Hawai'i Has a Rare Opportunity to Reclaim Land From the US Military

"Aerial view of Pearl Harbor, a deep water U.S. naval base and headquarters of the U.S. Pacific fleet, taken circa 2012.Since 1964, the U.S. military has leased roughly 47,000 acres of land from the State of Hawai'i - for a token $1. The leases, which account for 18 percent of military lands in Hawai'i, are set to expire in 2029, offering Hawai'i a rare opportunity to reclaim land from the war machine."

"But that decision may arrive sooner than 2029: Allegedly faced with pressure from federal officials to fast-track lease renewals by the end of this year, Democratic Gov. Josh Green signed a statement of principles in September with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll expressing the intention to "explore the feasibility of land use that aligns national security and Army readiness needs with the State's priorities for public benefit.""

"Native Hawaiian groups swiftly condemned the move in a September 2 statement signed by 40 organizations. They opposed fast-tracking the leases and pointed out that Green and Driscoll sidestepped federal and state statutes that require a thorough review - a process the Army and Navy had already failed to complete earlier that year. After mounting pressure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, state legislators, and numerous environmental and civic organizations, Green walked back the end-of-year deadline and extended the negotiation timeline into 2026."

Since 1964 the U.S. military has leased roughly 47,000 acres from the State of Hawai'i for $1, representing 18 percent of military lands in Hawai'i. Those leases are set to expire in 2029, creating an opportunity for the state to reclaim land for community well-being, environmental sustainability, and economic self-determination. Alleged federal pressure to fast-track renewals led Gov. Josh Green to sign a statement of principles with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and propose a $10 billion plan including community benefits, raising eminent domain concerns. Native Hawaiian and civic organizations condemned the fast-track effort and successfully pressured an extension of negotiations into 2026.

Read at Truthout