As the expiration of long-standing land leases approaches, the future of the U.S. military’s presence in Hawaii has become a subject of intense debate. The armed forces currently occupy approximately 46,000 acres of land under leases acquired from the state of Hawaii in the 1960s. These 65-year agreements were established at a token fee of $1 and are scheduled to begin expiring in 2028.
The scale of the military’s footprint remains significant. The armed forces occupy roughly 25 percent of O‘ahu, the most populated island, and 5.6 percent of the total land in the state of Hawaii—a higher proportion than in any other U.S. state. This presence is deeply tied to the history of the 19th-century overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the subsequent seizure of indigenous lands.
In response to the upcoming lease renewals, the state of Hawaii and the Trump administration have entered into discussions regarding the future of these territories. These deliberations involve Hawaii’s congressional members as well as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the official indigenous-led state agency.
To provide clarity amid these discussions, a new report titled “The True Cost of the U.S. Military in Hawai‘i” was released earlier this year. Drawing on more than 45 years of collective research experience, the report’s authors argue that the economic benefits attributed to the military have been significantly overstated by the Pentagon and other entities. The study suggests that the military’s actual contribution to the local economy is much smaller than commonly perceived, while various negative impacts often remain hidden.
According to the report, the military’s presence contributes to the local housing crisis by driving up rents and causes ongoing damage to public health and the environment. Furthermore, the authors contend that the military's occupation of land hinders the development of other industries that could potentially generate more jobs for local residents. As the 2028 expiration date nears, these findings highlight a growing divide between claims of military necessity and the reported costs to the local community.
As land leases come up for renewal, a new report reveals the facts about the U.S. Armed Forces’ impacts in the Pacific Islands.
A flight line mechanic assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, mans a .50-caliber machine gun aboard a Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter during a close air support exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawai’i, as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026, July 19, 2026.
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