Pohakuloa was recognized for developing creative and effective solutions to protect Hawai'i's unique ecosystems and listed species.

"The U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa in Hawai'i is an outstanding example of how today's military is going green — and I'm not referring to olive drab," H. Dale Hall, director of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service quipped in a news release.

"Pohakuloa demonstrates how a military installation can make a major contribution to conservation efforts. The Service applauds Pohakuloa's cooperative conservation achievements, especially their proactive habitat restoration and endangered species monitoring program, which exemplifies positive cooperation between government and private-sector partners."

The award, presented last week at the 72nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Portland, Ore., was created by the Wildlife Service to recognize military installations that have made significant natural resource conservation achievements through cooperative work with the Service, state and local government, and other organizations. Such achievements may include the conservation, protection, and restoration of important habitat for a variety of species — including endangered and native species — on military lands.

Col. Howard J. Killian, commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Hawai'i, said in a news release: "So many times when people see Army green they only see the military operations side, and that's something we need to change. Army-wide, there is a growing emphasis on building a sustainability ethos."

The 131,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area — on the Big Island between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Hualalai Mountains — is the largest Department of Defense installation in Hawai'i.