HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.111 2024-2026From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Edward Codelia
Thursday, August 14, 2025 1:30 PM
Council Testimony
Pohakuloa
Testimony of Edward Codelia
Independent Candidate — Hawai`i's 2nd Congressional District (2026)
Aloha mai kakou,
I stand firmly in opposition to the continued military use of P6hakuloa Training Area and
demand the return of these sacred lands to the people of Hawaii.
Here's why:
1. Unjust Origins
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson seized over 84,000 acres, and the State of
Hawaii leased 23.000 acres of conservation land for just $1 — a decision made
without proper public consent or fair compensation.
2. Broken Fiduciary Duty
Decades ago, DLNR violated its trust obligation by approving this lease without
regard for the environmental, cultural, or spiritual value of `a —ma, in violation of
Hawai`i's public trust principles.
3. BLNR's September 2025 Vote
The board rightly rejected the Army's FEIS due to its failure to assess endangered
species, iwi kupuna, or the appropriate conservation framework for these lands.
4. Sacred Land & Cultural Sovereignty
Pohakuloa lies on ceded land that belongs to all of Hawaii. It is home to
endangered species and holds ancestral importance. -Continued bombing desecrates
our heritage and harms our environment.
5. Demand for Accountability & Restoration
It is past time for:
• An immediate end to live -fire bombing;
• Military withdrawal and full return of this land to Haw0lrnm. V?fi
5 Rei. To:
1 Ref. Date
o Compensation to Hawaii County and affected Native communities;
Public accountability for those who authorized these leases without consent.
This is about justice, cultural integrity, and restoring stewardship to Hawai`i's people.
You must act now.
Mahalo ...
Edward Code]ia,
Direct: 808-283-8288
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