The Hawaiian Island of Kahoolawe

Base Camp at Honokanaia on Kahoolawe Island Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr (USGS)

The Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe is located between the islands of Maui and Lanai and it is approximately 45 square miles in size. It has been known as the "forgotten isle", "desolate isle", and the "target isle". Kahoolawe has been used at different times as a penal colony, a ranch, a forest reserve, and a military training and testing ground.

There are no hotels, restaurants or any type of tourism infrastructure on Kahoolawe. There is still a danger of visitors encountering unexploded ordnance on the island so access is limited to those who receive permission from the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission for purposes related to restoration, education, and Hawaiian culture.

Satellite Image of Kahoolawe
A satellite image of Kahoolawe from the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

News Articles About Kahoolawe
A collection of news articles about the island of Kahoolawe from the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star Bulletin newspapers.

Brief History of Kahoolawe Island
This history of Kahoolawe covers the period from 1826, when the island was used as a penal colony, to the ranching period, the forest reserve period, the military period, and the present day.

Military History of Kahoolawe Island
In 1941 the United States Navy leased Kahoolawe from the Kahoolawe Ranch, so the island could use for military training and target practice. The U.S. Military conducted training exercises on Kahoolawe from 1941 to 1990. In 1993, the state of Hawaii created the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) and on November 11, 2003, the Navy formally turned control of the island over to the state of Hawaii. The KIRC is in the process of restoring native vegetation and protecting cultural artifacts.

Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission
An organization established by the Hawaiian State Legislature for the following purposes: (1) Preservation and practice of all rights customarily and traditionally exercised by the native Hawaiians for cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes (2) Preservation and protection of its archaeological, historical, and environmental resources (3) Rehabilitation, re-vegetation, habitat restoration, and preservation, and (4) Education. Kahoolawe is to be preserved in perpetuity for the above uses. Commercial uses are strictly prohibited by Hawaii state law.

Protect Kahoolawe Ohana
An advocacy group working to gain access to Kahoolawe Island for religious, cultural, educational, and scientific activities.

Kahoolawe Virtual Field Trip
An online tour of Kahoolawe Island with photos taken by student researchers led by University of Hawaii geography professor Tom Giambelluca.

More Kahoolawe Resources

Map of Kahoolawe

Wikipedia on Kahoolawe

Related Links
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors

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