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Hawaii County committee urges state to press military to stop bombing Pohakuloa and reject lease renewals
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Summary
After hours of public testimony, the county policy committee voted to recommend adoption of Resolution 234-25, urging the State to seek a halt to live-fire bombing at the Pohakuloa Training Area, reject land swaps and lease renewals without strict stipulations, and require a Kapa‘akai analysis.
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 decision by the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) rejecting the Army’s final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and warned that a lease renewal or land swap would continue long-term risks to water, native species and cultural sites. Several witnesses noted news reports that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Governor Josh Green discussed fast-tracking a deal; speakers pointed to that reporting as a reason for the council to make a public statement now.
What the resolution asks: Resolution 234-25 urges the state to (1) ensure the health and safety of Hawaii Island residents by requesting the military cease bombing and desecration at Pohakuloa Training Area; (2) reject land swaps and lease renewals unless strict stipulations are established; and (3) conduct a Kapa‘akai analysis (a culturally focused review) of the area before any further actions. The committee reading of the resolution recorded a motion by Council member Rebecca Villegas, seconded by Council member Fred Onishi, to recommend adoption and forward it to full council.
Public testimony highlights: Speakers came from across generations and islands. Jim Albertini, president of Malu Aina Community Organization, said, "Bombing is desecration. Polluting the air, land, and water with deadly military toxins is desecration." Sixteen-year-old Kamama Lukilian, who identified herself as a junior at Kaumike Public Charter School, said she supports the resolution and warned: "If Pohakuloa gets leased to the military once more, I will be 81 before the lease is up." Many other residents, kupuna and community groups urged rejecting lease renewals and land swaps and demanded full cleanup and independent cultural and environmental reviews.
Committee discussion and next steps: Committee members across the dais described the vote as a statement of community concern rather than an enforcement action the county can unilaterally impose. Several members, including Vice Chair Jen Kaguewada and Council member Ashley Kirkowitz, said they supported forwarding the resolution so the county’s position is on record while acknowledging that lease and land-swap authority reside at the state and federal level. Corporation counsel advised there were no legal impediments to the county adopting and sending the urging resolution to state leaders.
Context and outstanding questions: Testimony and committee materials cited BLNR’s denial of the Army FEIS and court rulings such as Ching v. Case that have shaped state oversight of military lands. Witnesses and committee members noted multiple outstanding technical questions identified by BLNR and others: whether a Kapa‘akai analysis has been completed, inventories of unexploded ordnance and depleted uranium, cumulative impacts and greenhouse-gas assessments, and inventories and disposition plans for iwi kūpuna. Several testifiers and members referenced reporting that Army officials sought to conclude negotiations quickly; committee members said those developments made it more important for county leaders to register local concerns.
The full County Council will consider Resolution 234-25 at a future meeting after committee transmittal. The committee’s vote was recorded as a favorable recommendation to the full council.
