It's true that the best solution to a knotty problem often arises from compromise — with both sides willing to work together for the best possible outcome.

Such is the case in the settlement between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Army, which wisely balances the need for military training in the Islands with the desire and the need to protect Native Hawaiian cultural resources. The deal resolves, at least for the moment, the lengthy and costly dispute that had culminated in a 2006 federal lawsuit filed by OHA that claimed the Army failed to properly protect those resources when the Stryker brigade arrived in the Islands.

The environmental impact of the Army's decision to send the $1.5 billion fast-strike unit, with more than 300 Stryker vehicles and 4,000 soldiers, has been a heated and often emotionally charged issue between the Army and Native Hawaiian organizations and environmentalists.

The deal between the Army and OHA announced Monday allows representatives from OHA, along with an archaeologist, to survey key Stryker training areas in Kahuku, Schofield Barracks and Pohakuloa. That would help OHA and the Army to identify historic and culturally significant sites in these areas so that they are properly handled.

But what happens once those sites are discovered is a crucial point. In the past, military archaeologists had overlooked numerous culturally and historically significant sites. A protective buffer only yards from the Hale'au'au heiau was damaged by bulldozers, and a road was built over burial grounds.

"Coming to a compromise was a long process, but it was accomplished in the spirit of mutual respect, cooperation and an emphasis on looking to the future," said Col. Matthew T. Margotta, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai'i.

Once cultural and historic sites are discovered, he said, all parties have agreed to work together to determine the best way forward.

That's a good sign.

Live-fire training is necessary to the safety and strength of our troops. A strong military is not just vital to our national security, it's a key component of our island economy.

And understanding and preserving cultural and historic sites in a way that respects the host culture is crucial; it defines our values as a community.

Striking a balance is imperative. To be sure, it won't always be smooth sailing.

But this new agreement marks a promising start — and it deserves community support.