Hawaii County committee urges state to press military to stop bombing Pohakuloa and reject lease renewals

The Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management voted Aug. 19 to send Resolution 234-25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation, urging the State of Hawaii to ask the U.S. military to cease live-fire bombing at the Pohakuloa Training Area, reject land swaps and lease renewals without strict stipulations, and require a Kapa‘akai analysis of the area.

The measure drew more than three hours of public testimony from residents, cultural practitioners, environmental advocates and youth before the committee vote in Kailua-Kona. Council member Rebecca Villegas, the resolution’s maker, said after testimony, "Now is the time," and asked colleagues to move the item forward to full council. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote: eight ayes, Council member Heather Kimball excused.

Why it matters: Testimony described Pohakuloa as culturally and ecologically significant and raised concerns about unexploded ordnance, contamination and wildfire risk tied to military training. Multiple speakers cited a May…