Pohakuloa Training Area Pōhakuloa Training Area ( PTA ) is located on the island of Hawaii in the high plateau between Mauna Loa , Mauna Kea and the Hualālai volcanic mountains . It includes a small military airstrip known as Bradshaw Army Airfield . Description . The area of is the largest United States Department of Defense installation in the state of Hawaii , or anywhere in the Pacific . The region was used for live fire exercise s in 1943 during World War II when Camp Tarawa temporarily held troops on Parker Ranch . About were leased from Richard Smart , owner of the ranch . At that time it was called the Waikoloa Maneuver Area , and located northwest of current base , south of Waimea . In September 1946 the land used for the old maneuver area and camp was returned to the ranch , and a smaller Lalamilo Firing Range used until 1953 . Since coastal areas were developed into tourist resorts , military areas were moved inland to more remote locations . Location . The name of the current facility comes from " puu pōhaku loa " , which means " long rocky cinder cone " in the Hawaiian Language , although like many other Hawaiian names , the same name has been used for other places on the island . Pōhakuloa Training Area lies in a high plateau between lower slopes of Mauna Kea to approximately in elevation and to about on Mauna Loa . The training area is about midway between Hilo , on the east coast and the Army landing site at Kawaihae Harbor . It is used by both the U . S . Army and Marine Corps . The only road access is via the narrow Saddle Road ( Hawaii Route 200 ) , which is paralleled by a tank trail . Heavy equipment is either flown into Hilo , or else shipped via barge to Kawaihae Harbor , about away on the Saddle Road . Because of this remoteness , the area is used mostly for short training sessions . Facilities . The barracks for about 2 , 000 troops were constructed in April 1955 from prefabricated buildings used in World War II . The support area includes of logistic and administrative facilities . In July 2006 an additional were purchased from Parker Ranch in an area known as Keʻāmuku , which means " cut - off lava " in Hawaiian , from to the 19th century lava flows through the area . Located at , the realignment of the Saddle Road is planned to bypass the Ke ‘ āmuku addition . PTA has a impact area used for bombing and gunnery practice , refurbished in March 2009 to allow helicopter training . There are approximately of land level enough for large maneuvers , more than twice the area available on Oahu . Its remoteness allows a wide range of weapons to be used . The 25th Infantry Division and 3rd Marine Regiment often use the base for four to six - week training periods . Weapons such as the Davy Crockett nuclear rifle ( with dummy warheads ) and depleted Uranium have been used at PTA . After initial denials , an investigation concluded the spotting rounds used in the 1960s . Measurements detected radiation , but reportedly not above life - threatening levels . Bradshaw Army Airfield . The airstrip was constructed at the area in 1956 . The runway is only long , which only accommodates small aircraft . Fog often restricts helicopters , which can also fly in from the larger bases on Oahu . Environment . Vegetation varies from sparse grassland and low shrubs to open māmane forest . Despite the volcanic terrain , some of the areas contain protected wildlife . Within the borders of the training area , ten different endangered species can be found . These include the native Hawaiian mint honohono ( " Haplostachys haplostachya " ) and the shrub ' kio ' ele ( " Kadua coriacea " ) . This area has more endangered species than any other US Army installation . The northeastern portion of the site near Mauna Kea provides habitat for the endangered bird Palila ( " Loxioides bailleui " ) , for example . Several archaeological sites have been found in the training area , including the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave , listed in the National Register of Historic Places . To reduce fire danger and damage from feral goats , areas were fenced .