HONOLULU — Joint Task Force-Red Hill, which was established to ensure the safe and expeditious defueling of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, announced it would start hosting forums aimed at bolstering transparency in the Red Hill defueling process. 

What You Need To Know

  • The forum's first session will be held Friday

  • The meetings will include a list of community members, elected representatives, stakeholders and the Joint Task Force leadership

  • The aim is to allow for critical community feedback and transparency in the defueling process

The first session will be held Friday. The forum will continue to meet until defueling is complete. 

When asked how often the meetings would be held, U.S. Air Force Capt. Kitsana Dounglomchan, a spokesperson, told Spectrum News Hawaii, “We are looking at other options for the frequency of the meetings in the future.”

The forum includes community members, elected representatives, stakeholders and the Joint Task Force leadership.   

The aim is to allow for critical community feedback and transparency in the defueling process. 

“Specifically, the forum will provide members an opportunity to share insights, knowledge, and professional expertise through meaningful feedback, dialogue and discussions. The forum will also ensure members receive regular updates on the progress being made on the defueling plan and anticipated next steps so they can appraise their peers, constituents, association participants, and interested members of the community,” the news release said. 

The members of the forum might change as the concerns of defueling Red Hill change.

Currently, the list of members includes: 

  • Council Member Radiant Cordero, Honolulu City Council (District 7)
  • Dr. Kaeo Duarte, Chair of Hawaii Fresh Water Council
  • Dr. Sylvia Hussey, Chief Executive Officer of Office of Hawaiian Affairs
  • Rep. Linda Ichiyama, State Representative (District 32)
  • Fleet Master Chief David Isom, Senior Enlisted Leader U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
  • Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, State Senator (District 24)
  • Ernie Lau, Manager and Chief Engineer of Board of Water Supply
  • Kuhio Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
  • Jeff Mikulina, Co-Host of KHON Empowered-Hawaii
  • Laurie Moore, Executive Director of Armed Services YMCA Honolulu
  • Dr. Vassilis Syrmos, Vice President for Research and Innovation at University of Hawaii
  • Rep. Ryan Yamane, State Representative (District 37)

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board Chair Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey said in a statement that the forum is a welcome step toward transparency, and that the community must continue to engage the Navy with every step of the process.  

“The Navy clearly needs to improve its credibility with the people of this state and it is our hope that establishing this sharing forum with community leaders will assist toward that goal. We have committed our top executive — CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey — to serve on this forum alongside other voices important to the lahui to provide insight from our Native Hawaiian perspective,” said Lindsey.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her ideas and feedback at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.