A timeline of the history of Kahoolawe Island in Hawaii.
Early History
Kahoolawe was settled by Polynesians immigrating from other South Pacific
islands to Hawaii. The population of Kahoolawe was probably always small
because of the lack of fresh water on the island. Population centers
were mostly small fishing villages along the coast.
1700's
1793
Captain George Vancover gave goats to Chief Kahekili of Maui as a gift
and goats were introduced to Kahoolawe Island.
1800's
Penal Colony (1830's - 1953)
1857
According to a 1957 survey, by 1857 Kahoolawe had about
50 residents, about 5,000 acres of land covered with shrubs
scrub trees and pili grass. Some cultivation of sugar cane, pineapple,
tobacco and gourds was also noted in that study.
1858
The Hawaiian government began leasing Kahoolawe lands for ranching purposes,
however the lack of fresh water limited the success of those operations.
Ranching of cattle, sheep, and goats continued on the island through
the 1940's. A negative impact of uncontrolled grazing was the substantial
loss of soil due to erosion caused by livestock consuming much of the
vegetation on the island.
1900's
Kahoolawe Island Forest Reserve (1910-1918)
The island of Kahoolawe was designated a forest reserve between
1910 and 1918 by the Territory of Hawaii in an effort
to revegetate the island by removing livestock. At the end of
that program leases again became available
1918
Angus MacPhee of Wyoming leased the island of Kahoolawe for 21 years
to operate it as a cattle ranch. He operated a ranch on Kahoolawe Island
until the 1940's. Ranching was always difficulty on the island because
of the constant threat of drought. After his ranching ceased MacPhee
leased some of his lands to the U.S. Military.
1941
The U.S. military began using Kahoolawe Island as a training ground
and bombing range after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
1853
President Eisenhower transferred title of Kahoolawe to the
United States Navy. A condition of the transfer was that
the lands be returned in a condition suitable for habitation
when they were no longer needed by the military.
1965
Operation Sailor Hat was launched in early 1965 to test and determine
the blast resistance of ships. Three tests off the coast of Kahoolawe
subected the island and the target ships to massive explosions.
500 tons of TNT were detonated on the island near the target ship, the
USS Atlanta (CL-104). The blast created a crater on the island known
as "Sailor Man's Cap".
1976
Members of the "Protect Kahoolawe Ohana" organization launched
a series of occupations of Kahoolawe in an effort to stop
military bombing. They also filed a lawsuit in U.S.
Federal court to stop the U.S. Navy from using the island
as a bombing range.
1976 January 6
Protest of 1976 and the Kahoolawe Nine
1977
The U.S. District Court allowed the Navy to continue
using the island but directed them to prepare an
environmental impact statement and prepare an inventory
of historic sites on the island.
1981
Kahoolawe Archaeological District Designation
1990
President George Bush, Sr. orders the end of bombing operations on Kahoolawe.
1993
Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawai‘i) sponsors Title X of the 1994
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which authorizes conveyance of
Kahoolawe and its surrounding waters back to the State of Hawai‘i.
1993:
The Hawaiian State Legislature established the
Kahoolawe Island Reserve, which included
the entire island and ocean waters in a two mile
radius from the shoreline.
1993
The U.S. Congress votes to end military use of Kahoolawe and authorizes
$400 million for ordnance removal.
1994
The Jnited States navy deeded ownership of Kahoolawe to the
State of Hawaii and the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission
is established to manage all activities on the island.
1997
The United States Navy awarded contracts for removing
unexploded bombs and other hazardous materials from Kahoolawe Island.
Those removal operations took place between 1998 and 2003.
2000's
2003
A ceremony formaly transferring access control from the
United States Navy to the State of Hawaii was held
at the Iolani Palace on November 11, 2003.
2004
The U.S.Navy ended the Kahoolawe UXO Clearance Project
in 2004. At that time 75% of the island was cleared
and about 2,650 acres of the cleared area was
cleared to a depth of four feet. About 25% of the island
remained uncleared and unsafe.
Early to Mid-2000's
Funding was allocated and projects were implemented to
limit erosion and minimize loss of soil due to sediment
moving from land to the ocean.
The History of Kahoolawe Island
About the island of Kahoolawe
Visitor Destinations in Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
