Thousands of acres of Hawaiʻi public land are heading for a decision point as 65-year military leases near their end, a high-stakes fight for Native Hawaiians, the state economy, and the Pentagon.

• The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is releasing "Held in Trust," a documentary on the history of these lands and what happens when the leases run out.
• The leases were signed 65 years ago for one dollar total, back when Hawaiʻi was a new state with little pull in Washington.
• The land sits in the public land trust and was once kingdom and crown land, giving OHA a legal seat at the table this time.
• OHA says it is not trying to push the military out — it wants a balance between national defense, the local economy, and protecting cultural sites and native plants and animals.
• The Pōhakuloa lease ends in August 2029, so the decision lands with the governor, the legislature, and voters within the next couple of years.

Outlook: Expect a public campaign to pressure state leaders ahead of the next legislative session, with the real negotiation over renewal terms building toward 2029.