The U.S. Navy wants Oʻahu residents to weigh in on a proposal that could bring up to nine new Medium Landing Ship class vessels to Joint Base Pearl Harbor‑Hickam. The plan would tear down an aging wharf on Ford Island, replace it with a new berthing pier, and add roll‑on/roll‑off facilities to move vehicles, troops and equipment on and off ships. Navy officials hosted an open house on Monday and are taking written comments through July 24, 2026.
What the Navy is proposing
According to the Navy’s NEPA project page, the Proposed Action is to homeport as many as nine LSM class ships at JBPHH and to demolish and replace existing wharf infrastructure on Ford Island with a dedicated berthing wharf (Wharf F12/F13), along with roll‑on/roll‑off facilities at West Loch. The NEPA page states that dredging and upland support work would be confined to areas within the joint base and would include shore‑side infrastructure such as administrative buildings, parking and utilities. The project’s Notice of Intent opened a 30‑day scoping period on June 24 and asks the public to weigh in on alternatives and potential effects, including cultural and biological resources.
Why the ships matter
The medium landing ships are designed to move troops, vehicles and equipment directly to shore, capabilities the Navy says would support Marine littoral operations around the Pacific. As reported by Hawaii News Now, the ships would give expeditionary forces added flexibility to work in and around island chains and contested maritime zones. For nearby communities, the proposal could translate into more frequent ship movements and on‑base loading activity within the Pearl Harbor complex if the plan moves ahead.
Environmental and cultural review
The Navy is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA and will carry out Section 106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act to examine potential effects on historic and cultural resources, according to a Navy release. That release also notes that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been invited to serve as a cooperating agency and that dredging for the proposed roll‑on/roll‑off ramp would be concentrated in West Loch. The EIS will analyze noise, water and biological resources, transportation impacts, socioeconomic effects and possible mitigation measures.
How to weigh in
Comments can be submitted through the project website or by mail and must be postmarked or received by July 24, 2026 to count, the Navy’s Notice of Intent states. Mail correspondence may be sent to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific, Attention: LSM EIS Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Joint Base Pearl Harbor‑Hickam, HI 96860‑3134, or submitted via the online comment form on the NEPA project page. The Navy has also posted a virtual presentation and a fact sheet on the project site for residents who were not able to attend Monday’s open house.
What to watch next
After the scoping period closes, the Navy will review public feedback as it refines alternatives and prepares a draft EIS that will later go out for additional public review and comment. The effort to field a fleet of Medium Landing Ships has congressional support, and the FY‑2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes procurement authority for the program, per Congress.gov. Any final homeporting decision is expected to balance operational needs with the environmental review and historic‑resource considerations. Residents and organizations focused on cultural sites or shoreline impacts are encouraged to submit detailed comments during the scoping window so the Navy can factor them into the EIS.
