The statement below is from Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi Kahele on the Board of Land and Natural Resources decision regarding the U.S. Army’s Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawaiʻi Island.
“The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supports the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision to reject the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed retention of state lands at Pōhakuloa Training Area. This decision reflects a thorough review of the document’s legal, environmental, and cultural deficiencies, many of which OHA and others identified in public testimony. As the State and Hawaiʻi’s Congressional Delegation consider next steps, OHA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that any future course of action honors the unique legal status of these lands and the trust obligations they carry. These lands are not ordinary—they are part of an unrelinquished legacy. OHA will continue to prioritize protecting the rights and interests of the Native Hawaiian people and preserving the integrity of the public land trust.”
– Kaialiʻi Kahele, OHA Hawaiʻi Island Trustee | Board Chairperson
