TESTIMONY NEEDED! Support HCR207/HR199 before 9 a.m., March 21, 2025.
Tens of thousands of acres of public trust lands - stolen from the Hawaiian Kingdom - have been leased to the U.S. military for the better part of a century, for a mere $1 in lease rent.
Now that these leases are ending, the military is seeking their renewal - promising that "the days of $1 rents are over." So what is the appropriate price for any continued military occupation of Hawaiʻi's public trust lands?
As lease negotiations may be imminent - or occurring behind the scenes, as we speak - shouldn't the public first know what these public lands and sacred spaces are actually worth? Shouldn't we understand what we may be taking away from our children and future generations if we allow the continued military occupation of these lands?
HCR207 and HR199 seek answers to these important questions: What are the costs of military use, to the trust purposes these lands are supposed to be used for - including housing, education, agriculture, and the betterment of the conditions of native Hawaiians? What would it cost to clean up the UXO, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals from military activities, and what would it cost to restore and prepare these lands to meet our and our future generations' needs? What income did the "state" lose out on during the last half century, when these lands were leased for just $1 - including lost fair market lease rent and tax revenues?
These resolutions also urge much more transparency in any lease negotiations, to include public hearings, community consultation, and stakeholder engagement - so that we, the people of Hawaiʻi nei, can ensure and be assured that there will be no more selling out of our and our future generations' rights and interests, as we consider whether and how to allow any continued military use of our limited land base.
Support these resolutions TODAY, and ask your friends to do the same!
Learn more about the environmental, public health, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts of these leases:
No More Military Leases: Building a Future Grounded in Hope
Pōhakuloa: Now That You Know, Do You Care?
Puʻuhonua: Sanctuary and Struggle at Mākua
Mālama Mākua
How to Testify:
1. Go to capitol.hawaii.gov and sign up for/log in to your account.
2. Click "Submit Testimony."
3. Enter "HCR207."
4. Select "Yes" when it asks if you want to submit identical testimony for HR199.
5. Type in your name, position (support), and testimony (feel free to copy and paste the below).
6. Indicate if you would like to testify orally via zoom or in person (Hawaiʻi State Capitol room 411 at 9 a.m.)
7. Share this action alert with your friends and networks!
Sample testimony:
Now that these leases are ending, the military is seeking their renewal - promising that "the days of $1 rents are over." So what is the appropriate price for any continued military occupation of Hawaiʻi's public trust lands?
As lease negotiations may be imminent - or occurring behind the scenes, as we speak - shouldn't the public first know what these public lands and sacred spaces are actually worth? Shouldn't we understand what we may be taking away from our children and future generations if we allow the continued military occupation of these lands?
HCR207 and HR199 seek answers to these important questions: What are the costs of military use, to the trust purposes these lands are supposed to be used for - including housing, education, agriculture, and the betterment of the conditions of native Hawaiians? What would it cost to clean up the UXO, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals from military activities, and what would it cost to restore and prepare these lands to meet our and our future generations' needs? What income did the "state" lose out on during the last half century, when these lands were leased for just $1 - including lost fair market lease rent and tax revenues?
These resolutions also urge much more transparency in any lease negotiations, to include public hearings, community consultation, and stakeholder engagement - so that we, the people of Hawaiʻi nei, can ensure and be assured that there will be no more selling out of our and our future generations' rights and interests, as we consider whether and how to allow any continued military use of our limited land base.
Support these resolutions TODAY, and ask your friends to do the same!
Learn more about the environmental, public health, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts of these leases:
No More Military Leases: Building a Future Grounded in Hope
Pōhakuloa: Now That You Know, Do You Care?
Puʻuhonua: Sanctuary and Struggle at Mākua
Mālama Mākua
How to Testify:
1. Go to capitol.hawaii.gov and sign up for/log in to your account.
2. Click "Submit Testimony."
3. Enter "HCR207."
4. Select "Yes" when it asks if you want to submit identical testimony for HR199.
5. Type in your name, position (support), and testimony (feel free to copy and paste the below).
6. Indicate if you would like to testify orally via zoom or in person (Hawaiʻi State Capitol room 411 at 9 a.m.)
7. Share this action alert with your friends and networks!
Sample testimony:
,Aloha Chair Belatti, Vice Chair Iwamoto, and Members of the Public Safety Committee,
I strongly support HCR207/HR199, which seek critical information the public deserves to know, to truly assess the renewal of military leases for tens of thousands of acres of public trust and stolen Hawaiian lands - and what they may cost our children and future generations. I urge you to pass these measures, and please ensure that any decisionmaking on these resolutions occurs with a roll call vote by each committee member.
The Department of Defense and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources have said that the "days of $1 lease rent are over," in discussions regarding the renewal of military leases of public lands - including sacred spaces - all stolen from the Hawaiian Kingdom, and held in trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians and the public. But what do they think these leases are truly worth? More importantly, how will we, the people of Hawaiʻi, ensure we don't sell out our future generations' food security, housing, cultural practices, and economic opportunities in any decision to allow the continued occupation and use - or abuse - of our ʻāina?
As lease negotiations may be imminent, shouldn't the public first know what these public lands and sacred spaces are actually worth? Shouldn't we try to understand what we may be taking away from our children and future generations before we even entertain the continued military use of these lands? These are the reasonable but critical questions that these resolutions will help us find answers to - and that must be answered, before any potential renewal of military leases of our ʻāina.
I urge you to pass HCR207 and HR199, and in any case, to give every committee member the chance to voice their individual support or opposition to these measures in a roll call vote.
Thank you.
I strongly support HCR207/HR199, which seek critical information the public deserves to know, to truly assess the renewal of military leases for tens of thousands of acres of public trust and stolen Hawaiian lands - and what they may cost our children and future generations. I urge you to pass these measures, and please ensure that any decisionmaking on these resolutions occurs with a roll call vote by each committee member.
The Department of Defense and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources have said that the "days of $1 lease rent are over," in discussions regarding the renewal of military leases of public lands - including sacred spaces - all stolen from the Hawaiian Kingdom, and held in trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians and the public. But what do they think these leases are truly worth? More importantly, how will we, the people of Hawaiʻi, ensure we don't sell out our future generations' food security, housing, cultural practices, and economic opportunities in any decision to allow the continued occupation and use - or abuse - of our ʻāina?
As lease negotiations may be imminent, shouldn't the public first know what these public lands and sacred spaces are actually worth? Shouldn't we try to understand what we may be taking away from our children and future generations before we even entertain the continued military use of these lands? These are the reasonable but critical questions that these resolutions will help us find answers to - and that must be answered, before any potential renewal of military leases of our ʻāina.
I urge you to pass HCR207 and HR199, and in any case, to give every committee member the chance to voice their individual support or opposition to these measures in a roll call vote.
Thank you.
