The U.S. Army is moving to speed up negotiations over a crucial training ground in Hawaii, underscoring its growing importance in the broader Indo-Pacific defense strategy. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll revealed earlier this week that he is eager to finalize a long-term lease agreement for the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the Big Island — a site that plays a pivotal role in training American ground forces for potential conflict in the Pacific. Driscoll met with Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Monday to discuss the future of the Pohakuloa site, where the U.S. military currently leases a significant portion of land from the state. That lease is set to expire in 2029, and although that may seem distant, the Army is pushing for urgency. With China ramping up its military posture in the region — particularly around Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory — the Pentagon sees Hawaii as a critical launch point for rapid deployments. Securing uninterrupted access to Pohakuloa ensures that soldiers in Hawaii remain combat-ready and close to potential conflict zones in Asia andU.S. Army Pushes to Secure Key Hawaii Training Ground Amid Growing Indo-Pacific Tensions

As geopolitical tensions rise across the Indo-Pacific, particularly over China’s claims to Taiwan, the U.S. Army is taking steps to secure one of its most strategic training sites: the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii’s Big Island. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced this week that he’s looking to accelerate negotiations with the state of Hawaii to renew the military’s lease on the site — a lease that is currently set to expire in 2029. Driscoll met with Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Monday to discuss Pohakuloa’s future. While there are still four years left on the current lease, Driscoll stressed that the military cannot afford delays when it comes to strategic readiness in the Indo-Pacific. As security challenges intensify, having access to a large-scale, permanent live-fire training facility in the region is viewed as vital for maintaining U.S. military preparedness and rapid response capability.

Pohakuloa Training Area is the only facility of its kind in Hawaii where ground forces can conduct realistic, live-fire combat simulations. Spread across more than 133,000 acres of high-elevation terrain between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the rugged landscape provides essential conditions for replicating real-world combat scenarios. For military leaders, the site’s role is clear: it allows Hawaii-based units to stay sharp and deploy quickly if tensions in Asia boil over.

However, not everyone in the Islands shares the military’s sense of urgency — or its priorities. At a lengthy public hearing in May, a wide range of residents voiced strong opposition to extending the Army’s use of the training grounds. Many Native Hawaiians and environmental advocates expressed outrage over the military’s history of environmental damage and disregard for sacred land. They cited previous fuel leaks, unexploded ordnance, and the desecration of cultural sites as reasons why the lease should not be renewed at all. The central demand: return the land to the state and restore stewardship to the local community.

For many in Hawaii, the conflict goes far deeper than military strategy. It touches on questions of sovereignty, cultural preservation, and environmental protection. The military has long held a dominant presence in the islands, and for some, the lease debate at Pohakuloa is just the latest chapter in a broader story of occupation and loss. Driscoll acknowledged those concerns but emphasized that the Army is working to become a better steward of the land. He said his team is committed to open dialogue with the public and local leaders, and noted that future operations would prioritize transparency, environmental safeguards, and community engagement.

Still, critics remain skeptical, and the road to lease renewal is likely to be a bumpy one. With local activism growing and public scrutiny intensifying, the Army will need to do more than make promises — it will have to rebuild trust in a population that’s increasingly questioning the long-term costs of hosting the U.S. military. The debate over Pohakuloa is part of a larger conversation about America’s footprint in the Pacific. As Washington doubles down on preparing for potential flashpoints — from Taiwan to the South China Sea — Hawaii finds itself caught between two worlds: a strategic stronghold for global power projection and a homeland with unresolved histories of colonization and resistance.