Gov. Green forms committee to guide him in discussions on Hawai‘i military-leased lands

Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green announced the members of his Advisory Committee who will provide guidance related to ongoing discussions on military-leased lands.

Mostly made up of Native Hawaiians, the committee encompasses individuals from state government and the private sector. Members include:

• William “Bill” Ailā, Jr., member, Hui Mālama ‘O Mākua
• Scott Glenn, Office of the Governor facilitator
• Ryan Kanaka‘ole, deputy director, Department of Land and Natural Resources
• Kūhiō Lewis, CEO, Hawaiian Council
• Laurie McAllister Moore, executive director, Military and Community Relations Office
• Mahina Paishon-Duarte, co-founder, Waiwai Collective
• Ed Sniffen, director, Hawai‘i Department of Transportation
• Summer Sylva, interim administrator, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• Kali Watson, director, Department of Hawaiian Homelands
• Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, Ph.D., executive director, Lālākea Foundation

The group is charged with advising Green on cultural, natural and economic strategies regarding lands currently leased by the U.S. Army on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island that are set to expire in 2029.

Members of the committee serve as unpaid volunteers and do not require Senate confirmation.

Following the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ rejection of the Army’s Final Environmental Impact Statements earlier this year, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll has indicated that the Army will possibly move toward condemnation. The state of Hawai‘i has learned that the offices of the U.S. Army Secretary and the U.S. Department of Justice have begun consultations on the Army’s legal right of condemnation for training lands in Hawai‘i.

The next steps, should the Army proceed, include joint negotiations, federal funding for cultural and environmental restoration and support for critical infrastructure projects that will provide benefits to communities and national defense in the form of access and military fire response.

The Governor’s office transmitted a formal proposal to Secretary Driscoll on Oct. 29 outlining Hawaiʻi’s priorities, including:

• Environmental remediation and land restoration
• Increased access for cultural and community organizations
• Federal investment in local infrastructure and workforce opportunities that would provide benefits to both Hawaiʻi residents and national defense.
• The Governor emphasized that these discussions must proceed transparently, guided by those of Native Hawaiian ancestry and community voices, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

“Hawaiʻi stands at an important crossroads — between national security and cultural stewardship; between federal authority and our responsibility to care for cultural and natural resources,” Green said. “We respect the role of the U.S. military in defending our islands and our entire nation, but that role must coexist with our values and our commitment to the people who call these islands home.”

The committee will advise Green on desired next steps to achieve the best possible outcome for the people of Hawaiʻi. Should the Army elect to pursue condemnation, the committee will guide the Governor on a path forward that will deliver immediate and long-term benefits that reflect the true environmental and cultural costs of continued federal use of our lands.

Updates and opportunities for public input will continue to be made available at https://engage.hawaii.gov/.