A County Council committee voted 8-0 on Tuesday to support a resolution regarding the Pohakuloa Training Area, sending the measure to the full council for further discussion.
Councilwoman Heather Kimball was excused from the vote.
The nonbinding resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas, urges the state to call for an immediate halt to “bombing and desecration activities” at PTA, citing concerns over environmental damage, wildfire risks and impacts on Native Hawaiian cultural rights.
Resolution No. 234-25 also calls for the state to reject any military land swaps or lease renewals involving PTA unless provisions are made for cleanup, restoration and bioremediation. It also urges a full ka pa‘akai analysis, a legal review required to assess the impact of government actions on Native Hawaiian cultural practices.
During Tuesday’s committee meeting, Villegas apologized for not having specific amendments ready for review, explaining that she had considered withdrawing the resolution and introducing a new one. She noted, however, that she spent significant time researching and communicating her findings to fellow council members and the public. Among the documents she submitted was one from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources outlining their “determinations of denial of the final environmental impact statement.”
Villegas also emphasized that the primary goal of the resolution is to encourage the state to cease all bombing, live-fire exercises, and to reject any land swaps or lease renewals at PTA.
The meeting was marked by passionate public testimony, with many residents, young and old, voicing strong support for the resolution.
The issue of military activities at PTA is polarizing, but all the testifiers Tuesday were in unanimous favor of the resolution. Public testimony lasted more than two hours, and many of those who spoke expressed the urgency of stopping live-fire activities, cleaning up unexploded ordnance, and addressing the contamination left by decades of military exercises.
“The last couple of hours had me in tears,” Villegas said. “Had me deeply humbled, wildly grateful, inspired, and radically hopeful, now is the time.”
Several testifiers emphasized the importance of halting wildfires caused or worsened by military activities, not only for the health of current residents but also for future generations. One individual, who shared their personal experience, described the lasting health effects they said they still feel from past exposure to PTA’s conditions. Many others, including students as young as middle school age, stressed the significance of returning the land to the Hawaiian people and conducting a thorough ka pa‘akai analysis to protect Native Hawaiian cultural practices.
“I think sometimes we get stuck on words or the nitty-gritty of things, but I think conceptually, this resolution should be a no-brainer for us,” council Chair Holeka Inaba said. “And if it’s not, some reflection should probably be taken to understand where your perspective comes from and how that aligns with the voices of our community and the needs of our people.”
The resolution points to the use of white phosphorus and depleted uranium at PTA as contributing to public health and safety risks. It references the 2019 Hawaii Supreme Court ruling in Ching v. Case, which found the state failed to monitor military compliance with lease terms and environmental responsibilities.
In May, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected the U.S. Army’s final environmental impact statement seeking to extend its PTA lease, set to expire in 2029.
Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has publicly called for a faster timeline in negotiations over military land leases in Hawaii, stressing the strategic importance of these lands for training and regional defense. Driscoll met with Gov. Josh Green in July to discuss the urgency of resolving lease negotiations in the coming months, rather than waiting until the leases near expiration.
Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz voiced strong concern Tuesday over the Army’s push for speed, stating, “Please respect the fact that you are operating in our home. Our resources here are limited. We cannot undo the damage that has already been done. It is a privilege to operate here. … If you want to do business in Hawaii, it is an ongoing relationship that you continuously need to cultivate and not take for granted.”
The council’s Policy Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Management first discussed the resolution on July 22 but postponed a vote until Tuesday’s meeting.
If approved, copies of the resolution will be sent to Mayor Kimo Alameda, Gov. Green, members of the state Legislature, Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson Dawn Chang, and Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Email Daniel Farr at dfarr@hawaiitribune-herald.com.