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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 11, 2003

BYTE MARKS
Struggle over island chronicled

By Burt Lum

Today marks a significant day in the continuing history of Kaho'olawe. It draws to a close the 10-year cleanup project and marks the date for the transfer of control from the Navy to the state government.

Cleanup proceeds in a wind-down mode, with the Navy targeting a complete demobilization by March 12.

The recognition of this transfer will take place at noon tomorrow at 'Iolani Palace.

The event will stir many feelings. We are quite fortunate to witness the transformation unfolding before us: from an island that held spiritual and cultural importance to Native Hawaiians, claimed by the Navy as a bombing target for 50 years and now returning full-circle to one that is a cultural preserve for the practice of Hawaiian traditions. This is certainly a first for Hawai'i and perhaps unprecedented anywhere else in the world.

As we all gain an appreciation for Kaho'olawe it always helps to understand what went on before us. A pivotal event that helped start these wheels in motion was the first occupation of Kaho'olawe.

Photographer Ian Lind was there with the group that landed on island in Kuheia Bay in January 1976. His photo journal is at http://ilind.net/gallery_old/kahoolawe1976/index.htm.

This is an impressive online glimpse of what happened on that eventful day. Pictures of Emmett Aluli, George Helm, Walter Ritte, among others, are etched in our collective memories.

It was through their struggle to stop the bombing that eventually led to the Navy's massive 10-year cleanup project summarized at www.hawaii.navy.mil/CNBDATA/Kahoolawe.

From this site you can find the legal documents that provided the framework for the cleanup and eventual transfer.

You can also get a sense of the cleanup effort through its photo gallery.

As the efforts surrounding Kaho'olawe evolve from one of activism, to ordnance removal and now to restoration, people's focus will now change to the management of the reserve. Alan Ziegler's restoration project at webdata.soc.hawaii.edu/hydrology/projects/kahoolawe.html provides one such example.

As Emmett has said about Kaho'olawe, "one down, seven to go." ;-)

Burt Lum is one click away at www.brouhaha.net.