The Island
Of Kaho'olawe
"Rebirth
Of A Sacred
Island"
Find Out What Only The Local's Know!
Discover What
You Can And Cannot Do Here On Kaho'olawe While
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Date:
From:
Hawaiian Joe Re: The
Island Of Kaho'olawe
Kaho'olawe Island
Background And History
Kaho'olawe - Rebirth Of A Sacred Island
Kaho'olawe
recognizes the
Hinahina (native beach heliotrope -
Heliotropium anomalum, var. argenteum) as the
official island flower. Other names: Hinahina, hinahina
ku kahakai, nohonohopuuone, pohinahina (Boraginaceae).
Kahoʻolawe
is the smallest of the 8 main volcanic islands in the
Hawaiian Islands also know as the Sandwich Islands. It
is located 7 miles (11.2 km) southwest of
Maui and southeast of
Lānaʻi
and is 11 miles (18 km) long by 6 miles (9.7 km) across.
Total area is 44.6 square
miles (115.5 km).
The highest point is the
crater of Lua Makika at the summit of Puʻu
Moaulanui, which is 1,477 feet (450 m) above sea level.
The island is relatively 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 Maui's 10,023 feet (3,055 m) high
East Maui Volcano (Haleakalā). More than one quarter
of the island has been eroded down to
saprolitic
hardpan.
History
Hanau hou he ‘ula ‘o
Kaho‘olawe - Rebirth of a
Sacred Island
Archeological evidence
suggests that Hawaiians came
to Kaho‘olawe as early as
400 A.D., settling in small
fishing villages along the
island’s coast. To date,
nearly 3,000 archeological
and historical sites and
features—inventoried through
2004—paint a picture of
Kaho‘olawe as a navigational
center for voyaging, the
site of an adze quarry, an
agricultural center, and a
site for religious and
cultural ceremonies.
Traditionally, the island
has been revered as a wahi
pana and a pu‘uhonua.
A s
modern times rolled in,
Kaho‘olawe underwent a
harsh evolution. It
would be used briefly as
a penal colony, for
sheep and cattle
ranching, and eventually
transferred to the U.S.
Navy for use as a
bombing range.
Litigation forced an end
to the bombing in 1990
and the island was
placed under the
administration of the
Kaho‘olawe Island
Reserve Commission (KIRC).
Following a 10-year
period of ordnance
removal, control of
access to Kaho‘olawe was
transferred to the State
of Hawai‘i in 2003.
Today, the KIRC is
responsible for the
restoration and
sustainable management
of the island until it
can be transferred to a
Native Hawaiian entity
to manage.
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Kaho‘olawe Through
Time
400—1750
Native Hawaiians
settle and continue
to migrate from the
South Pacific to
Hawai‘i. Kaho‘olawe
is dedicated to
Kanaloa, Hawaiian
deity of the ocean.
The island is also
historically
referred to as
Kohemalamalama O
Kanaloa.
1793
Goats are
introduced to
Kaho‘olawe, a
gift from
Captain
Vancouver to
Chief Kahekili
of Maui.
1832—1852
As early
as 1832, adult
men are sent to
a penal colony
on Kaho‘olawe
for various
offenses.
Headquarters for
the penal colony
is located at
Kaulana Bay. In
1853, the law
establishing
Kaho‘olawe as a
penal colony is
repealed.
1858—1941
In 1858,
the Hawaiian
government
issues the first
of many ranch
leases for the
island.
Throughout the
ranching period,
the uncontrolled
grazing of
cattle, sheep,
and goats has a
serious impact
on the
environment of
the island
resulting in
substantial loss
of soil through
accelerated
erosion. By the
late 1890s,
there are 900
cattle and
15,000 sheep on
the island.
1941
After the
attack on Pearl
Harbor, the U.S.
declares martial
law, which leads
to the use of
Kaho‘olawe as a
bombing range.
1941—1988
The goat
population on
Kaho‘olawe
reaches about
50,000.
1953
President
Dwight D.
Eisenhower
transfers title
of Kaho‘olawe to
the U.S. Navy
with the
provision that
it be returned
in a condition
for “suitable
habitation” when
no longer needed
by the military.
1976
Members
of Protect
Kaho‘olawe
‘Ohana (PKO)
begin a series
of occupations
of the island in
an effort to
halt bombing.
The PKO also
files suit in
Federal District
Court to enjoin
the Navy’s
bombing
activities. In
1977, the
Federal District
Court orders a
partial summary
judgment
requiring the
Navy to conduct
an environmental
impact statement
and supply an
inventory of,
and protect, the
historic sites
on the island.
1980
A consent
decree is signed
between the U.S.
Navy and the PKO,
which results in
a Memorandum of
Understanding
requiring the
Navy to begin
soil
conservation,
revegetation,
and goat
eradication
programs.
1981
Kaho‘olawe is
listed on the
National
Register of
Historic Places
and is
designated the
Kaho‘olawe
Archaeological
District.
1990
As a
result of PKO
actions and
litigation,
President George
Bush Sr. orders
a stop to the
bombing of
Kaho‘olawe.
1993
Senator
Daniel K. Inouye
(D-Hawai‘i)
sponsors Title X
of the 1994
Department of
Defense
Appropriations
Act, which
authorizes
conveyance of
Kaho‘olawe and
its surrounding
waters back to
the State of
Hawai‘i.
Congress votes
to end military
use of
Kaho‘olawe and
authorizes $400
million for
ordnance
removal.
1994
U.S. Navy
conveys deed of
ownership of
Kaho‘olawe to
the State of
Hawai‘i. The
Kaho‘olawe
Island Reserve
Commission is
established to
manage
activities on
the island.
1997—1998
U.S. Navy
awards contracts
for the removal
of unexploded
ordnance on
Kaho‘olawe. By
November 2003,
74 percent of
the island’s
surface would be
cleared.
However, only
nine percent of
the island’s
surface has been
cleared to a
depth of four
feet. Ten
percent of the
island, or 2,936
acres, has not
been cleared and
is unsafe to
access.
2003
Transfer
of access
control is
returned from
the U.S. Navy to
the State of
Hawai‘i in a
ceremony at
‘Iolani Palace
on November 11,
2003.
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Sometime around 1000, Kahoʻolawe
was settled, and small, temporary
fishing communities were established
along the coast. Some inland areas were
cultivated, and fine-grained basalt was
quarried for stone tools. Originally a
dry,
mesic forest environment with
intermittent streams, the land changed
to an open
savannah of
grassland and trees as a result of
vegetation clearance for firewood and
agriculture.
People built stone
platforms for religious ceremonies, set
rocks upright as shrines for successful
fishing trips, and carved
petroglyphs, or drawings, into the
flat surfaces of rocks. These indicators
of an earlier time can still be found on
Kahoʻolawe.
While it is not known how many people
inhabited the island - the lack of
freshwater probably limited the
population to a few hundred. As many as
100 or more people may have once lived
at Hakioawa, the largest settlement
located at the northeast end of the
island facing
Maui.
Violent wars among competing chiefs
laid waste to the land and led to a
decline in the population. During the
War of Kamokuhi, Kalaniopuʻu,
the ruler of the Island of Hawaiʻi,
raided and pillaged Kahoʻolawe
in an unsuccessful attempt to take Maui
from Kamalalawalu, the King of Maui.
From 1778 to the early 1800s, observers
on passing ships reported that the
island was uninhabited and barren,
destitute of both water and wood. After
the arrival of
missionaries from
New England, the Hawaiian government
of
King Kamehameha III replaced the
death penalty with exile, and Kahoʻolawe
became a male
penal colony sometime around 1830.
Food and water were scarce, some
prisoners reportedly starved, and some
swam across the channel to Maui to find
food. The law making the island a penal
colony was repealed in 1853.
An 1857 survey of Kahoʻolawe
reported about 50 residents, about
5,000 acres
(2,000 Hectare)
of land covered with shrubs, and a patch
of sugar cane. Along the shore,
tobacco,
pineapple,
gourds, pili (pee-lee) grass and
scrub trees grew.
Beginning in 1858, the
Hawaiian government leased Kahoʻolawe
to a sequence of ranching ventures. Some
proved more successful than others, but
the lack of freshwater was an unyielding
enemy. Through the next 80 years, the
landscape changed dramatically—drought
and uncontrolled overgrazing denuded
much of the island, and strong trade
winds blew away much of the
topsoil leaving the red hard pan.
From 1910 to 1918 the Hawaiian
Territorial government designated Kahoʻolawe
as a
forest reserve in hopes of restoring
the island through a re-vegetation and
livestock removal program. The program
failed and leases again became
available.
In 1918, the skilled
Wyoming rancher Angus MacPhee with
the help of Maui landowner Harry Baldwin
leased the island for 21 years
intending to build a cattle ranch. By
1932, the ranching operation was
enjoying moderate success. After heavy
rains, native grasses and flowering
plants would sprout, but drought seemed
to always return. In 1941, MacPhee
subleased part of the island to the
Army. Later that year, because of
continuing drought, MacPhee removed his
cattle from the island.
On
December 8, 1941, after the
Japanese
attack on
Pearl Harbor, the U.S.
Army declared martial law throughout
Hawaiʻi
and took control of Kahoʻolawe.
Soon, Kahoʻolawe
was being used as a place to train
Americans headed to war across the
Pacific. The use of Kahoʻolawe
as a training range was believed to be
critical to the lives of many young
Americans. The United States was
executing a new type of war in the
Pacific islands. Success depended on
accurate, heavy gunfire from ships
suppressing enemy positions as Marines
and soldiers struggled to get ashore.
Thousands of soldiers, sailors, Marines
and airmen prepared on Kahoʻolawe
for the brutal and costly assaults on
islands such as the
Gilberts, the
Marianas and
Iwo Jima.
Training on Kahoʻolawe
continued after
World War II. During the
Korean War, carrier-based aircraft
played a critical role in attacking
enemy airfields, convoys and troop
staging areas. Mock-ups of airfields,
vehicles and other camps were
constructed on Kahoʻolawe,
and while pilots were undergoing
readiness inspection at nearby
Barbers Point Naval Air Station,
they practiced spotting and hitting the
mock-ups at Kahoʻolawe.
Similar training took place through the
Cold War and during Vietnam, as mock-ups
of aircraft, radar installations, gun
mounts and surface-to-air missile sites
were placed across the island for pilots
and others to use for training.
In early 1965, the
United States Navy conducted
Operation Sailor Hat to determine
the blast resistance of ships. Three
tests off the coast of Kaho'olawe
subjected the Island and a target ship
to massive explosions, with 500 tons of
conventional TNT detonated on the Island
near the target ship
USS Atlanta (CL-104); The ship was
damaged, but not sunk. The blasts
created a crater on the island known as
"Sailor Man's Cap", cracking the small
fresh water well on the island rendering
it incapable of holding fresh water and
making the Island all but uninhabitable.
In 1976, a group of individuals
calling themselves the Protect Kahoʻolawe
ʻOhana (PKO) filed suit in
federal court to stop the Navy’s use of
Kahoʻolawe
for military training, to require
compliance with a number of new
environmental laws and to ensure
protection of cultural resources on the
island.
In 1977, the Federal District
Court for the District of Hawai'i allowed
the Navy’s use of the island to
continue, but the Court directed the
Navy to prepare an
environmental impact statement and
complete an inventory of historic sites
on the island. On March 9, 1977, two PKO
leaders,
George Helm and Kimo Mitchell, were
lost at sea during an attempt to occupy
Kahoʻolawe
in symbolic protest.
In 1980, the Navy
and the Protect Kahoʻolawe
ʻOhana entered into a Consent
Decree which allowed continued military
training on the island, monthly access
to the island for the PKO, surface
clearance of part of the island,
soil conservation, goat eradication
and an archaeological survey.
On March 18, 1981, the entire island
was added to the
National Register of Historic Places.
At that time, the Kahoʻolawe
Archaeological District was noted to
contain 544 recorded archaeological or
historic sites and over 2,000 individual
features. As part of the soil
conservation efforts, workers laid lines
of explosive charges, detonating them to
break the hardpan so that seedling trees
could be planted. Used tires were taken
to Kahoʻolawe
and placed in miles of deep gullies to
slow the washing of red soil from the
barren uplands to the surrounding
shores. Ordnance and scrap metal was
picked up by hand and transported by
large trucks to a collection site.
In 1990, President
George H. W. Bush ordered an end to
live-fire training on the island. The
Department of Defense Appropriations Act
for Fiscal Year 1991 established the
Kahoʻolawe
Island Conveyance Commission to
recommend terms and conditions for the
conveyance of Kahoʻolawe
by the United States government to the
State of Hawaiʻi.
Transfer of
title and
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) cleanup
In 1993, Senator
Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaiʻi
sponsored Title X of the Fiscal Year
1994 Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, directing that the
United States convey Kahoʻolawe
and its surrounding waters to the State
of Hawaiʻi.
Title X also established the objective
of a “clearance or removal of
unexploded ordnance (UXO)” and
environmental restoration of the island,
to provide “meaningful safe use of the
island for appropriate cultural,
historical, archaeological, and
educational purposes, as determined by
the State of Hawai'i.” In turn, the State
created the Kahoʻolawe
Island Reserve Commission to exercise
policy and management oversight of the
Kahoʻolawe
Island Reserve. As directed by Title X
and in accordance with a required
Navy / State of Hawaiʻi
Memorandum of Understanding, the Navy
transferred title of Kahoʻolawe
to the State of Hawaiʻi
on May 9, 1994.
As required by Title X, the Navy
retained access control to the island
until clearance and environmental
restoration activities were completed,
or
November 11,
2003, whichever came first. The
State agreed to prepare a Use Plan for
Kahoʻolawe
and the Navy agreed to develop a Cleanup
Plan based on that use plan and to
implement that plan to the extent
Congress provided funds for that
purpose.
In July 1997, the Navy awarded a
contract to the Parsons UXB Joint
Venture to clear ordnance from the
island to the extent funds were provided
by Congress. After the State and public
review of the Navy cleanup plan,
Parsons / UXB began their work on the
island in November 1998.
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
more slowly than anticipated. As of the
time of turnover, access to Kahoʻolawe
requires escort and careful attention
within areas known to contain unexploded
ordnance.
Kahoʻolawe
Island Reserve
In 1993, the
Hawaiʻi
State Legislature established the
Kahoʻolawe
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, Kahoʻolawe
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
Kahoʻolawe
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.
Kaho'olawe Culture
Preserving the Foundations of Culture
Kaho‘olawe
is a unique place where one quickly becomes
aware of the spiritual connection to the
‘āina—the wind, ocean, land, and heavens.
When the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve
Commission (KIRC) began planning for the
restoration of the island, it was understood
that cultural awareness would guide the
restoration. The KIRC Culture and
Education Program is intended to ensure that
experts in Hawaiian culture are on hand to
provide cultural assessments prior to and
during restoration and ocean management
activities, and to perform various
protocols, ceremonies, and rituals as
appropriate.
Cultural programs are tailored to support
the KIRC mission, which is focused on
managing the Reserve in trust for a future
Native Hawaiian entity to preserve and
practice all rights traditionally exercised
for cultural, spiritual, and subsistence
purposes.
Integrating Culture and
Restoration
Cultural
integration is emphasized in all facets of
Kaho‘olawe’s restoration. Traditionally, the
island was considered a sacred place that
was closely associated with Kanaloa, the
Hawaiian deity of the ocean. Today it is
still considered a sacred and spiritual
place as well as a cultural treasure with
numerous heiau, ko‘a, and ahu on the island.
The entire island is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places because of its
archeological, cultural, and historic
significance.
Kaho‘olawe’s
Archeological Importance
Kaho‘olawe is the only major island in
the Pacific that has been archaeologically
surveyed from coast to coast. There is now a
total inventory of nearly 3,000 historic
sites and features on the island.
The
creation of a comprehensive electronic
database of these sites and features
provides a unique planning and land
management tool. Site maps, descriptions,
and photographs are retrievable by grid,
site, and geographic area.
The island retains an intact and unique
record of all phases of the Hawaiian past
from the adze maker’s workshop at Pu‘umoiwi
to the fisherman’s camp at Kealaikahiki,
from the heiau at Hakioawa to the paniolo
bunkhouse at Kuheia. These and other
resources will provide education and
inspiration for many generations.
Adherence to Cultural
Protocols
The
KIRC staff maintains the cultural essence of
Kaho‘olawe by adhering to the ‘Aha Pawalu, a
protocol book written by the Edith
Kanaka‘ole Foundation specifically for the
KIRC. The book details sixteen chants and
nine protocols, basic information that the
KIRC staff recognizes and acknowledges as
guidelines for proper cultural behavior.
A second book that may be used in the
future is the Kalai Maoli Ola, which details
specific protocols
for different areas of the island.
Traditional Cultural
Practices
Various
ceremonies and rites are regularly performed
on Kaho‘olawe using traditional cultural
practices. The annual planting ceremony
takes place every October at the beginning
of the wet season, and people from both the
KIRC and the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana (PKO)
come together to give offerings and open the
planting season. Cultural practitioners,
usually from the PKO, perform seasonal
ceremonies for Kane and Kanaloa during the
solstices. Proper burial ceremonies are also
held when iwi kupuna are found on the
island.
Presentations and
Outreach
Thousands of high school and college
students, as well as the members of various
organizations, receive orientations on the
history and culture of Kaho‘olawe as part of
the KIRC Culture and Education Program. In
addition, materials now being prepared in
collaboration with the State Department of
Education will result in curriculum to
assist public and private school teachers in
Hawai‘i in including modules on Kaho‘olawe
in their Hawaiian studies programs.
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Kaho'olawe Restoration
The Healing of Kaho‘olawe
The
healing of Kanaloa (Kaho‘olawe) is a
physical and spiritual renewal that is
deeply rooted in the revival of cultural
practices, traditions, and rituals. As a
result, activities conducted by the
Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC)
Restoration Program are guided by the need
to achieve a more holistic understanding
between man and nature and to place strong
emphasis on healing as well as environmental
restoration. Cultural integration is a
focus within the Restoration Program. Every
year, the planting season begins with a
ceremony that consists of appropriate
protocols, chants, and ho‘okupu given at a
series of rain ko‘a shrines that were built
in 1997. The shrines link ‘Ulupalakua on
Maui to Luamakika, located at the summit of
Kaho‘olawe. Their purpose is to call back
the cloud bridge that once existed between
Maui and Kaho‘olawe. With the clouds come
the famous Naulu rains that are associated
with Kaho‘olawe.
Revegetation of the Island
Kaho‘olawe
is being planted with native species that
include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and
herbs. More than 100 acres have been
planted. As revegetation continues, each
acre planted would include up to 20 trees,
500 shrubs, and grasses and vines.
Only about 820 acres of the 12,800 most
severely eroded acres will be replanted, but
4,300 acres are targeted for restoration.
The remaining land is barren hardpan—soil
compacted so severely by erosion that it
cannot readily absorb water.
Invasive Species Removal
One
goal of environmental restoration is to
distribute native plant species in abundance
and to create a “seed bank” that will enable
a native plant community to be assembled.
For this to happen, invasive and alien plant
species must be removed. Much of the removal
is being accomplished using hand and power
tools along with herbicide. By
reestablishing native species over alien
ones, a native Hawaiian dryland forest can
be achieved.
Controlling Erosion and Sediment Run-Off
An
estimated 1.9 million tons of soil are
deposited into the ocean surrounding
Kaho‘olawe each year through erosion. The
KIRC’s Pu‘u Moa‘ulanui restoration project
focuses on reducing sediment flow in stream
channels before it reaches the sea by
promoting growth of vegetation in those
areas.
Many of the erosion control techniques
involve the use of pili The pili is grown at
the Plant Materials Center, a Moloka‘i
facility managed by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service. It is then baled and
transported to Kaho‘olawe by helicopter.
Water
Resources
Kaho‘olawe
has no standing source of fresh water and
groundwater is severely limited. A rain
catchment system has been constructed at the
island’s highest point, Pu‘u Moa‘ulanui,
which collects about 500,000 gallons of
water each year. Once established, plants
and groundcover will help retain moisture
and reduce the need for outside water. Also,
reverse osmosis units at Honokanai‘a are
capable of processing thousands of gallons
of water a day.
Volunteer Efforts
A $1.5 million grant from the State
Department of Health will enable about 1,800
volunteers to participate in restoration
activities on Kaho‘olawe over the next three
years. Volunteer trips typically focus on
watershed restoration and revegetation
activities. However, the program also
includes talk-story sessions on ancient and
contemporary history, current events, and
future use of Kaho‘olawe. Volunteers visit
significant Hawaiian cultural sites, listen
to historical stories, learn chants, and
practice cultural protocols as part of the
KIRC Culture and Education Program.
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Kaho'olawe Ocean Resources
Protecting Valuable Ocean Resources
Early
Hawaiians considered the ocean a spiritual
entity upon which they depended for their
survival. The need for a reliable source of
fish and shellfish led them to develop a
sophisticated understanding of the factors
that caused limitations and fluctuations in
marine resources. As a result, they devised
practices that fostered conservation and
sustainable use of marine resources,
including the creation of marine
sanctuaries—kai kapu—where marine life was
allowed to regenerate. Today, these
practices are perpetuated in the Reserve.
As caretakers of the Reserve, the mission of
the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC)
includes determining the status of the ocean
resources surrounding Kaho‘olawe and
improving the health of offshore areas in
anticipation of the time the island and its
waters are returned to a Native Hawaiian
entity.
The KIRC Ocean Resources Management
Program is responsible for a number of
activities dedicated to enhancing these
important ocean resources.
Coral
Reef Monitoring
Kaho‘olawe
is surrounded by an extensive reef system,
which, despite years of bombing, is
relatively well intact. The influx of
sedimentation is still a problem due to the
near-deforestation of the island caused by
bombing and feral animals. Due to its intact
herbivorous fish populations—which graze on
limu—harmful invasive limu species have yet
to become established on the reef system as
in the rest of the main Hawaiian Islands.
Working with scientific SCUBA divers from
the University of Hawai‘i, the KIRC is
monitoring the reef to determine the species
diversity and health of coral, fish, algae,
and large invertebrates. As monitoring
continues, decisions will be made to ensure
the health of the reef for future
generations.
Fish
Tagging and Replenishment
The
waters surrounding Kaho‘olawe are the
closest to a natural ecosystem that exists
within the main Hawaiian Islands. Because
these waters are off-limits to fishing and
commercial activities, this region acts as a
fish sanctuary that works to replenish fish
stocks throughout the islands, particularly
around Maui and Lana‘i.
To fully understand the impact of fish
breeding here, the KIRC is monitoring fish
habitat, growth rates and—through fish
tagging—their travel once they leave the
Reserve.
Monitoring by Sea and Air
As
a reserve, Kaho‘olawe is rich with marine
life that includes mano, nai‘a, hahalua, and
kohola. ‘Ilioholoikauaua, honu, and seabirds
such as ‘iwa and koa‘e ‘ula also utilize the
Reserve’s coastal habitats.
The Ocean Resources Management Program is
currently conducting an island-wide
inventory of these species—doing visual
counts by boat and helicopter—to establish a
distribution and abundance baseline that
will help determine whether their numbers
increase as a result of their protection
within the Reserve.
Kaho‘olawe Off-Limits to Fishing
Kaho‘olawe’s
waters include resources that can benefit us
all. As such, the health and protection of
these waters are our shared concern and
responsibility. Because Kaho‘olawe is a
sanctuary and fishing is off-limits, the
relatively intact fish resources are allowed
to achieve their optimal breeding sizes,
which yields remarkably larger spawning
events that help to replenish fish stocks
throughout the islands. Unauthorized use or
entrance into Reserve waters is subject to
penalties under State law. Your kokua is
appreciated.
Caught a Tagged Fish?
If you’ve caught an ‘opakapaka that
carries a KIRC black tagging transmitting
chip, you are encouraged to report your
catch to the KIRC Ocean Resources Management
Program. Your assistance will enable the
KIRC to evaluate the effectiveness of the
island as a source of fish stock
replenishment for the waters around
Kaho‘olawe and all the Hawaiian Islands.
Your help will also be greatly appreciated.
To report a tagged fish, contact the KIRC at
(808) 243-5889.
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Kaho'olawe Volunteers
Nā Hoaʻāina
In the healing process for Kahoʻolawe, the
KIRC relies on volunteers to get the job
done. Through our Restoration, Ocean, and
Cultural programs and the supporting
Operations program, there are many varied
volunteer opportunities that you can
participate in. These include reforestation
and erosion control projects, fish
monitoring and species surveys, historical
site restoration and protocol assistance,
infrastructure improvements, and a myriad of
other projects.
If you're interested in being added to
our volunteer team database, send an email
stating your name, phone number, email
address, availability, and
experience/interest information to our
Volunteer Coordinator, Jackson Bauer: jbauer@kirc.hawaii.gov.
Access Waiver Forms
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Kaho'olawe Announcements
Open Waters Schedule
Registration Information
*** Boaters, please note: All
vessels must register annually with
the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve
Commission prior to Reserve Access
and Catch Reports must be filed with
the KIRC following each access for
all wishing to participate in the
Reserve's Open Waters schedule
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Kaho'olawe Employment Opportunities
The State Legislature created the Kahoʻolawe
Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to manage
the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve while it is
held in trust for a future Native Hawaiian
sovereign entity. KIRC establishes policies
and controls uses; coordinates the
environmental restoration of the Reserve;
provides for the perpetuation of Native
Hawaiian customs, beliefs and practices.
The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission is
recruiting qualified candidates for the
positions described below.
Qualified candidates may submit their
resume with a cover letter stating their
interest and outlining their salary history
via e-mail to cmlee@kirc.hawaii.gov or mail
to:
The Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve
Commission
attn: Kaʻōnohi Lee - CONFIDENTIAL
811 Kolu Street, Suite 201
Wailuku, HI 96793
Submittals for the following
position will be accepted
through November 26, 2007 or
until vacancies are filled.
Postings as of November 9,
2007
Submittals for the
following position will be
accepted through December
14, 2007 or until vacancies
are filled.
Postings as of November
9, 2007
- Executive
Director -
Implements cultural,
educational,
revegetation, and
ocean use programs;
fund development
projects; and
volunteer
coordination. Other
responsibilities
include managing
day-to-day
operations,
implementing
legislative
strategy, and
managing contracts
and agreements with
other organizations.
The position, based
on Maui, requires a
master’s degree or
at least ten (10)
years of management
experience,
strategic planning
and implementation,
effective
communications
skills, staff
development, and
cultural
sensitivity.
Knowledge of
archaeology,
Hawaiian history,
culture, and
competency in the
Hawaiian language
are preferred.
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Kaho'olawe Assess And Risk Management
Access Policy
Operational Plans
2004 Legislative Report
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Kaho'olawe Legal
Kaho'olawe Plans
Strategic Plan 2004 - 2008
Vision for
Kaho‘olawe
The kino of Kanaloa is restored.
Forests and shrublands of native plants and
other biota clothe its slopes and valleys.
Pristine ocean waters and healthy reef
ecosystems are the foundation that supports
and surrounds the island.
Na po‘e Hawai‘i care for the land in a
manner which recognizes the island and ocean
of Kanaloa as a living spiritual entity.
Kanaloa is a pu‘uhonua and wahi pana where
Native Hawaiian cultural practices flourish.
The piko of Kanaloa is the crossroads of
past and future generations from which the
Native Hawaiian lifestyle spreads throughout
the islands.
Developed & Adopted in 1995.
Core Values
KIRC holds these values to be true to
its mission and organization:
- In our programs and in the way we
operate, we embrace Kaho‘olawe’s
significant role in perpetuating the
Native Hawaiian culture.
- We recognize Kaho‘olawe as a
pu‘uhonua and wahi pana — a sacred
place.
- In our actions, programs, training,
and plans, we live and incorporate the
values, practices and protocols of the
host culture.
- Our job is to restore the island and
its waters, and to increase the
culturally appropriate, safe use of the
Reserve towards the fulfillment of the
vision for Kaho‘olawe.
A Context for the
Rebirth of a Sacred Island
In November 2003, the U.S. Navy
transferred control of the management of
Kaho‘olawe to the State of Hawai‘i. This
transfer marked a new beginning in the
history of the island and its surrounding
waters.
- Since 1995, there have been five
major planning documents developed for
the Reserve:
- Palapala Ho‘onohonoho Moku‘aina O
Kaho‘olawe, Kaho‘olawe Use Plan
- Ho‘ola Hou I Ke Kino O Kanaloa,
Kaho‘olawe Environmental Restoration
Plan
- Ola I Ke Kai O Kanaloa, Kaho‘olawe
Ocean Management Plan
- Access and Risk Management Plan for
the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve
- Cleanup Plan, UXO Clearance Project,
Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve (by
Parsons-UXB Joint Venture for the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command Pacific
Division)
Together, these plans frame the future
use and restoration of the Reserve.
Given the enormity of the task, the
condition of the island and its surrounding
waters, and the limitations of safety and
money, what should KIRC’s priorities be over
the next five years? This is the question
that is pursued in the strategic plan.
Kaho‘olawe faces many opportunities and
challenges. In navigating these waters, the
strategic plan is a living document that
serves as a “compass” in establishing
direction, priorities, and actions for hanau
hou he ‘ula ‘o Kaho‘olawe, the re-birth of a
sacred island.
Key Factors
The primary planning documents
previously adopted serve collectively as the
foundation for KIRC, especially Palapala
Ho‘onohonoho Moku‘aina O Kaho‘olawe (The
Kaho‘olawe Use Plan).
- There is an inherently Native
Hawaiian purpose to the Kaho‘olawe
Island Reserve, as recognized by
history, the public, and in State and
Federal laws, including but not limited
to the statutory framework for KIRC and
the constitutional protection of
customary and traditional access.
- The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana has a
historical and cultural relationship to
Kaho’olawe.
- There are kupuna and families that
have traditional and historical
relationships with Kaho‘olawe.
- By State law, the Kaho‘olawe Island
Reserve is to be managed in trust until
such time and circumstances as a
sovereign native Hawaiian entity is
recognized by the federal and state
governments.
- The remote geography of Kaho‘olawe
presents its own challenges.
- The environment is fragile.
- There are extensive cultural and
historical places.
- There are unexploded ordnance and
other hazards.
- Monitoring and management of the
risk is a State responsibility. By
federal law, there is a perpetual
federal responsibility for the
unexploded ordnance.
- As of January 2004, the Trust Fund
has $35 million, which will be
insufficient to fully provide for
meaningful, safe use of the Reserve
unless additional funds are secured.
- By state law, commercial uses of the
Reserve are banned.
Strategic Priorities 2004 - 2008
Leadership
- To increase the size, diversity and
sustainability of the trust fund and to
manage the organization’s budget in a
manner that protects the trust fund.
- To be prepared for the transition of
the Reserve to the future Native
Hawaiian sovereign nation.
Restoration and
Perpetuation
- To assess and stabilize cultural
sites, and provide for appropriate
access and cultural practices.
- To systematically restore the
environment.
Stewardship
- To develop a significant volunteer
base, especially in concert with
stewardship organizations such as the
PKO, for the purposes of cultural,
natural resource, and marine resource
restoration.
- To develop and maintain appropriate
and sustainable infrastructure
(including on-island and inter-island
transportation, energy, communication,
water, sanitation, and Kihei information
center).
- To develop an enforcement network
spanning the community and government,
in order to protect Kaho‘olawe and its
waters from illegal, inappropriate and
unsafe uses.
- To maintain a significant on-island
presence for the purposes of managing
and protecting the Reserve.
Education
- To develop and distribute
educational programs and materials
towards the public’s understanding of
the cultural, historical and spiritual
significance of Kaho‘olawe.
The Mission of the Kaho‘olawe Island
Reserve Commission
Our mission is to implement the vision
for Kaho‘olawe, in which the kino of Kanaloa
is restored, and na po‘e Hawai‘i care for
the land. We pledge to provide for
meaningful, safe use of Kaho‘olawe for the
purposes of the traditional and cultural
practices of the native Hawaiian people, and
to undertake the restoration of the island
and its waters.
Established in 1993.
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