The carrier group may not be coming, but the military may still base a carrier-like amphibious assault ship with helicopters, Harrier jump jets and Marines at Pearl Harbor.

Daniel Dinell, executive director of the Hawai'i Community Development Association, said his understanding is that such a move is still possible.

Encroaching residential development from 'Ewa Beach and Kapolei has effectively precluded the idea of noisy Navy jets from the carrier flying in and out of Kalaeloa, but an amphibious assault ship "could fly the helicopters directly in from the ocean, over the Coast Guard station and land, and you haven't crossed any housing," Dinell said.

Dinell also said that if the Navy wants to build, for example, 1,000 military residential units as part of the total 6,350 homes that are planned, "that's fine. It's good for the area."