State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa has introduced a bill that would set up the Makua Valley Reserve Commission to oversee eventual preservation and restoration at the 4,190-acre military reservation.

The reserve commission would fall within the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and have a seven-member board. Hanabusa's bill states that upon return to the state, the resources of Makua Valley will be held in trust as part of the public land trust, and that commercial uses would be prohibited.

The Army oversees training at Makua Military Reservation under a 65-year lease that ends in 2029.

There has been pressure on the Army to give up Makua, a place of cultural importance to some Hawaiians, but the Army last year said a return to company-size live-fire training — prohibited by court order for the past three years — is "absolutely critical" to the Army's training strategy and requirements.

Hanabusa's bill, Senate Bill 2189, states that "prior to the return of Makua Valley from the United States Army to the state, the commission may enter into discussions with the Army to facilitate the expedient return of Makua Valley upon the expiration of the Army's lease."

The board would include a member from community group Malama Makua; an appointment by the governor from the Wai'anae Coast; a trustee or representative from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the commanding officer or representative from U.S. Army Pacific; the state adjutant general or representative; the chairman of the board of land and natural resources; and an appointment made by the governor from a list provided by Native Hawaiian organizations.

The Makua Valley Reserve Commission would establish policies and controls for permissible uses within the valley reserve.

IN BRIEF

MIXON TAKES OVER U.S. ARMY PACIFIC

Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. "Randy" Mixon received his third star and command of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter on Friday, taking over for Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III.

Mixon, 54, who most recently was head of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, assumes command not only of the more than 2,300 soldiers and 1,100 civilians at Fort Shafter, but also throughout the Pacific.

Brown, who is retiring with his wife, Elaine, to Georgia, said the units on the field at Palm Circle on Friday represented 60,000 soldiers and 75,000 family members.

U.S. Army Pacific commands most Army forces in the Asia-Pacific region with the exception of South Korea.

"They'll be a rustle in the ranks tomorrow when for the first time since the early 1970s, Lt. Gen. Brown will not be there for muster," said Adm. Timothy Keating, head of U.S. Pacific Command. "But we'll realize in a big hurry that Randy Mixon is with us, as is Rhonda (Mixon). He's proved his mettle in battle. Much will be required of him and his family in the months and years ahead, but they are up to the task."

Mixon said he would never forget that "this position that I have been given is all about the soldiers that you see on the field in front of you."

Brown, meanwhile, was among the last to leave the Palm Circle field, lingering to talk to and take photos with soldiers.

The U.S. Army Pacific headquarters is evolving into a deployable warfighting unit that could operate from a deployed location in the Pacific.

In December, a couple hundred Fort Shafter soldiers deployed to Japan for exercise Yama Sakura, and about 100 soldiers will participate in Balikatan, starting this week in the Philippines. Up to 6,000 U.S. troops are expected to take part.

ANOTHER SE ASIA MISSION FOR MERCY

Preparations are under way to deploy the U.S. naval hospital ship USNS Mercy on a humanitarian mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia in support of Pacific Partnership 2008, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced last week in Australia.

"Building on a successful Mercy deployment in 2006 and Peleliu Pacific Partnership last summer, Mercy will again embark international medical, dental and engineering teams this summer to provide humanitarian support in Southeast Asia," Adm. Robert F. Willard said.

A number of military and civilian agencies are planning the details that go into a months-long mission of focused medical, dental and civic-action programs. Specific locations for the ship's relief operations will be announced at a later date, the Navy said.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.