Three members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation are proposing a bill to establish a new national veterans cemetery in Hawaii as the state’s only national cemetery is nearing capacity, they announced Friday.
The “Hawaii National Cemetery Act” would require the secretary of Veterans Affairs to initiate the construction of a new national cemetery in Hawaii.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Ed Case and Rep. Jill Tokuda are leading the push because the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl has been closed for in-ground burials since 1991 and is expected to stop accepting cremated remains by 2036 for inurnment in its columbarium, according to a news release from the legislators’ office.
The cemetery at Punchbowl is the burial site for approximately 53,000 veterans from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
“Those who have served our country, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their life to defend our nation, deserve to have the option to be buried in a national cemetery in their home state,” Hirono said in a written statement.
“With less and less space remaining at the only national cemetery in Hawaii, I am proud to introduce this legislation to establish another national cemetery that will serve as a fitting final resting site for veterans in our state.”
Donovan Lazarus, state commander for AmVets Hawaii, a congressionally chartered veteran service organization, said, “Our veterans community is in full support. We’re really thankful to the senator and the representatives for proposing the bill. That is beautiful.”
The 25-year Army veteran said: “Per capita, we have quite a few (veterans) who stay in Hawaii, besides our native guys.”
Building a new national cemetery “means a lot to our service members, family members,and next of kin. They know the passion their loved ones had (for the military),” he said.
For many veterans, “It’s Arlington National Cemetery, if not Punchbowl,” Lazarus said.
“We hear it from next of kin all the time,” Lazarus said. “They feel disappointed that their loved ones will not be able to be buried at Punchbowl. Loved ones want to make sure their mom or dad received everything they earned with dignity and respect.”
He said, it’s “sort of dying wish.”
Case said because of the lack of space at Punchbowl, it is a serious concern for roughly 115,000 veterans in Hawaii, some 11% of the state’s population.
He said developing a national cemetery involves many phases and could take more than eight years to complete, so “the work should start immediately.”
But the proposed legislation would require a study to determine a site within a year of the act’s enactment, and within two years progress reports for an environmental impact assessment, land acquisition and master planning and design development, preparation of a construction document, and the award of construction contracts.
“The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific has served as a sacred place of honor for Hawaii’s veterans,” Tokuda said. “But with the site nearing capacity to honor our veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve, we must plan for a new resting place that continues to honor our veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The National Cemetery Administration’s goals include ensuring 95% of veterans live within 75 miles of a national, state or tribal veterans cemetery.
“This policy does not account for veterans in Hawaii who would prefer to be buried in a national cemetery,” since the next closest is over 2,500 miles away in California, the press release said.
In 2022, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific received $14 million in improvements, including a new columbarium with niches to hold more than 3,400 urns. At that time, the cemetery spokesperson said it would buy another 4-1/2 to five years, and a plan to extend Columbarium 14 would open up space for another five years.
Hawaii veterans have other options. The state has veterans cemeteries on each major island.
Retired Maj. Jeff Hickman, spokesman for the state Department of Defense, said of Oahu’s only state veterans cemetery, “We’re in pretty good shape.”
The Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery will reach full capacity for in-ground cremated remains in February 2042, and for cremated remains in columbarium in June 2034.
More than 11,000 veterans and nearly 6,000 dependents have been placed at HSVC.
The DOD did not have statistics for other islands’ cemeteries, maintained by the counties.
At its opening in 1991, the HSVC had 90 acres of land that could accommodate 72,500 body-burial plots, 6,000 garden urn niches and 3,800 urn niches for cremated remains.
The late John Henry Felix, a onetime member of AmVets Hawaii, donated an additional 33 acres to HSVC.
The HSVC’s purpose was to ensure all veterans and their families would have an appropriate burial place once the Punchbowl cemetery reached capacity for ground interments.