Aloha All,

Reaching my first 90 days as Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii provides a welcome opportunity to connect directly with our neighbors, civic leaders, and the broader Oahu community. While my role as installation commander is recent, Hawaii is already home. My wife, Margaret, and I have lived on Oahu for several years raising our eight children. Between school days and countless hours spent swimming and surfing at beaches across the island, our family has developed a profound appreciation for this land, its traditions, and the spirit of aloha that surrounds us.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii serves as a cornerstone of our nation’s homeland defense and security across the Indo-Pacific. Our Marines and Sailors stand ready to project power and protect our freedoms. Yet, true readiness requires strong roots. That is why my command philosophy centers on two fundamental responsibilities: taking care of our people and serving as trusted, proactive stewards of our community and resources.

First, we are committed to making MCBH a "Duty Station of Choice" we are actively investing in the well-being and living standards of our service members, civilian personnel, and families. We recently hosted the Acting Secretary of the Navy, Honorable Hung Cao, for an in-depth tour of our barracks, family housing, and installation facilities. Walking these spaces firsthand provided senior leadership with an unvarnished look at our day-to-day living conditions, gaining executive support and resource allocation needed to modernize our infrastructure. Concurrently, we are working to establish a dedicated island shuttle service. Many of our young Marines and Sailors do not own vehicles, and this initiative will offer safe, reliable transportation into local towns and commercial centers, enabling them to experience the island’s culture, support local businesses, and build connections across Oahu.

Second, our stewardship extends beyond the natural environment to the young minds who will shape our future. These are some of our upcoming commitment initiatives:

Hosting the Kalaheo High School NJROTC at MCBH is a point of personal pride. With a student body drawn equally from Kailua and MCBH, Kalaheo embodies the natural partnership between our installation and the Windward community. We are excited to welcome these cadets onto base.  Stewardship is not just about caring for the land. It is also about investing in our youth, building character, and empowering future leaders.

Similarly, on September 26 for National Public Lands Day, student leaders from Mokapu Elementary’s Aloha Ambassadors program and their parents are partnering with the Ola Nuʻupia Hui at the Nuʻupia Fishpond. Together, we will remove invasive species and plant native plants, reinforcing our cultural and environmental responsibilities.

Open dialogue and mutual trust are essential to our shared success. In the coming weeks and months, I and other MCBH members, will continue to meet with our neighborhood boards, civic organizations, and elected representatives to listen, collaborate, and ensure MCBH remains a supportive and dependable neighbor.

Semper Fidelis,

Col Steve DeTrinis

Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Hawaii