Voice your opinions, concerns through new website on future of U.S. Army leases in Hawai‘i

A new government website was launched to keep residents informed on the future of U.S. Army land leases in Hawaiʻi that are set to expire in 2029.

According to a new release from Gov. Josh Green’s office, the site will provide updates on key developments involving leases on Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu and give people the chance to provide their perspectives and opinions on the matter.

Click here to visit the site.

“Decisions about Hawai‘i’s lands are decisions about our future,” said Governor Green. “The Army’s current leases expire in 2029, and while federal leaders have emphasized national security concerns, they’ve also indicated they could act through eminent domain, which would leave Hawai‘i with nothing in return. We must stand firm and ensure our people’s voices are at the center of these negotiations.”

The Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected the Army’s Final Environmental Impact Statements for both Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island earlier this year.

In response, the Army issued its Record of Decision for Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawai‘i Island in late-July, which states that based on the analysis of the Army Training land Retention at Pohakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement, the United States Army has decided to pursue retention of 19,700 acres of land.

A Record of Decision was issued in early August for O‘ahu training lands, where the Army has decided to pursue retention of 450 acres of land at Kahuku Training Area.

Department of Land and Natural Resources is working with the Army to ensure all legal requirements are met while considering next steps to achieve the best possible outcome for the people of Hawaiʻi.

At launch, Engage.Hawaii.gov provides residents with access to background materials and updates on lease discussions. The website will also provide issue-specific pages where users can track proposals, review formal documents and see how community input is being incorporated into decisions.

Over time, the site will expand beyond land leases to cover other major statewide initiatives such as the Green Fee, climate resilience efforts and policies on housing, healthcare and more. The goal is to build a central hub for transparency and participation, where residents can engage directly with the state government on issues that affect them most.

“Our goal is to make government more open, accessible and collaborative,” Green said. “Engage.Hawaii.gov is a place where residents can share their manaʻo and help shape solutions for Hawai‘i’s future. This is just the beginning — as the site grows, so will the opportunities for our community to be heard.”