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Speakers call for full return of Makua Valley, $500 million endowment and binding cleanup commitments
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Summary
During OHA’s Waiʻanae presentation, residents and community leaders urged complete return of Makua Valley and other leased lands, proposed a $500 million endowment for cleanup and stewardship, and recounted long-running legal and cultural claims; testimony included allegations about contamination and calls for transparent valuation and legislative oversight.
Community commenters at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs meeting pressed for the full return of Makua Valley and other military-leased lands and demanded clear, enforceable commitments for cleanup and compensation before any new long-term leases are approved.
Former Marine James Cowles told trustees he did not accept proposals to return only a portion of Makua: "I want the whole valley returned back to where it belongs," he said, adding that the military should provide funds so community members can lead remediation. Another speaker, identified in the meeting as a community elder, urged an endowment from the military of at least $500 million to fund a multi-decade cleanup and stewardship plan.
Speakers recounted decades of activism and legal history, including Kahoolawe and prior court actions, and pointed to pending federal and state processes: the Board of Land and Natural Resources' review of EIS filings, lease expirations in 2028–2031, and federal statutes such as the Admissions Act and Public Law 88-233. OHA presenters referenced HR 7130 (the Leandra Vai Act, as cited in the meeting) as an example congressional blueprint for broader restitution and remediation.
Several commenters raised environmental-health concerns. Louella Leonardi described alleged contamination and called for a "downwinders" approach to research and remediation; she said community members have observed heavy-metal and depleted-uranium contamination in areas near training ranges and asked for scientific sampling and a public investigation. OHA acknowledged these claims and said it will pursue follow-up interviews and documentation to better capture cultural and environmental impacts reported by residents.
Speakers also pressed for legislative fixes to state law (HRS 171-95) so exchanges or permanent alienation of public trust land would require a higher level of legislative oversight. OHA agreed that strengthening legislative review for exchanges exceeding a specified acreage would be a priority to discuss in the coming legislative session.
The public comment period closed with OHA reiterating planned next steps: form the permitted interaction group, send consultation requests to service secretaries, compile survey and interview data, and continue statewide engagements to refine strategy. Community speakers stressed coordinated legal, legislative and grassroots approaches going forward.
