Army seeks comment on proposal continue Pohakuloa land lease
HONOLULU — The U.S. Army on Friday said it was seeking comment on its proposal to continue to use state lands on Hawaii’s Big Island for training.
The Army has prepared a draft environmental impact statement regarding 23,000 acres of state land it wants to continue leasing at Pohakuloa Training Area. It’s accepting public comment on the study through June 7.
The training area is the largest contiguous live-fire range and maneuver training area in Hawaii. It’s located between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Hualalai.
The state lands the Army wants to continue leasing amount to about 17% of the training area’s 132,000 acres. The Army currently has a 65-year lease for the land due to expire in 2029.
The environmental study is available for review online and at Big Island public libraries in Hilo, Kailua-Kona and Waimea and at the Hawaii State Library in Honolulu.
Public comment may be submitted online, by email and U.S. mail. They will be accepted in person at two meetings scheduled to be held on the Big Island this month.
The first will be at the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo on April 25. The second will be at Waimea District Park in Waimea on April 26.
U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii will broadcast the public meetings on its YouTube channel.