In a letter dated Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, twenty-four State Senators expressed “grave concerns” over the U.S. Navy’s judicial appeal of the State Department of Health’s emergency order to immediately suspend operations at the Red Hill fuel storage facility due to leakage and potential threat to O‘ahu’s aquifer.
The signees feel that the military’s decision “is an error in judgment that will have detrimental ramifications to the Navy’s relationship to the people of Hawai‘i.
“Hiding behind legal maneuvers may forestall doing the right thing—for now,” the letter later states. “But any potential victories in court further cement your losses in the court of public opinion. Those tactics convey a complete lack of respect for our community and a total disinterest in favorable military-community relations in Hawai‘i.
“If military leaders cannot be viewed as trusted partners, how can the State of Hawai‘i engage in any future interactions with an expectation of good faith?,” the letter says. It ends with the statement that “we are not expendable and will not sacrifice our future for the continued compliance of the military.”
The State Senate’s letter is also shared with Admirals John Aquilino and Samuel Paparo of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Senate President Ron Kouchi, Governor David Ige, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Dept. of Health Director Libby Char, Under Secretary of the Navy Meredith Berger, Honolulu Board of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau, and the Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters.
Those who signed the letter addressed to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro include Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, Senate Vice President Michelle N. Kidani, Senate Majority Leader Dru Mamo Kanuha, Senate Minority Leader Kurt Fevella, Senator Laura Acasio, Senator Rosalyn Baker, Senator Stanley Chang, Senator Lynn DeCoite, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Senator Mike Gabbard, Senator Lorraine Inouye, Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran, Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Senator Chris Lee, Senator Bennette Misalucha, Senator Sharon Moriwaki, Senator Clarence Nishihara, Senator Karl Rhoads, Senator Gil Riviere, Senator Joy San Buenaventura, Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro, Senator Brian Taniguchi and Senator Glenn Wakai.
You can read the letter in its entirety below.