“Aerial view of Kaʻula Island southwest of Niʻihau, Hawaii, proposed Navy bombing site”
Hawaii Lawmakers Demand Transparency Over Navy’s Plan to Triple Bombing Exercises on Remote Kaʻula Island
Congressional Delegation Calls for Full Environmental Impact Statement on Military Training Expansion
Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation is voicing urgent concerns over the US Navy’s intention to intensify inert bombing drills on Kaʻula Island, a small and ecologically delicate island located around 23 miles southwest of Niʻihau.
The Navy plans to more than treble its deployment of 500-pound inert bombs – ordnance that does not explode — from 12 to 31 times each year, prompting calls for a full environmental evaluation and increased openness.
The Strategic and Environmental Context of Kaʻula Island
Kaʻula Island, around the size of Honolulu’s Ala Moana Beach Park, remains virtually deserted and recognized primarily by local fishermen and cultural practitioners.
It is a critical nesting habitat for seabirds, including endangered species such as the Laysan albatross, making it an environmentally sensitive location.
According to the Navy’s draft environmental assessment, the training exercises are necessary to preserve military preparedness and will have no impact on wildlife or cultural resources.
However, conservation organizations and local populations have questioned this assertion.
Lawmakers Voice Concerns on Environmental and Cultural Impact
Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, along with Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, have formally requested that the Navy conduct a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before increasing bombing action.
In a joint statement, they underlined the urgency of answering “many unanswered questions” about the necessity and potential repercussions of expanding Kaʻula training.
Senator Schatz stated, “Anything in the Hawaiian Island chain is the business of the people of Hawai’i.”
We are not convinced that this is necessary for national security without complete transparency and an environmental analysis.”
Community and Expert Perspectives Highlight Risks
Environmentalists have warned that dropping 500-pound inert bombs might have a significant impact on the island’s fragile ecosystem. According to Hob Osterlund of the Kauaʻi Albatross Network, “these are baby birds that cannot fly away,” and “the entire island would feel the impact of such bombings.”
Local fisherman Mike Nakachi shared anecdotal reports of bombings in the last 30 years, underscoring a lack of public knowledge about past military exercises.
Legal and Land Ownership Questions Loom
The Hawaiʻi Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Land and Natural Resources are investigating whether state land was properly given to the Navy for the exercises.
Ownership position may have an impact on regulatory monitoring and environmental protection.
Military Readiness vs. Environmental Protection Debate
The Navy contends that more bombing is necessary for realistic training that is critical to national defense. However, the recent Red Hill fuel leak scandal in Hawaiʻi has raised public cynicism towards military guarantees about environmental safety.
What’s Next: Calls for Action and Accountability
The congressional delegation is awaiting the Navy’s response and insists that no further bombing exercises take place until an EIS is completed. Local communities, conservationists, and officials continue to advocate preserving Kaʻula’s distinctive environment and Hawaiian cultural values.
Key Facts & Figures:
Location: Kaʻula Island, ~23 miles southwest of Niʻihau, Hawaiʻi
Current Navy Bombing Rate: 12 inert 500-pound bombs per year
Proposed Increase: Up to 31 inert 500-pound bombs per year
Island Size: Approximately equal to Ala Moana Beach Park in Honolulu
Navy Employees: N/A (training site, not base)
Environmental Concerns: Nesting seabirds including endangered species
“Endangered seabirds nesting on Kaʻula Island, Hawaii, facing threat from increased Navy training” Legal Status: Under investigation by Hawaiʻi Attorney General and DLNR for land ownership
