists of rocky plains and hills.
Endangered species, including the Hawaiian catchfly shrub, thrive in this environment.
Historically, early Hawaiians traveled across Pohakuloa to quarry high-quality basalt for tools and to connect coastal towns.
Significantly, a discovery made by Army staff in 2022 of ancient wooden kii figures in a lava tube has added to the area’s cultural importance, as they are linked to human burials and represent some of Hawaii’s most critical archaeological finds.
Covering over 200 square miles, only 17% of Pohakuloa is under dispute, but it holds critical military significance as it facilitates live-fire training and helps in troop deployment across the Indo-Pacific.
With other training areas in Hawaii too small to accommodate large-scale military exercises, the Army argues that Pohakuloa is indispensable for rapid mobilization in potential future conflicts.
“What we anticipate in a future fight is that we will not have the time to recover that equipment and to position ourselves back into the region,” said Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, U.S. Army Pacific chief of staff.
He emphasized that training at Pohakuloa enables troops to quickly transition from Hawaii into key locations around the Indo-Pacific.
In addition to the Army, the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and allied military forces utilize the training area, along with local emergency services including county fire and police departments.
Amid ongoing discussions, the Army prepared an environmental impact statement assessing the implications of continued military use on the area’s ecology and cultural heritage.
On May 9, the state land board rejected the Army’s report, citing concerns over the lack of comprehensive inventories of unexploded ordnance and significant cultural artifacts.
In light of this rejection, the Army is now weighing its options, which may include appealing the decision or pursuing a land exchange with the state.
Such negotiations cannot commence until the Army finalizes its environmental study and secures approval from the defense secretary’s office for any land acquisitions.
Alice Roberts, U.S. Army Pacific’s program manager for training land retention, acknowledged that informal discussions about land swaps have occurred, focusing on understanding state criteria for such exchanges.
However, buying land presents significant challenges, as it requires the approval of two-thirds of the state House and Senate.
Representative Jill Tokuda expressed the need for the military to take responsibility and improve its stewardship, emphasizing the importance of making amends for past mistakes while addressing current housing shortages.
She highlighted that military personnel account for 14% of Oahu’s housing market, contributing to heightened living costs that push residents out of the community.
Governor Josh Green suggested the possibility of the military acquiring land through eminent domain, but Tokuda mentioned that this approach has yet to be discussed within the military ranks or under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Calls for environmental cleanup have intensified, with Kaialiʻi Kahele, chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, urging the military to clarify potential land swaps while ensuring that training activities minimize impacts on local communities and natural resources.
“We have to get to a point where you do training and then you clean up your mess,” Kahele stated, advocating for a training model that honors the land’s cultural significance.
He expressed a vision for the military’s approach to training that respects both the aina—the land—and the people who hold it dear.
image source from：apnews
