Two surveys will ask Oahu residents how the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility should be repurposed after fuel is removed, according to a Navy news release. 

What You Need To Know

  • The first survey is qualitative and will be released online in April

  • The second survey is quantitative, and it will be released online and sent to households near Red Hill in June

  • Nakupuna Companies was hired by the Navy to solicit public input about how to repurpose the Red Hill fuel tanks and write a report based on the ideas

  • After the report is complete, the Navy plans to meet with the EPA and the Hawaii Department of Health to select the top five ideas

A qualitative survey will be released online in April, while a second quantitative survey will be released online and sent to households near Red Hill in June. Pre-paid postage will be provided for the mail-in surveys. 

At the end of January, the Navy announced Nakupuna Companies, an independent contractor, had been hired to write a report based on public input about how to repurpose the Red Hill fuel tanks. 

The Navy said in its release on Wednesday that Nakupuna and CommPac LLC, another local firm, will solicit input from community leaders, regulatory agencies, environmental groups and academics to craft the survey. SMS Research & Marketing Services Inc. will be conducting the survey. 

The Navy is paying Nakupuna more than half a million dollars for its work. So far, Nakupuna has been unwilling to answer any questions about the process for soliciting ideas, according to an article written last month by our news partners, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 

After the report is complete in November, the Navy plans to meet with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health to select the top five ideas. A final analysis will evaluate the feasibility of these ideas and then be presented to the state, DOH and EPA for consideration. 

The Navy said in November last year that the repurposing use of the Red Hill facility would not include fuel. However, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply Chief Engineer Ernie Lau criticized the plan for not permanently closing the facility, expressing concern that the tanks would eventually be used for fuel again, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 

The public may sign up for updates on the surveys at Nakpunua’s website. 

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