The Department of Defense, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation awarded the State of Hawai‘i Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) a grant of $3.2 million dollars.

The funding will give the DBEDT the opportunity to establish a Military and Community Affairs Office which will focus on effective collaboration and transparency between the State of Hawai‘i, county governments, the community and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Honolulu is home to every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the largest geographic Combatant Commander: U.S. IndoPacific Command. Neighbor islands also partner with DoD – from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua‘i to Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawai‘i Island.

The presence of such a large military contingent creates significant economic, social, and environmental interdependencies that impact the state’s economy, natural resources, and infrastructure.

The efforts of the Military and Community Affairs Office will be directed towards effective engagement between the State of Hawai‘i and DoD to work collaboratively in building and maintaining initiatives that prioritize both national defense as well as the vital interests of state and county governments.

 

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