State House Native Hawaiian Caucus, governor discuss military lease negotiations

Members of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives Native Hawaiian Caucus recently met privately with Gov. Josh Green to share their concerns and perspectives regarding ongoing negotiations about military land leases in the islands and potential federal condemnation efforts.

The caucus expressed unified appreciation for Green’s willingness to meet and discuss these complex issues, while underscoring the urgent need for meaningful and continuous consultation with the Native Hawaiian community as the process moves forward.

Members reaffirmed that formal consultation is not symbolic or optional, but a constitutional and statutory obligation grounded in Articles XI and XII of the Hawaiʻi Constitution and laws governing the Public Land Trust.

The state has a clear fiduciary responsibility to safeguard these former lands kept in trust for Native Hawaiians and the people of Hawaiʻi, particularly amid the ongoing federal military lease negotiations and pressure from possible condemnation actions.

Caucus members also noted that recent correspondence between the state and U.S. Army sparked widespread community concern. Members reiterated that decisions affecting public and ceded lands should not be driven by federal timelines or threats of condemnation.

“Our concern is not only about the lands themselves, but about how decisions are being made,” said a joint statement from the House Native Hawaiian Caucus following its meeting with Green. “​​We mahalo the governor for engaging in dialogue, and we urge him to consider his advisory committee as complementary to and not a replacement for meeting his constitutional and statutory consultation requirements — ensuring that Native Hawaiian voices are included at every stage of decision-making.”

The statement added that the message is simple: “The military cannot dictate the terms of stewardship over Hawaiʻi’s lands,” the caucus joint statement said. “These trust lands belong to the people of Hawaiʻi, and the state has a legal and moral duty to protect them.”

Native Hawaiian Caucus members look forward to continued dialogue with the governor, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Advisory Committee for Leased Military Lands and federal representatives.

The caucus remains committed to ensuring that all future decisions honor the state’s fiduciary duties and protect Hawaiʻi’s lands for generations to come.