Governor Josh Green has raised concerns that without a compromise, the federal government could take control of state land in Hawaiʻi.
In a letter to Governor Green, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll emphasized the importance of finalizing a deal by the end of the year to maintain the Army’s access to thousands of acres of land for training purposes on Oʻahu and the Big Island.
Driscoll mentioned that part of the negotiations could include land exchanges, although he did not provide specific details.
These discussions come on the heels of a setback earlier this year when the state land board rejected environmental studies necessary for the military to retain leases for training lands that have been active since 1965.
The leased lands include sites in Waiʻanae, the North Shore, and the Pōhakuloa artillery range on Hawaiʻi island, which military officials deem essential for addressing rising threats from China and Russia.
Governor Green has expressed his desire for a ‘fair deal’ from the federal government regarding the use of these lands.
In a recent statement, however, he acknowledged that Hawaiʻi might have limited leverage in negotiations, as federal leaders have indicated they could utilize eminent domain to seize the land if necessary, without providing compensation.
“Federal leaders have stated there are national security considerations at stake and they’ve made clear they could act through eminent domain, which would take the land without giving Hawaiʻi anything in return,” Green said in his news release.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, he added, “We in Hawai‘i know the best path is always through collaboration which acknowledges our values.”
In addition to discussing the use of military training lands, Governor Green called for the return of state lands in Mākua and insisted that the military take responsibility for cleaning up contaminated areas.
He also seeks commitments from the federal government to develop housing in Hawaiʻi and transfer lands to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which works to provide housing for Native Hawaiians.
However, this agency has faced challenges due to a shortage of funding and available land.
“While some may say we are being too accommodating, the truth is this path ensures that Hawaiʻi’s people and values come first,” Governor Green emphasized.
He continued, “By negotiating firmly and fairly, we can secure real benefits for our future while maintaining national security.”
The specifics of what the negotiations might yield, whether in terms of land or funding, remain unclear.
Both officials have been cautious to avoid overpromising; Driscoll’s letter and Green’s statement lacked detailed projections.
Currently, the federal government owns over 829,000 acres in Hawaiʻi, accounting for approximately 20% of the state’s land.
Most of this land consists of nature preserves or active military bases, with some areas occupied by military families.
In recent years, the Army has decreased its use of state lands by ending live-fire training and mostly focusing on aircraft exercises.
However, the Pōhakuloa Training Area remains critical for long-range artillery training, being the only facility of its kind in the Pacific.
In his letter, Driscoll warned that losing access to these training areas would “create a vulnerability that we, as a nation, cannot afford.”
As negotiations are ongoing, Green’s office plans to issue a formal response to the Army in the coming weeks and will make relevant documents public through a new website.
image source from：civilbeat
