JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — The Navy says there may be a slight possibility that enlisted military housing built atop lava fields on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam could be considered “unsafe.” While almost certainly not the case, the finding by the base’s housing inspector is a setback as military officials attempt to address widespread housing issues some describe as “dangerous.”
“Of course we prioritize the safety of all our members above almost everything,” said Navy Capt. Clayton Mansion, the base housing director. “But I have my doubts there’s an issue. The golf course is only a few miles away from the Lava Fields Housing Complex, and I almost never hear shrieks of searing agony.”
The report came to light after a viral video of a move-in inspection showed molten rock flowing from a kitchen sink, a pantry filled with smoldering embers, and a backyard metal playset glowing red as it slowly dissolved in lava. A Navy official declined to provide specifics but said these were most likely purposefully installed design features that “went well with the whole volcanic theme” in Hawaii base housing.
