US EditionHawaii land board vote deals setback to Army at key combat training ground in Pacific theater
- On May 9, 2025, Hawaii’s land management authority voted 5-1 to disapprove the Army’s final environmental impact statement concerning the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island.
- The rejection followed concerns that the statement had significant legal, environmental, and cultural data gaps, including issues with endangered species, cultural sites, and groundwater safety.
- Pohakuloa is a rare sub-alpine tropical dryland forest and habitat to native species; the state parcel lies between federally owned land and is designated a conservation district inconsistent with military use.
- Maxx Phillips emphasized that without conducting initial environmental assessments, it is impossible to effectively safeguard endangered species, culturally important locations, and water quality, highlighting widespread public concern expressed during the extensive testimony.
- Following the vote, the Army is observing a 30-day waiting period before deciding how much land to seek to retain, indicating ongoing negotiations amid calls to balance military readiness with cultural and environmental stewardship.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Land Board rejects Pohakuloa EIS but lease negotiations to move ahead
The U.S. Army hit a speed bump in its effort to retain training land in Hawaii with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources voting to reject its final environmental impact statement on its proposal to keep a state-owned parcel at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island. The ruling is an embarrassing setback for the Army after years of working on the document and submitting several drafts since 2022. The many hours of public comment fr…
Feds may 'seize land' in Hawaii for Army training, governor warns
Gov. Josh Green (D-Hawaii) recently warned that the federal government could “use nuclear options” and “seize land” after the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected the U.S. Army’s final environmental impact statement for its lease at Pohakuloa, which the Army uses for live-fire training. According to Hawaii New Now, the state’s rejection of the Army’s environmental impact statement does not mean that the Army’s attempt to secure a …
Army hits setback as Hawaii board votes to reject environmental study
HONOLULU — Hawaii’s land board rejected the Army’s environmental impact statement to retain land on the Big Island used for live-fire training, a vote some Native Hawaiian leaders say reflects a growing distrust of the U.S. military in the islands. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday after members considered voluminous written testimony and listened to hours of oral comments, including from many in the Native Hawaiian comm…
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Hawaii land board vote rejecting environmental study deals setback to Army combat training
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s land board rejected the Army’s environmental impact statement to retain land on the Big Island used for live-fire training, a vote some Native Hawaiian leaders say reflects a growing distrust of the U.S. military in the…
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