Ka’ula is vital to maintain military readiness for the Pacific, the Navy says. But its plan to boost training there alarms the community, environmentalists. Some 23 miles southwest of Niihau lies Ka’ula, a remote islet teeming with nesting seabirds, monk seals and marine life that also happens to be the last Hawaiian island used by the military for aerial bombing and target practice.
The Navy has trained there for decades even though the state insists it is the rightful owner and has tried to protect wildlife under a seabird sanctuary . Now, the Navy looks to increase its exercises on the uninhabited islet as international tensions grow with China and the military shifts more focus to the Pacific. The Navy says it doesn’t expect the added non-explosive bombing and gunfire to significantly impact the 18 or so bird species known to nest on Ka’ula, including black-footed albatross, or have any other major environmental impacts.
But the move faces growing concerns and objections from local community members and some key state officials. Hawaii conservationists say that far more rigorous environmental scrutiny is needed than what the military has put forth so far. On Friday, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Administrator David Smith said his agency has called on the Navy to stop target practice altogether on Ka’ula.
“The main issue in the short term is the use of the island for target practice. DOFAW does not consider that to be a compatible use based on the resources.
