The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday not to accept the U.S. Army’s Final Environmental Impact Statement for continued use of state-owned lands on and around which the controversial Pohakuloa Training Area is situated. 

“This is probably one of the most important and most difficult decisions that the Land Board has had to make,” said Department of Land and Natural Resources chair Dawn Chang. “After reviewing three volumes of the FEIS and considering hours of oral testimony (and) written comments, the board members’ decision not to accept the Army’s FEIS was based upon the inadequacy of the FEIS. This decision was not about the merits of whether the Army should not conduct training in Hawaii, but whether the FEIS provided the public and the land board adequate information to make an informed decision about the environmental impacts of the proposed action.”

During the process, DLNR’s Land Division raised numerous concerns about the FEIS, including what it considered an incomplete inventory of archeological sites, lack of data and analysis regarding endangered biological resources and inadequate consultation for the cultural impact statement.

The State Historic Preservation Division affirmed the presence of historic and cultural properties, including iwi kupuna (ancestral remains), within the live-fire impact area. While the area is on federal land, that land can only be accessed via state-owned property. DLNR noted that the assessment did not include potential repercussions to these resources as a result of the retention of the state-owned lands.

The Army was also criticized for following Chang’s repeated recommendations to consult with an Aha Moku council, which helps manage natural resources in ways that balance traditional Hawaiian traditions with modern Western techniques. SHPD similarly found the cultural impact assessment to be insufficient and had urged the Army to individually interview a larger number of people with cultural connections to the area,

The DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands further noted that the military’s live-fire exercises are not consistent with allowable uses of a conservation district and that the Army did not suggest alternatives, such as moving PTA out of the Conservation District into a more appropriate district designation, within the FEIS.

“I respect the Board’s decision and the community voices that guide it,” said Gov. Josh Green. “Military members who utilize this area to train for local and national security and emergency missions are our neighbors, our children’s classmates and often our own ohana. While the rejection of the Final EIS presents challenges, it is not the end of the conversation. We remain committed to finding new paths that protect Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources while supporting national security. This is a time for collaboration, not division, as we seek balanced solutions that honor both our heritage and our future.”

DLRN emphasized that an EIS “intended to support informed decision-making and does not, by itself, authorize any land use.”

The Army’s current lease for 23,000 acres of state-owned land at PTA will expire in 2029. No decision has been made on a new long-term lease request. A separate review and determination will be required should such a request be brought before the board in the future.

Like Green, the state’s Congressional delegation expressed hope that a long-term deal can be reached.

“From the beginning of this important process, we have encouraged the collaboration and dialogue that is required between our state, military, and community,” U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda said in a joint statement released on Friday. “While we acknowledge the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision on this aspect of the issue, we believe there can be a path forward that accounts for the critical importance of Hawaii’s role in our country’s national security strategy and fundamentally respects and responds to the needs of the people of Hawaii. We will continue working with Governor Green, Department of Defense leadership, and community members to support and encourage continued dialogue as discussions continue toward a mutually acceptable result.”

BLNR’s decision was hailed by local environmental groups, including the Sierra Club of Hawaii, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and the Center for Biological Diversity.

Maxx Phillips, Hawaii and Pacific Islands director and staff attorney for CBD, called it “a win for truth, for science and for the people of Hawaii.”

“The board saw through the Army’s hollow promises and recognized that you can’t make informed decisions about protecting endangered species, sacred sites or clean water when you refuse to even do baseline surveys,” Phillip said. “This vote is a powerful affirmation that the future of these lands must be decided with integrity, not rubber-stamped based on incomplete and misleading information.”

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs also supported the BLNR decision to reject the FEIS.

“This decision reflects a thorough review of the document’s legal, environmental and cultural deficiencies, many of which OHA and others identified in public testimony,” said OHA chair Kaialii Kahele. “As the State and Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation consider next steps, OHA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that any future course of action honors the unique legal status of these lands and the trust obligations they carry. These lands are not ordinary — they are part of an unrelinquished legacy. OHA will continue to prioritize protecting the rights and interests of the Native Hawaiian people and preserving the integrity of the public land trust.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.