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The Commanding General of the U.S. military categorizes (in 1942) military access to Mākua Valley as a “military necessity” for more training grounds.

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Territory of Hawaii issues permit allowing military access/usage of Mākua Valley as a training ground. However, the third mutual agreement states that the Commissioner of Public Lands could revoke this permit at any time. (1943)

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Revocable Permit No.200 (land permit for Military use)

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Governor of Hawaii sends this letter to the Commanding General of the U.S. Military, attempting to revoke Permit No.200.

U.S. Military had already acquired major land rights; 4% of land was categorized as public lands; Mākua Valley made up 2% of the 4%.

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1964 President, Lyndon Johnson published an executive order claiming the U.S.’s right to land ownership of Mākua Valley, claiming that the annexation of Hawaii deemed all public lands as U.S. property.

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Leandra Wai-Rodrigues is a member of Mālama Mākua. Watch this video to learn of cultural importance of preserving and allowing public access to Mākua Valley (9:30-11:16). Leandra describes the way the U.S. Military treats Hawaiian practitioners during their access visits(4:24 - 5:39) and the future goals for Mākua valley.

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Mālama Mākua cultural practitioner Leandra Wai-Rodrigues - ʻŌlelo TV 2009

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This news paper article published in 2001 outlines both the Native Hawaiian perspective and the U.S. Military’s perspective regarding land access and usage of Mākua Valley. The importance of ceasing live-fire training is also detailed in this article, including the Millitary’s attempts to reduce live-fire training.

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Mo’olelo of Mākua Valley (Borgnino, Emanuela)

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Mo’olelo of Mākua Valley (Borgnino, Emanuela)

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The following mo’olelo associated with Mākua valley emphasizes the cultural significant of place.

* Mākua is told as being the birthing site of Hāloa, the first man born from Papa and Wākea.

*The first Polynesians who migrated to Hawai’i settled within Mākua valley. This is where they first implemented terraced landscaping for kalo.

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Environmental Importance of Mākua (Ruelas, Ileana Haunani)

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Environmental Importance of Mākua (Ruelas, Ileana Haunani)

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The environment within Mākua valley provides nourishment and shelter for over 45 rare and endangered species of endemic plants and animals. The military’s usage of Mākua valley has significantly altered the ecosystems, making it harder for these endemic species to thrive as they once did.

Mākua valley is home to over 100 *identified* archaeological sites with high with physical links to Hawaiian cultural practices.

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“Mākua Keeau Forest Reserve”, featuring only 7 parcels of land reserved for Military use.

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Military expansion to larger piece of land in the center of Mākua Keeau Forest Reserve.

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Greater portion of land titled,”Mākua Military Reserve” (written in larger font) and a smaller portion “Mākua Keeau Forest Reserve”

These maps evidence the expansion of the U.S. Military’s land ownership in Mākua Valley and the change of place names throughout a 44 year period.

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The environment of Mākua Valley has been continuously impacted by the U.S. military’s use of live-fire training. The military ceased all live fire training after a fire had spread throughout 800-acres of the valley due to an errant motor. The military then spend $1 million a year toward environmental efforts.

Conclusion: Military will not use the most flammable ordinances.

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Read about the legal efforts taken by Mālama Mākua (from a western perspective). The U.S. military defends their usage of Mākua Valley by stating the necessity for more training grounds to prepare troops for combat.

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This legal settlement between Mālama Mākua and the U.S. Military states that the military must clean unexploded ordinances. This also includes the requirement of the Military to allow daytime public access 2 days a month and nighttime access limited to 2 days a year.

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Watch this video excerpt (10:53-13:58) to learn about the false reports given to the community by the U.S. military regarding the soil pollution in Mākua. Earthjustice represents Mālama Mākua, legally.

The military had assured the community that toxic chemicles would not have penetrated the soils and waters of which fed many families. However, after testing, the U.S. military had known that there were high levels of toxic chemicals found in the streams surrounding Mākua.

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Memorandum Agreement Regarding Vegetation Management (2015)

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Memorandum Agreement Regarding Vegetation Management (2015)

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This Memorandum agreement outlines the specific expectations of the U.S. Military regarding vegetation management at various historical archaeological sites within Mākua Valley. Mākua Valley is now protected by section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Register of Hisoric Places. Additionally, all personnel that enters Mākua must attend a Cultural Awareness brief prior to them working on the vegetation.

Through this Memorandum, the military was required to clear the invasive vegetations around all founded archeological sites containing significant petroglyphs and heiau.

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This report includes the status update of revitalization efforts for Mākua Valley and other Oahu implementation plans as of 2016. The majority of Mākua is now fenced off to prevent animals such as goats and pigs from hampering revitalization efforts. 72% of all weeds are now cleared and replaced with the seeds of Native plant species. These efforts were taken by both the U.S. military and various environmental activist including Mālama Mākua.

The efforts of revitalization in Mākua valley has successfully repopulated the Elepaio (Native bird species). Now, all military members are educated on natural resource issues and the cultural importance of Mākua Valley prior to beginning their work.

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As of May 2024, the U.S. military has formally ended live fire training and continues to assist environmental activist in accessing and restoring Mākua Valley. However, the military’s lease of Mākua legally expires in 2029 and it remains unclear as to whether or not this lease will be renewed. Activist continue to advocate for the state to deny a lease renewal of Mākua.

The military has fought wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, without the use of live-fire training in Mākua Valley. The preparedness of troops were not affected further emphasizing the non-necessity of Mākua Valley as a training ground as many Military officials claimed in 1942. (Earth Justice, 2024)

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A.A. Dunn. Revocable Permit No. 200. Territory of Hawaii, 1943.

Borgnino, Emanuela. Mākua Valley. University of Turin, 2019.

Essoyan, Susan. Army in for Fight Over Mākua. Los Angeles Times, 2001.

Geological Survey (U.S.). Kaena Quadrangle [no vegetation]. U.S. Geological Survey, 1954.

Geological Survey (U.S.). Kaena Quadrangle. U.S. Geological Survey, 1983.

Geological Survey (U.S.). Kaena Quadrangle. U.S. Geological Survey, 1998.

Henkin, David. Citizens and Army Settle Lawsuit Over Live-Fire Training at Mākua, Hawai’i. Earthjustice, 2001.

Sivaraman, Bala. A Landmark Victory for Peace in Hawai’i’s Sacred Mākua Valley. Earthjustice, 2024.

Johnson, Lyndon. Executive Order 11166. United States of America, 1964.

Kelly, Marion. Notes of Mākua Valley History. eVols, 1982.

Mālama Mākua. 2009 Federal Court Update. ‘Ōlelo TV, 2017.

Mālama Mākua. Mālama Mākua cultural practitioner Leandra Wai-Rodrigues. ‘Ōlelo TV, 2009.

Memorandum of Agreement Between the US Army Garrison, Hawaii, The Hawai’i State Historic Preservation Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regarding Vegetation Management in Various Archaeological Sites in Mākua Military Reservation, O’ahu, Hawai’i. US Army, 2015.

Myers, Steven Lee. Army Faces Fierce Fight On Historical Hawaii Valley. The New York Times, 2001.

Ruelas, Ileana Haunani. Mākua Valley. University of Hawaii, 2013.

2016 Status Report for the Mākua and Oahu Implementation Plans. The Oahu Army Natural Resources Program, 2016.

Stainback, Ingram. Territory of Hawaii, 1945.

The Commanding General. War Department Office of the Chief of Engineers, 1942.

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To keep up with the progress of Mākua Valley’s restoration and to quickly access some of the sources in this presentation, check out Mālama Mākua’s official website.

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Mālama Mākua, organized in 1996, strives for the preservation, community access to and return of Mākua Valley, which has been occupied by the U.S. army since World War II, for culturally appropriate use.