HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.497 2024-2026Environmental Caucus of
The Democratic Party of Hawaii
Ha Email: councilremotetestimony(@hawaiicounty.gov
September 1, 2025
To: Chair: Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Councilmembers: Jenn Kagiwada, Michelle M. Galimba,
James E. Hustace, Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Heather L. Kimball,
Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, and Rebecca Villegas o
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Hearing Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025 ze, V
Time: 9:00 AM HST i G
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Location: Hilo Council Chambers, Hawaii County 1
Building 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawaii
From: Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party a"
Subject: Written Testimony in Strong Support of Resolution 234-25 - Cease Bombing and
Desecration at Pohakuloa Training Area
Aloha Chair Inaba and Honorable Councilmembers,
We submit this testimony on behalf of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Parry
of Hawaii in strong and unwavering support of Resolution 234-25, urging the State of Hawaii
to demand a cessation of all bombing, desecration, and military degradation at Pohakuloa
Training Area (PTA).
Pohakuloa is not merely land —it is sacred `aina, a storied and revered landscape nestled
at the foot of Maunakea, which Native Hawaiians have long honored as a spiritual and cultural
pike. The continued military use of PTA desecrates this wahi pana and violates the public trust.
We affirm that:
The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) formally rejected the U.S. Army's
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on May 9, 2025, citing its failure to
adequately address archaeological, ecological, and cultural harms.
The Hawaii State Constitutional Convention of 1978 established the Public Trust and the
Office of Hawaiian Affairs, affirming the State's fiduciary duty to protect public lands for
the benefit of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii.
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Ref. To:
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The Hawaii Supreme Court ruling in Ching v Case (August 23, 2019) held that the State
breached its trust duties by failing to monitor military use of ceded lands at PTA. The
Court found that the training area was littered with military debris, including unexploded
ordnance and depleted uranium, and that the U.S. Army had failed to clean up its. military
waste as required under the lease. The ruling mandated that the State develop and execute
a plan for regular inspections and active oversight, affirming that trust lands must not be
passively allowed to fall into min.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) confirmed the presence
of depleted uranium from Cold War -era M101 spotiing rounds at PTA„used between
1962 and 1968. This contamination poses long-term risks to soil, water, and public
health.
The Democratic Party of Hawaii passed its own resolution in May 2024 calling for the
protection of Pohakuloa and the cessation of military activities that harm the land, water,
and cultural practices.
Resolution 234-25 is a principled and necessary stand. It calls for:
A full Ka Pa`akai analysis to assess impacts on Native Hawaiian cultural practices
Rejection of lease renewals and land swaps unless full cleanup and restoration are
guaranteed
An end to the militarization of sacred lands
This resolution is not symbolic —it is a legal and moral imperative. It affirms our duty to
protect the land, honor cultural practices, and uphold the public trust.
We urge the Council to pass Resolution 234-25 and stand firmly with the community, the
land, and the legacy we are entrusted to protect.
Mahalo nui loa for your leadership and commitment to justice.
In solidarity,
Alan Burdick, Co -Chair, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii
Burdick808(a,gmail.conr
Mike Ewall, Co -Chair, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii
mike(@,energviustice.net
Melodic Aduja, Co -Chair Emerita, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Parry of
Hawaii
Legislativet)riorities(@,gmail.com