Presentation Challenging Militarization in Hawai‘i
What are the impacts of the military in Hawai‘i? As people of faith, called to be peacemakers, why should we care? The HCUCC Justice & Witness Missional Team welcomed Kyle Kajihiro, who is known for his work in demilitarization, to share at their meeting on September 15, 2026.
Kyle traced the military’s arrival in Hawai‘i from the 19th century, focusing on the takeover of Pu‘uloa (Pearl Harbor), the dispossession of Native Hawaiians, and the environmental and cultural harm caused by military use of lands like Kaho’olawe, Mākua Valley, and Pōhakuloa. He discussed current issues such as expiring military leases, the Red Hill fuel crisis, and ongoing resistance and restoration efforts by Hawaiian and community groups. The group also discussed the historical complicity of church members in the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the ongoing work of reconciliation.
View a recording of his presentation: Challenging Militarization in Hawai‘i
About the presenter:
Kyle Kajihiro is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
He served as Program Coordinator and Program Director of the American Friends Service Committee Hawaiʻi Area Program from 1996-2011, where he concentrated on demilitarization issues, including confronting the military's impacts on people and the environment in Hawaiʻi and beyond. He was a founding board member of Hawaiʻi Peace and Justice and currently serves on the board of Mālama Mākua.
