Energy, Installations, and Environment

Hawaii Coordination Cell

Live-Fire Training in Hawaii

Training for Real-World Conditions, With Safety and Responsibility at the Forefront

Live-fire training — the use of real ammunition during military exercises — is one of the most critical components of military readiness. For service members to operate effectively in combat environments, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, they must train in conditions that closely mirror the realities they may face.

Why Live-Fire Training Is Conducted:

Readiness: Live-fire training ensures that military personnel are proficient in the use of weapons systems, coordination under pressure, and battlefield decision-making.
Joint Operations: These exercises often involve multiple branches of service and allied nations, preparing troops to work together in dynamic environments.
Safety Through Preparation: Proper training significantly reduces accidents in actual combat zones — saving lives and increasing mission success.

Concerns & Commitments

We recognize that live-fire activities have raised environmental, cultural, and health concerns — particularly when they occur on or near lands of cultural significance or ecological sensitivity.

In response to these concerns, the Department of War is committed to:

Strict Safety Protocols: All live-fire exercises follow federal and state regulations and are conducted in designated, secured areas.
Environmental Review: Activities undergo environmental assessments to evaluate potential impacts and identify mitigation measures.
Cleanup and Remediation: The DoW is actively involved in ongoing efforts to clean up unexploded ordnance and restore affected lands wherever possible.
Limiting Use: Where feasible, alternative training methods — such as simulations or reduced-scale live-fire — are used to minimize disturbance.