Public meetings to be held on missile defense radar

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency will hold public meetings starting June 19 for the placement on Oahu of a powerful radar facility to better defend against North Korean missile threats.

The agency, in cooperation with the Air Force and Army, wants to hear from residents about the plan as it conducts an environmental impact statement review.

The military is proposing to build the more than $750 million Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii at Kuaokala Ridge adjacent to Air Force Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station or at one of two sites at the Army’s Kahuku Training Area.

The proposed radar “will provide added defense capability against evolving threats to enhance the defense of Hawaii,” the agency said.

Conducted in an open-house format, the meetings will provide an opportunity to ask questions about the plan. The radar is expected to be operational in 2023.

All meetings will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.:

>> June 19 Sunset Beach Elementary School, 59-360 Kamehameha Highway.

>> June 20, Keehi Lagoon Memorial Park, 2685 N. Nimitz Highway.

>> June 21, Waianae High School, 85-251 Farrington Highway.

For more information, go to mda.mil.