Workshops plot future
of Kahoolawe reserveA state panel hopes to
eventually turn over the isle
to a Hawaiian sovereignty
coalition
At "Smuggler's Cove" on the dry west coast of the former target island of Kahoolawe, barracks will soon be put to civilian use as Navy ordnance-removal crews move out and native Hawaiians restoring the landscape move in.
"We're going to need to continue to maintain the buildings, equipment and vehicles," said Stanton Enomoto, acting executive director of the state Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission, which is in charge of restoration. "It's going to take some creative management as we go forward."
As the island moves from ordnance clearing to restoration, the commission will also decide what to do with its remaining $35 million in federal money and determine how it will seek additional funds to develop Kahoolawe as a cultural preserve.
"The short of it is the commission is going to have to look for outside sources of funding," Enomoto said.
Starting this week, the commission will hold a series of workshops to develop a five-year plan to manage the 28,788-acre reserve.
Besides determining the priority of restoration projects on Kahoolawe, the commission is also trying to establish a process to eventually turn over the island to a recognized native Hawaiian sovereign entity as required by state law.
The Navy halted practice bombing of the island in 1990, after nearly 50 years. Under a 1994 congressional appropriations act, Kahoolawe was conveyed to the state, and the commission was put in charge of restoring the island once the Navy ended its work clearing ordnance.
Over the past 10 years, the commission has received $44 million of the $400 million authorized by Congress for the cleanup and restoration of the island.
The Navy, which received the remainder of the money to clear ordnance, is expected to leave Kahoolawe in April, the commission said.
Navy officials initially projected clearing 100 percent of the island's surface ordnance, including 30 percent to the four-foot depth.
While officials were able to clear ordnance from more than 76 percent of the island's surface, they ended up clearing only 9 percent to a depth of four feet.
The Navy did not clear 2,630 acres officials said were inaccessible.
Members of the Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, the native Hawaiian group that conducted protest occupations of the island in 1976, said they are disappointed with the results.
Ohana official Davianna McGregor said she believes the federal government has an obligation to clear the remaining ordnance off the island.
McGregor said the Ohana has asked the Navy to provide them with a "walk-through" to point out the areas cleared of ordnance to various depths.
She said the walk-through would help people determine the type of activities that might be allowed in various areas of the island, including sites designated for overnight camping.
"I really don't know what they've cleared and what they haven't," she said.
The commission's staff is looking at the feasibility of building a pier for loading and unloading boats.
McGregor said she is not opposed to a floating dock as long as it did not adversely affect ocean life and the reef.
"Ultimately, the main goal is to restore the cultural and natural resources," she said. "To me, human use is secondary."
The scope of the work will depend upon the money available to the commission, or about $4.4 million for 2003-04, Enomoto said.
He said the commission may eventually seek additional money from the state Legislature and was applying for grants to restore the island.
Enomoto said the commission has received a $388,000 federal grant to help in the restoration of watershed areas on the island.
Those planning to participate in the workshops may obtain copies of a draft of the commission's plan at www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov or by contacting the commission on Maui, (808) 243-5020.
Meetings
Workshops scheduled for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission five-year plan:Wednesday: 6:30-8:30 p.m., UH-Hilo Campus Center, room 313, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo
Thursday: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Hawaii Police Department conference room, 74-5221 Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Kailua-Kona
Friday: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Maui Waena Middle School cafeteria, 795 Onehee St., Kahului
March 2: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mitchell Pauole Center conference room, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, Molokai
March 3: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lanai Senior Center, Seventh Street, Lanai City, Lanai
March 4: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Kauai Veterans Center conference room, 3125 Kapule Highway, Lihue
March 5: 5:30-7:30 p.m., State Capitol room 423, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu
