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Pohakuloa Training Area

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Pōhakuloa Training Area
Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi
The main gate at the Pōhakuloa Training Area.
Site information
TypeTraining facility
OwnerUnited States Army
Controlled byUnited States
Location
Pōhakuloa Training Area is located in Hawaii
Pōhakuloa Training Area
Pōhakuloa Training Area
Coordinates19°45′21.6″N 155°32′49.2″W / 19.756000°N 155.547000°W / 19.756000; -155.547000
Site history
Built1955
In useYes
Garrison information
Current
commander		Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado [1]
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: BSF, ICAO: PHSF, FAA LID: BSF
Elevation1,886.8 metres (6,190 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
9/27 1,126 metres (3,694 ft) Asphalt

Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) is a US military training base located on the high plateau between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Hualālai volcanic mountains of the island of Hawaiʻi. It includes a small military airstrip known as Bradshaw Army Airfield.

History

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The region was used for live fire exercises in 1943 during World War II when Camp Tarawa temporarily held troops on Parker Ranch.[2] About 91,000 acres (37,000 ha) were leased from Richard Smart, owner of the ranch. At that time it was called the Waikoloa Maneuver Area, and located northwest of current base, south of Waimea. In September 1946 the land used for the old maneuver area and camp was returned to the ranch, and a smaller Lalamilo Firing Range used until 1953. Since coastal areas were developed into tourist resorts, military areas were moved inland to more remote locations.[3]

In 1989, local botanist Lani Stemmermann sued the U.S. Army with the assistance of the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund after she observed the bulldozing of endangered species for construction. Before the trial, the Army settled and agreed to restore the developed area.[4] The area continues to serve as a live-fire combat training area in the Pacific theater for all ground forces, as well as hosting local national guard and law enforcement.[5]

Location

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The area of 108,863 acres (440.55 km2) is the largest United States Department of Defense installation in the state of Hawaii, or anywhere in the Pacific. The name of the facility comes from puʻu pōhaku loa, which means "long rocky cinder cone" in the Hawaiian Language, although like many other Hawaiian names, the same name has been used for other places on the island.[6] Pōhakuloa Training Area lies in a high plateau between lower slopes of Mauna Kea to approximately 6,800 feet (2,100 m) in elevation and to about 9,000 feet (2,700 m) on Mauna Loa. The training area is about midway between Hilo, on the east coast and the Army landing site at Kawaihae Harbor.[7] It is used by both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.

The only road access is via the Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200), which is paralleled by a tank trail. Heavy equipment is either flown into Hilo, or else shipped via barge to Kawaihae Harbor, about 40 miles (64 km) away on the Saddle Road. Because of this remoteness, the area is used mostly for short training sessions.

Facilities

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The barracks for about 2,000 troops were constructed in April 1955 from prefabricated buildings used in World War II. The support area includes 600 acres (240 ha) of logistic and administrative facilities. In July 2006 an additional 24,000 acres (9,700 ha) were purchased from Parker Ranch in an area known as Keʻāmuku,[8] which means "cut-off lava" in Hawaiian, from to the 19th century lava flows through the area.[9][10] Located at 19°50′24″N 155°43′1″W / 19.84000°N 155.71694°W / 19.84000; -155.71694 (Ke‘āmuku),[11] the realignment of the Saddle Road is planned to bypass the Ke‘āmuku addition.[12] PTA has a 51,000-acre (21,000 ha) impact area used for bombing and gunnery practice, refurbished in March 2009 to allow helicopter training.[13] There are approximately 32,000 acres (130 km2) of land level enough for large maneuvers, more than twice the area available on Oʻahu. Its remoteness allows a wide range of weapons to be used. The US Army's 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) and 3rd Marine Regiment often use the base for four to six-week training periods.[14][15]

Bradshaw Army Airfield

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Entrance to Bradshaw Army Airfield

The airstrip was constructed at the area from 1955 to 1956 and dedicated Aug of 1957, by the then Commanding General of the 25th ID. The runway is 3,700 feet (1,100 m) long, which only accommodates small aircraft. Fog often restricts helicopters, which can also fly in from the larger bases on Oʻahu.

Environment

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Vegetation varies from sparse grassland and low shrubs to open māmane forest. The volcanic terrain has areas with protected wildlife. Within the borders of the training area, ten different endangered species have been found. These include the native Hawaiian mint honohono (Haplostachys haplostachya) and the shrub 'kio'ele (Kadua coriacea). This area has more endangered species than any other US Army installation.[16] The northeastern portion of the site near Mauna Kea provides habitat for the endangered bird Palila (Loxioides bailleui).

Several archaeological sites have been found in the training area, including the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[17] To reduce fire danger and damage from feral goats, areas were fenced.[18]

Weapons such as the Davy Crockett nuclear rifle with dummy warheads and depleted Uranium have been used at PTA.[19] After initial denials, an investigation concluded that spotting rounds were used in the 1960s. Measurements detected radiation, but reportedly not above life-threatening levels.[20][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pohakuloa Training Area". U.S. Army. 31 January 2025.
  2. ^ Andrew M. Beavers (19 December 2000). "Analysis of Fire History and Management Concerns at Pohakuloa Training Area" (PDF). Colorado State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  3. ^ "Phase II Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area and Nansay Sites Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers. 1 July 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  4. ^ Tummons, Patricia (7 January 1997). "The Battle at MPRC: How one woman took on the U.S. Army, and won". Environment Hawai'i: A monthly newsletter. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  5. ^ Huff, Daryl (13 May 2025). "Governor says feds could seize military training grounds in Hawaii". Hawaii News Now.
  6. ^ "Lookup of pohakuloa". Hawaiian place names web site. 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  7. ^ Pahakuloa Training Area Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine page at Marine Corps Base Hawaii web site
  8. ^ "U.S. Army Acquires Keamuku Parcel". Parker Ranch Foundation. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  9. ^ Lloyd J. Soehren (2004). "lookup of Keamuku". on Hawaiian place names. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  10. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ke‘āmuku Lava Flow
  11. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ke‘āmuku
  12. ^ US Department of Transportation; Hawaii Department of Transportation. Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (PDF). Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  13. ^ "25th CAB improves Pōhakuloa Training Area" press release on U.S. Army web site, March 2009
  14. ^ Gregg K. Kakesako (13 May 2001). "Big Isle site is base for heavy Army training Pohakuloa Training Area allows for large-scale training that the Army cannot do on Oahu". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  15. ^ Nancy Cook (12 December 2014). "Hawaiians sue over PTA munitions". West Hawaii today. Oahu Publications, Inc. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ^ Pohakuloa Training Area on GlobalSecurity.Org web site
  17. ^ "Historic Sites Review of a Proposed Mauna Loa Trail System" Archived 2006-12-15 at the Wayback Machine by Thomas S. Dye, March 25, 2005, on Nature Conservancy web site
  18. ^ Peterson, Jodi (15 July 2022). "CEMML team helps military conserve rare species on Hawaii's Big Island". Colorado State University: Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  19. ^ William Cole (14 May 2007). "Doubts remain about depleted uranium". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  20. ^ Erin Miller (1 September 2010). "Military says DU at PTA likely harmless: Army reports 'no likely adverse impacts' from spotting rounds". West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  21. ^ Cabrera Services (22 June 2010). "FINAL POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA FIRING RANGE BASELINE HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT FOR RESIDUAL DEPLETED URANIUM" (PDF). Wheeler Army Airfield, Oahu, HI, USA: U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
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