MAKUA MILITARY RESERVATION, Hawaii – U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Commander Col. Rachel Sullivan hosted Hawaii State Sen. Samantha DeCorte for a site visit to Makua Military Reservation (MMR) on July 16, offering a firsthand look at the Army’s environmental stewardship, cultural preservation initiatives, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) mitigation efforts in the west Oahu valley.
During the tour, Kapua Kawelo, natural resources program manager for USAG Hawaii, highlighted the Army’s ongoing work to protect native Hawaiian ecosystems. Kawelo explained how the team conducts targeted removal of invasive plants through herbicide application and manual clearing to restore the native landscape. The Army has also installed fencing along MMR’s ridgeline to exclude feral pigs and goats, which damage native vegetation and spread invasive species.
MMR is home to at least 33 federally listed endangered plant species. The Army maintains nurseries to cultivate native plants and collect seeds, which are then reintroduced into protected, cleared areas. These restoration efforts typically follow UXO clearance operations, enabling safe access and maximizing habitat recovery.
Cultural preservation remains a cornerstone of the Army’s commitment at MMR. Dave Crowley, USAG Hawaii’s cultural resources program manager, briefed Sen. DeCorte on extensive archaeological surveys conducted across the reservation. The USAG Hawaii cultural resources team has identified and documented more than 100 traditional Hawaiian cultural sites in MMR, including heiau (temples), agricultural terraces, and historic habitation areas.
Crowley emphasized the importance of facilitating cultural access, noting that Native Hawaiian groups are regularly escorted to conduct cultural protocols and traditional ceremonies, provide educational opportunities to students, and malama Makua valley. These efforts reflect the Army’s commitment to work closely with Native Hawaiian stakeholders and safeguard Makua’s cultural legacy.
UXO mitigation remains a critical component of the Army’s work at MMR. As witnessed during the site visit, rain, wind and natural shifting of soil will often unearth old munitions casings. Safety clearance missions have included surface sweeps, subsurface geophysical surveys, and controlled detonations in high-priority areas. These continual efforts focus especially on areas near cultural sites, conservation zones, and public access trails to ensure safety while supporting both environmental and cultural goals.
The combined efforts of USAG Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources teams, along with its UXO task force, represent a multi-year, multi-agency initiative to responsibly restore one of Hawaii's most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes.
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