The state of Hawai'i and three historic preservation organizations have raised concern about the Navy's impending transfer of 499 acres at Kalaeloa to a developer, saying more needs to be done to research and preserve the history not only of 'Ewa Field, one of the first U.S. bases to be attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, but also nearby quonset huts and housing.

The State Historic Preservation Division, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Historic Hawai'i Foundation all have raised red flags over the planned transfer of the Kalaeloa land to Ford Island Properties, which is part of Texas-based Hunt Companies.

'Ewa Beach historian John Bond wants to preserve about 100 acres of the original 1941 Marine Corps Air Station 'Ewa, an associated support area and a 1920s dirigible mooring mast field.

Japanese fighters attacked 'Ewa Field minutes before Pearl Harbor, and four Marines were killed.

"It ('Ewa Field) is a hugely important part of American history," Bond said. "You can't deny the fact that Dec. 7, 1941, was one of the most pivotal points in American history."

A federal law requires the property to be conveyed by the end of the month, and a flurry of e-mails and meetings have ensued in recent weeks as the Navy and the preservation groups have tried to come to terms.

DESIGNATIONS UNCLEAR

Elizabeth S. Merritt, deputy general counsel for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., said "right now, the question of what is historic within that parcel that's going to be transferred is completely unclear."

The Navy in a recent environmental assessment outlined in red the 1941 portion of 'Ewa Field, the support area and the dirigible mooring mast area, but Merritt said it's unclear whether the Navy is designating the area as historic, and as such, subject to a federal "Section 106" preservation consultation process before any development takes place.

Merritt said the State Historic Preservation Division concluded that a Navy inventory of historic elements within the 499 acres was "grossly inadequate."

The state agency, in a Sept. 11 letter to the Navy, said a group of 1944 quonset huts and 48 structures in a housing area built between 1941 and 1953 are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, but are not listed as such by the Navy.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties, and afford preservation groups and the public a chance to comment.

"If the Navy were to rewrite the lease (to Ford Island Properties) and say everything that's within these parcels is going to go through Section 106 consultation, then that would be a different story," Merritt said. "We've never heard that's what they are proposing to do."

Merritt said it's possible the issue could wind up in court.

"I don't really know the likelihood of that," she said. "But it would be so easy for the Navy to solve its problems and do this in a way that's defensible."

TALKS TAKING PLACE

Agnes T. Tauyan, a spokeswoman for Navy Region Hawai'i, said last week that final negotiations were taking place to execute a lease allowing Ford Island Properties to take title of the property.

The Navy said it already has conducted three primary historic surveys that include the conveyance area, and National Historic Preservation Act requirements have been met.

But Tauyan said the service is willing to further discuss the state historic preservation group's concerns while the property remains under lease with the Navy.

Tauyan said any projects proposed by Ford Island Properties that may affect historic parcels are still subject to consultation with the state — a claim that the National Trust for Historic Preservation disputes.

The Hunt Development Group in June said specific plans had not been made about the use of the land.

Kiersten Faulkner, executive director of Historic Hawai'i Foundation, noted that "Hunt's a housing developer. You can make some inferences that a housing developer would build housing."

Last Friday, Steve Colon, president of the Hawai'i division of Hunt Development, issued a statement saying the lease had not yet been finalized.

"When the property is conveyed, we look forward to reviewing the historical research the Navy has conducted, as well as working with the preservation groups," Colon said. "In the end, we are all working toward the same goal: to ensure our military veterans are properly honored. We are grateful for their enormous sacrifices and appreciate those who want to honor their bravery."

At the time of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, there were nearly 50 aircraft on the ground at 'Ewa Field. Most were damaged or destroyed in several passes by the Japanese.

The Navy said it conducted a "cultural resource inventory survey" in 1997 for Naval Air Station Barbers Point. According to the State Historic Preservation Division, 'Ewa Field was declared "excess" and was absorbed into the adjacent Barbers Point base in 1952.

Barbers Point was shuttered in 1999 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

The deal with Hunt and Ford Island Properties grew out of a change to a previous agreement in which Ford Island Properties was granted leasehold interest to 40 acres on Ford Island.

Officials said Ford Island Properties planned to build 433 civilian residential units on Ford Island, but Navy concerns were raised about civilian home ownership on what is an active military base.

LITTLE LEFT OF AIRFIELD

Hunt agreed to give up the Ford Island land in exchange for the 499 acres in Kalaeloa.

The Navy in January said the market value of Ford Island Properties' leasehold interest at Ford Island was appraised at $61 million, and the 499 acres at Kalaeloa — which includes much of the old 'Ewa Field land — was appraised at $75 million.

As part of the deal, Ford Island Properties will contribute $16.6 million toward improvements on Ford Island.

The Navy previously said the long-term lease will recognize about 4 or 5 acres at the center of the former 'Ewa Field airfield as being eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Not much of the airfield is left, with only foundation outlines, a quonset hut and a concrete building or two standing, but the original runways are still there.

A wild card of sorts exists for the possible preservation of 'Ewa Field in the form of President Bush's directive in May for the Defense Department and Interior Department to consider Pearl Harbor and other locations in the Pacific for possible nomination as national monuments.

Merritt, of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said 'Ewa Field made it on a draft list for possible inclusion, but wasn't sure if it remains in consideration.