HONOLULU – In a significant decision following hours of passionate public testimony, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has voted against accepting the United States Army’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed continued use of state-owned lands at Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawaiʻi Island. The decision casts uncertainty on the Army’s long-term presence at the controversial training site.
The BLNR’s decision, made on May 9, 2025, stems from concerns raised by the Land Division on behalf of multiple DLNR divisions. Key issues cited included an incomplete inventory of archaeological sites, a lack of comprehensive data and analysis regarding endangered biological resources, and inadequate consultation for the Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA).
“This is probably one of the most important and most difficult decisions that the Land Board has had to make.” stated DLNR Chair Dawn Chang. “After reviewing 3 volumes of the FEIS and considering hours of oral testimony written comments, the board members’ decision not to accept the Army’s FEIS was based upon the inadequacy of the FEIS. This decision was not about the merits of whether the Army should not conduct training in Hawai’i, but whether the FEIS provided the public and the land board adequate information to make an informed decision about the environmental impacts of the proposed action.”
The State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) further highlighted the presence of significant historic and cultural properties, including ʻiwi kupuna (ancestral remains), within the live-fire impact area, which is federal land only accessible via state property. SHPD concluded the Army had not performed due diligence in surveying archaeological sites at PTA, leaving the potential impact to cultural and archaeological sites unknown. The FEIS, according to SHPD, failed to adequately address the potential repercussions to these resources if the state land retention were approved. The Army has acknowledged that ceasing use of state land would end live-fire activity at PTA.
The DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) also emphasized that the military use of the land is inconsistent with allowable uses within a Conservation District. The Army’s EIS did not explore alternative options to address this concern, such as reclassifying the land use.
Critics also pointed to a lack of meaningful consultation with the Aha Moku council, despite repeated recommendations from DLNR Chair Chang. SHPD echoed concerns about the CIA, urging the Army to conduct more individual interviews with those holding cultural connections to PTA.
The Army’s current lease for 23,000 acres of state-owned land at PTA is set to expire in 2029. While this decision doesn’t authorize any land use, it serves as a crucial decision point in the process, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach to impact assessment.