Primary Sources from UH Mānoa Library's Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection
Late December 1941: After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the community living in Mākua Valley is evicted under martial law for the military to train.
May 17, 1943: The Territory of Hawaii issues Revocable Permit No. 200 to the U.S. military to use land owned by the Territory in Mākua for the duration of World War II plus six additional months. When WWII ends in August 1945, the Army continues to occupy and use Mākua.
March 18, 1959: The Admission Act passes, taking effect August 21 to turn the Territory of Hawaii into the State of Hawaii. All public land in Hawaiʻi is transferred to the State government with important exceptions. Land “set aside” as federal property continues to be federal property (section 5(c)). For up to five years, any land that was controlled by the federal government but transferred to the State by the Admission Act can still be set aside as the property of the federal government either by an Act of Congress or an Executive Order by the President (section 5(d)). However, any land that the federal government wants to keep must be reported to the President, who will determine if it is still needed. If not, it will be returned to State (section 5(e)).
May 1, 1962: The first two land parcels deemed “surplus” are transferred to the State of Hawaii under the terms of the Admission Act. One parcel was Coast Guard land and the other was Army land.
August 15, 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson issues Executive Order 11166, setting aside the bulk of Mākua Valley for federal use as fee simple property of the federal government.
August 17, 1964: The Army secures a 65-year lease for the remaining land in Mākua which remains State-owned, as well as State-owned lands at Poamoho and Kahuku on Oʻahu and Pōhakuloa on Hawaiʻi Island, for $1.
August 17, 2029: The Army lease expires for State-owned land in Mākua, Poamoho, and Kahuku, totaling 6,332 acres.