Though the U.S. Army’s lease on the Garrison at Pohakuloa doesn’t expire until 2029, the military is already conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in anticipation of seeking a renewal for use of the 23,000 acres of state-owned land.
In 1964, the state of Hawaii leased the land to the Army for 65 years and for only $1. In total, the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) covers 133,000 acres, but only the Garrison portion leased from the state is under analysis, Michael Donnelly, a public affairs officer with the Army, told the Big Island Times. However, that portion of the total site holds key training facilities and maneuver land not available elsewhere in the state.
“PTA allows the Army to simulate ground maneuvers with aviation units, which require a tremendous amount of space, practice and coordination,” Donnelly said. “The training area accommodates more than 2,500 troops on the ground, conducting training with other military services, which replicates tough, realistic conditions.”
The strategic location and training conditions not available elsewhere given Hawaii’s place in the Pacific region makes the PTA important for the Army, Donnelly said. It is located in the high plateau between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Hualālai volcanic mountains.
“As the most strategic location in the entire Indo-Pacific region, the training of soldiers in Hawaii allows the Army to respond to fast-developing geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies where the rapid deployment of forces is critical,” he said.
There is also an advantage for those soldiers, and their families, living in the islands, since they can conduct essential training without having to leave the state, Donnelly said.
“In the Indo-Pacific Theater, PTA is the premiere training area for service members and prepares them for the challenges they will face when deployed in harm’s way,” he said. “This training saves soldiers’ lives and reduces their time away from home by allowing them to train locally.”
The entire environmental review process will remain transparent, as well as following all requirements outlined in both the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act (HEPA), Donnelly said. Members of the public who wish to find out more or provide input can visit the Army’s official page for the EIS.