HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

128

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the united states army to cease live-fire military training exercises at makua military reservation.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Makua Valley, located near Kaena Point on the western coast of Oahu, is considered sacred by many native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, Makua Military Reservation (Military Reservation), which is situated in Makua Valley, extends west from the ridgeline of the Waianae Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and is located approximately three miles north of the town of Makaha; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Military Reservation consists of 4,856 acres in a combination of fee simple, ceded, and leased lands; and

 

     WHEREAS, use of Makua Valley by the United States Army was first granted in May 1943 by the Territory of Hawaii through Revocable Permit No. 200; and

 

     WHEREAS, on August 17, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order No. 11666 (Executive Order), which set aside for the use of the United States most of the area that composes the Military Reservation; and

 

     WHEREAS, with respect to the portion of the Military Reservation not set aside by the Executive Order, a lease agreement was entered into on August 17, 1964, between the Assistant Secretary of the Army and the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaii, whereby the United States government obtained control and use of the remaining area for a period of 65 years, a lease that ends in 2029; and


     WHEREAS, the Military Reservation has been used extensively since 1943 as a live-fire training area and has been subjected to air bombing, ship-to-shore firing, amphibious operations, and live-firing of a variety of infantry and artillery weapons; and

 

     WHEREAS, Makua Valley contains sites of historical and archaeological value as well as endemic species of flora and fauna; and

 

     WHEREAS, the transport of live-fire weapons to and from the Military Reservation poses a danger to neighboring civilian communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, live-fire training exercises use toxic and hazardous chemicals and have ignited wildfires, causing significant damage to the environment; and

 

     WHEREAS, such live-fire training exercises also imperil important historical and archaeological areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, Makua Valley possesses cultural significance for native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to Hawaiian principles of stewardship (kuleana), there is inherent reverence for the land as a living partner in the lives of people; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the United States Army is urged to cease immediately and permanently all live-fire training exercises at the Military Reservation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii's Congressional delegation is respectfully requested to introduce legislation requiring, and support efforts toward, the immediate and permanent cessation of all live-fire training exercises at the Military Reservation; and


     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the United States Army, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, Governor, and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Makua Military Reservation; Cessation of live-fire training