Kahoolawe

Kaho'olawe is the smallest of the 8 main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. It is located southwest of Maui and southeast of Lana'i and is 11 miles (18 km) long by 6 miles (10 km) across. Total area is 45 mile² (117 km²). The highest point, Lua Makika, is 450 m (1,477 ft) above sea level. The island is rather dry because the low elevation fails to generate much orographic precipitation from the northeastern Trade Winds and it is located in the rain shadow of 3055 m (10,023 ft) high Haleakala.

Kaho'olawe is part of Maui County. There are no permanent residents living on the island.

History

From around 1941 until May 1994, Kaho'olawe was used by the United States Navy as a gunfire and aerial bombardment target, part of a defense training area. In 1981, the entire island was included on the National Register of Historic Places. Popular sentiment in Hawai'i against the Navy's use of the island eventually prevailed. In 1993, Congress passed a law that "recognized the cultural significance of the island, requiring the Navy to return the island to the State, and directing the Navy to conduct an unexploded ordnance (UXO) cleanup and environmental restoration". The Navy attempted a cleanup of the unexploded ordnance from the island, although much still remains buried or resting on the land surface. Other items have washed down gullies and still others lie beneath the waters offshore. The turnover was officially made on November 11, 2003, but the cleanup was not completed. Although the U.S. Navy was given $400 million and 10 years to complete the task, work progressed much slower than anticipated. As of the time of turnover, access to Kaho'olawe requires escort and careful attention within areas known to contain unexploded ordnance.

In 1993, the Hawai'i State Legislature established the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve, consisting of "the entire island and its surrounding ocean waters in a two mile (3 km) radius from the shore". By State Law, Kaho'olawe and its waters can only be used for Native Hawaiian cultural, spiritual and subsistence purposes; fishing; environmental restoration; historic preservation; and education. Commercial uses are prohibited.

The Legislature also created the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to manage the Reserve while it is held in trust for a future Native Hawaiian Sovereignty entity. The restoration of Kaho'olawe will require a strategy to control erosion, re-establish vegetation, recharge the water table, and gradually replace alien plants with native species. Plans will include methods for damming gullies and reducing rainwater runoff. In some areas, non-native plants will temporarily stabilize soils before planting of permanent native species.

Reference

• Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission