SUPPORT HCR28/HR27: Protect ʻEwa Beach
/April 14 update
HCR28, which continues a working group dedicated to addressing the high levels of lead contamination found in the sand, fish, and homes surrounding the Puʻuloa firing range, was passed by the Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services Committees unamended and now heads to Conference Committee. Mahalo nui to the over 35 individuals and organizations who submitted testimony in support and special thanks to Chairs Gabbard and San Buenaventura and Vice Chairs Richards and Aquino for passing this measure.
April 10 update
Help protect our families from toxic lead exposure in ʻEwa Beach! HCR28 HD1 would continue a working group focused on addressing the dangerously high levels of lead found in the sand, fish, and even homes near the US Marine Corps’ century-old Puʻuloa Range Training Facility - a firing range located adjacent to a popular beach park, homes, and schools. This measure will be heard by the Senate Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services Committees on Friday, April 11 at 1pm in room 224 (watch online here).
This working group is critical to taking a much needed step towards finally protecting our families and especially children and the unborn—today and for future generations—from the potentially debilitating and lifelong effects of toxic lead exposure. Learn more about the concerns surrounding the Puʻuloa Firing Range here. Please submit testimony in support of this resolution - sample testimony and instructions below.
Sample testimony for HCR28
Aloha Chairs Gabbard and San Buenaventura, Vice Chairs Richards and Aquino, and members of the Committees,
My name is [Your name] and I strongly support HCR28 HD1, which would reconvene a working group to address air, water, and soil contamination that may be putting residents and visitors in ʻEwa Beach - including keiki - at risk of toxic lead exposure.
The Puʻuloa Range Training Facility (PRTF), which borders residential neighborhoods, Iroquois Point Elementary School, and a busy beach park, has raised significant environmental and public health concerns relating to the migration of lead into the surrounding environment. Soil sampling has revealed highly elevated lead levels on the beach side of the facility, while fish and windowsill testing in adjacent homes has likewise indicated extremely high levels of lead in marine life and even area homes. Erosion, runoff, and airborne dispersal from bullet impacts may all be likely pathways for lead to escape into nearby areas, and a tsunami or extreme weather event could also lead to even greater and widespread heavy metal contamination and toxic exposure in ‘Ewa Beach.
Nonetheless, despite finding elevated levels of lead in its own soil testing, and notwithstanding the urging of the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, the Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (MCBH) has taken the position that no further action is needed to address these concerns.
A working group established in 2024, set to dissolve on June 30, 2025, has been tasked with addressing the public and environmental health risks posed by the PRTF, yet its leadership has never convened a meeting. New community representation and ever-growing concerns, however, indicate a renewed interest in carrying out the working group’s mission. By urging the reconvening of this working group, this resolution may serve to finally bring together experts and stakeholders to address the concerns surrounding the PRTF, including through additional testing and environmental monitoring needs, and the exploration of remediation strategies that can help mitigate the public health and environmental risks of lead contamination.
The health and safety of ʻEwa Beach residents - including our keiki - marine ecosystems, and public spaces like Puʻuloa Beach Park, will remain at risk without sustained collaboration among stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the Marine Corps, community representatives, and environmental experts. HCR28 would provide a framework to bring these key stakeholders together to address this risk, and protect our environment and people from significant generational harms.
Accordingly, I urge the Committees to PASS HCR28.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Testimony instructions
Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter "HCR28" where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able!
Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4)
April 4 update
HCR28/HR27, which continues a working group dedicated to addressing the high levels of lead contamination found in the sand, fish, and homes surrounding the Puʻuloa firing range, was passed by the Ways and Means Committee unamended. Mahalo nui to the over 57 individuals and organizations who submitted testimony in support and special thanks to Chair Lowen and Vice Chair Perruso for passing this measure.
HCR28/HR27, which continues a working group dedicated to addressing the high levels of lead contamination found in the sand, fish, and homes surrounding the Puʻuloa firing range, will be heard by the House Energy & Environmental Protection Committee on Tuesday, April 1 at 10:45am in room 325 (watch online here).
This working group is an important part of keeping families living and recreating in ʻEwa Beach, today and for generations to come, safe from the potentially debilitating and lifelong effects of toxic lead exposure. Learn more about the harms of the Puʻuloa Firing Range here. Please submit testimony in support of this measure, sample testimony and instructions below.
Sample testimony for HCR28/HR27
Aloha Chair Lowen, Vice Chair Perruso, and members of the Energy & Environmental Protection Committee,
My name is [Your name] and I strongly support HCR28/HR27, which would reconvene a working group to address air and water contamination that may be putting residents and visitors in ʻEwa Beach - including keiki - at risk of toxic lead exposure.
The Pu’uloa Range Training Facility (PRTF) poses significant environmental and public health risks due to lead contamination in its impact berms, which border residential neighborhoods and a busy beach park. Soil sampling has revealed elevated lead levels on the beach side of the facility, raising concerns about lead and heavy metals leaching into the ocean, contamination of nearshore waters and marine life, and airborne dispersion into nearby communities.
A working group established in 2024, set to dissolve on June 30, 2025, has been tasked with addressing these urgent threats, yet it has never convened a meeting. Meanwhile, despite finding elevated levels of lead in its own soil testing, and notwithstanding the urging of the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, the Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (MCBH) has taken the position that no further action is needed.
By urging the reconvening of this working group, this resolution will hopefully serve to finally bring together experts and stakeholders to address community concerns surrounding the PRTF, such as additional testing and monitoring needs (including downwind residential areas and in the nearshore environment), and the need for remediation strategies that can help mitigate the public health and environmental impacts of lead contamination.
The health and safety of ʻEwa Beach residents - including our keiki - marine ecosystems, and public spaces like Puʻuloa Beach Park, will remain at risk without sustained collaboration among stakeholders, including the Department of Health, MCBH, community representatives, and environmental experts. HCR28 and HR27 would provide a framework to bring these key stakeholders together to address this risk, and protect our environment and people from significant generational harms.
Accordingly, I urge the Committee to PASS HCR28/HR27.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Testimony instructions
Register for a capitol website account if you haven’t yet (youʻll need to confirm your registration by responding to an automated email)
Sign in to capitol.hawaii.gov with your registration information and click the "Submit Testimony" button.
Enter "HCR28/HR27" where it says "Enter Bill or Measure."
Input your information and your written testimony, select your testimony option(s)—in-person + written, remotely + written, written only. Please consider providing verbal testimony (in-person or remotely) if you are able!
Note: Virtual testimony option may be disabled 24 hours before the hearing.
If you are testifying via Zoom, be sure to review these instructions (page 4)