Comment from Keliaikapoliolehua Kiko

I am writing to vehemently oppose the dumping of SpaceX rocket debris into the waters surrounding Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the main Hawaiian Islands. Papahānaumokuākea is one of the largest and most biologically rich marine protected areas in the world and a sacred cultural landscape central to Native Hawaiian identity. The use of this area as a “sacrifice zone” for rocket debris is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent for disregarding environmental and cultural stewardship. The dumping of rocket debris threatens the fragile ecosystems of Papahānaumokuākea, home to over 7,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Toxic materials from debris, such as metals and unburned propellant, pollute the marine environment and harm endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal, sea turtles, and coral reefs. Allowing such contamination in a protected marine monument violates the principles of conservation and international commitments to biodiversity. Further, this disregard for Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage and natural resources fails to respect the Native Hawaiian people and their relationship with Papahānaumokuākea. As trustee and manager of this sacred site, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) must be consulted, along with local communities and institutions across Hawaiʻi. To proceed without full transparency and public consultation is a gross oversight and a failure to honor Indigenous governance. I demand that the FAA conduct a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that thoroughly assesses the consequences of rocket debris on Hawaiʻi’s environment and cultural heritage. This assessment must include direct engagement with the people of Hawaiʻi, the OHA, and other local organizations to ensure the protection of both the natural and cultural integrity of these waters. Space exploration must not come at the cost of polluting our planet’s most sacred and fragile ecosystems. Papahānaumokuākea is not a dumping ground—it is a globally significant treasure that deserves our utmost respect and protection. I urge both SpaceX and the FAA to take immediate action to halt these harmful practices, conduct a full EIS, and engage in meaningful consultations with Hawaiʻi’s communities.