HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.595 2024-2026From:
Sent:
Cc:
Subject:
Malia Marquez
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 4:04 AM
Council Testimony
Kimball, Heather, Kagiwada, Jennifer, Onishi, Dennis; Kierkiewicz, Ashley, Kaaheali'r�.o�
Kleinfelder, Matt; Hustace, James; Galimba, Michelle M.; Villegas, Rebeccattnaba t=
Holeka
Strong Support for Resolution 234-25
Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi and councilmembers,
to
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Mahato for the opportunity to testify. My name is Malia Marquez and I am testifying in strong support of
this resolution urging the State of Hawaii to protect the health and safety of Hawa!'I Island residents by
halting all live -fire exercises and desecration at PohakuLoa Training Area until a full archaeological
inventory survey and Ka Pa'akai analysis are completed, and by rejecting any lease renewals or land
swaps with the military.
For over six decades, the military has used these sacred conservation lands at Pohakuloa—leased for
just $1 in 1964—for destructive training activities. Despite their legal and cultural significance, these
lands have been bombed, burned, and contaminated. More than 1,000 wildfires have been sparked,
endangered species habitats destroyed, and unexploded ordnance and depleted uranium shells
continue to threaten the safety of our people and environment.
The courts have already confirmed that the State has failed to uphold its constitutional duty to monitor
and protect these lands. In Chingv. Case (2019), the Hawai'i Supreme Court found the State breached
its trust obligations by neglecting cleanup and oversight responsibilities at Pohakuloa. These failures
cannot continue.
The Army's own environmental review was rejected by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in May.
The FEIS omitted key cultural and environmental surveys, failed to meaningfully assess contamination
risks to groundwater, and ignored the constitutional requirement to protect Native Hawaiian rights. To
this day, no comprehensive archaeological inventory survey or Ka Pa'akai analysis has been completed,
despite their clear legal mandate.
The Hawaii State Constitution is explicit: these public trust lands must be held for the benefit of Native
Hawaiians and the general public —not for military destruction. Article XII, Section 7 further mandates
protection of Native Hawaiian cultural and religious practices. Continuing live -fire exercises in violation
of these constitutional protections is unacceptable.
Before any discussion of lease renewal or land swaps, the military must first finance and complete a
comprehensive cleanup, restoration, and bioremediation plan to heal the lands it has degraded.
For all these reasons, I urge the Council to pass this resolution and call upon the State to honor its
constitutional, cultural, and environmental responsibilities to protect Pohakuloa for present and future
generations. C r
Comm. v .7
1 Ref. To:
Ref. Date_=.-�a�S
Approving Resolution 234-25 sends a powerful message that Hawai'i County stands with its people —
families, communities, cultural practitioners, and environmental stewards who have long raised
concerns about PTA's short- and long-term impacts.
It signals that Hawaii County will no longer accept unilateral military decisions that compromise our
land, culture, and health without meaningful engagement, cleanup commitments, and legal compliance
with public trust obligations.
Me ka ha'aha'a,
Malia Lum-Kawaihoa Marquez
Maunalua, O'ahu
**Mai Poina (Don't forget),
Kapukaki (Red Hill). We are still dealingwith that here in Oahu.