Kaho Olawe Research Paper

Mālama ʻĀina O Kaho’olawe Kaho’olawe is an island that was illegally taken over by the U.S Military. It was later returned to the people of Hawaii in horrible condition. Walter Rite, chairman of the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission states, “It was the island that shared herself with us. It was the island that told me, ‘Hey I’m dying,’ so, after that one trip it was a total commitment not to allow the island to die.” (Pang Y.B.) Hawaiian people believe that their ancestors came from the land, so it is very important in Hawaiian culture to care for that land that provided so much for them. The U.S government should take responsibility for stripping Kaho’olawe of its fertile sacred grounds. Kaho’olawe was the smallest of the major Hawaiian …show more content…
Hawaii became a state in 1959 and was illegally annexed by the U.S government as the United States had their eyes set on Pearl Harbor as key a military location (San Juan Jr 72). The government even imprisoned Hawaii’s own Queen Liliuokalani in her palace while they took over (San Juan 75). With tourism sparking the main economy, the overdevelopment replaced the Native Hawaiians local way of life, suppressing the Native Hawaiian language, culture, and their spirituality (McGregor 250). After World War II the island of Kaho’olawe was taken over for live firing exercises and combat training for the marines (Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission). Walter Tobias, United States Navy Captain states during the Kaho’olawe Island Conveyance Public hearing in 1991, “Kaho’olawe’s importance to the military lies in the fact that it is one of the few areas in the world that allows to practice of combined arms operations involving ships, aircraft and ground troops. Training is exactly as they would in an actual combat environment. Despite advances in computer simulator technology, simulation can only serve as one element of a comprehensive training program. There is simply no substitute for live firing to develop the coordination of teamwork skills necessary to deliver accurate naval …show more content…
W. Bush stopped the bombing and all ordnance delivery exercises on Kaho‘olawe, but due to the continuous bombing of naval ships and destruction of the island the military believed nothing would be able to grow from the land (San Juan Jr 78). Adatchie Eaton speaker during the 1991 public hearing Says, “Once a geologist told me and other ohana members while clearing a grassy area for an ohana style garden. He said that he took dirt samples that read nothing will grow on this island. Since that time the ohana has for years harvested ti leaf, bananas, eggplants, green onions, tomatoes, lahala, ava root, sweet potato, taro, aloe and many more. I would like the commission to stop bombing on Kahoolawe permanently. Remove all military structures and ordinates and the seed would surely grow.” (Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission) Danita Aiu representative of the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission Says, “Give the island back to the Hawaiian people to replant and become a haven for Hawaiian plants and culture so that my sixth graders will be able to actually see these plants not just pictures of them. Stewardship of the island should be give to the protect Kahoolawe Ohana as they have already proved their ability to manage the island. They have raised their voice when none of us would. And displayed their love for the aina by giving their lives. No greater love has man.” (Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission) Hawaiians are fighting for