HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0377.597 2024-2026From:
Karen Martin
Sent:
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 12:01 PM
To:
Council Testimony
,
^
a c)
Subject:
PROTECT POHAKULOA
�a
o <
'Ic—
Aloha Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi and councilmember.'s,:
My name is Mahealani Martin, and I am testifying in strong
support of this resolution urging the State of Hawaii to protect
the health and safety of Hawaii Island residents by ceasing all
live -fire exercises at P6hakuloa 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 P6hakuloa—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. In the entire time they
occupied PTA, the Army has given the people of Hawai'i
NO indication they, will ever be good stewards.
The courts have already confirmed that the State has failed to
uphold its constitutional duty to monitor and protect these lands.
In Ching v. Case (2019), the Hawaii Supreme Court found the
State breached its trust obligations by neglecting cleanup and
oversight responsibilities at P6hakuloa. These failures cannot
continue.
Comm.
Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date - Ys202'5
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.
Approving Resolution 234-25 sends a powerful message that
Hawaii 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.
One more thing, without a Treaty of Annexation your presence here in the islands is nothing more than war
crimes Under Kingdom law you have violated the Treaties which constitutes treason and the penalty for your
actions will be death. This is for the U.S. Corporation, U.S. Military Corporation, State of Hawaii Corporation,
City and County of Honolulu Corporation and the Counties Corporations. THE HULI IS HEREIN
GTH,
Mahealani Martin
Honolulu; Hawaii
2