HONOLULU – In a ceremony held outside Honolulu Hale on Wednesday, Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced that the City has officially taken ownership of approximately 400 acres of former Naval Air Station lands at Barbers Point from the Secretary of the Interior, acting by and through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) for public park and public recreation area purposes. This event marks a historic milestone for the City, the United States Navy (Navy) and the NPS as the City first applied for these lands back in 1999. The Navy was represented by Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations, and Environment)/Chief Sustainability Officer Meredith Berger and Captain Ted Carlson, Chief of Staff, Navy Region Hawaiʻi, and the NPS was represented by Tom Leatherman, Superintendent, Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
“We have heard from communities across O’ahu about the compelling need for additional public park and recreational opportunities. This generous gift of lands from the Navy and the National Park Service offers our administration an opportunity to think big and outside-the-box for more recreational opportunities for the people of O’ahu,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Whether pickleball courts, tennis courts, camp sites along O’ahu’s leeward coast or possibly a future community motorsports park, these former Navy lands given to the people of O’ahu by the NPS are an investment in our communities and the quality of life of our people. We are beyond grateful.”
Mayor Blangiardi executed the 25-page deed, handed over by the NPS after being declared excess by the Navy, to take ownership of the parcels. The land was part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC), under which the U.S. military was able to release unused or underused property, in this case, for the benefit of local communities.
“The Navy is thrilled to partner with the city and county of Honolulu, as well as the National Park Service, to make this land transfer possible and ensure it provides a long-term benefit to the community,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy Meredith Berger. “This land transfer exemplifies the strong, collaborative relationship between federal and local governments. This community has history and significance, and is one that our institution and our people have called home and we are excited for a bright future for it and the people who live here.”
Upon taking title, the City will move forward with its planning process, which includes these key elements:
– Amending the City’s Program of Utilization for the parcels to reflect the current park and recreational priorities of the people of O’ahu;
– Erecting appropriate signage documenting the donation of the federal lands to the City;
– Complying with covenants and agreements contained in the deed, including historic preservation; and initiating the planning process, including the preparation of environmental disclosure documents.
The former Navy lands deeded by the NPS to the City will be added to the inventory of lands under the control of the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). DPR Director Laura H. Thielen is excited about the opportunities flowing from the acceptance of these lands.
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