Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 1, 1 January 1991 — Kahoʻolawe commission holds first meeting [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kahoʻolawe commission holds first meeting

by Linda Kawai'ono Delaney Land Officer Calling the island of Kaho'olawe "a sacred trust" between the people and land of Hawai'i, Governor John Waihee convened the first meeting of the Kaho'olawe Conveyance Commission on Dec. 17, 1990. Pledging the fuil support of the state to the work of the commission, the Governor then announced that he would oversee the eommission's election of officers. With the full five-member commission present, former Maui Mayor Hannibal Tavares waselected chairman and Moloka'i physician Emmett Aluli as vice-chairman. Aluii is chief of staff at Moloka'i General Hospital and president of the Protect Kaho'olawe Fund. Both men are gubernatorial appointees to the commission. A. Frenchy DeSoto, trustee-at-large, serves as the OHA representative to the board, and

Howard Stephenson (chief executive officer of the Bank of Hawai'i) and James Kelly (former undersecretary of the Navy) serve as federal appointees. The commission will study and, within two years, recommend terms and conditions for the United States' return of Kaho'olawe to Hawai'i. The commission was addressed by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, author of the Congressiona! legislation whieh established the commission. Noting that Kaho'olawe is a "unique resource," Senator Akaka stressed that the work of the eommission is conveyance of the island. "The decision for return," said Sen. Akaka, has already been made by Congress. He went on to outline the charge of the commission, whieh is to report on the conditions of the return, the associated costs for elean up and stabilization of the island, and recommendations for the future use of Kaho'olawe.

Also c!arified at the meeting was the explicit prohibition of any military bombing of Kaho'olawe during the anticipated two-year mandate of the commission. Norma Wong, a member of the Office of State Planning and designated staff lead for the preliminary work of the commission, explained that the federal legislation bans any firing on the island. If there is to be a resumption of target practice at Kaho'olawe — as was recently suggested by Sen. Inouye — then the Congress would need to make that decision. Tavares added that a section of the bill states that Kaho'olawe "... may not be used for bombing training, gunnery training, or similar munitions delivery . . ." until 120 days after the commission has submitted its final report to Congress. The commissioners indicated that they would meet twice monthly, intended to schedule public continued page 23

Members of the Kaho'olawe Conveyance Commission:

Emmett Aluli

Hannihal Tavares

A. Frenchy DeSoto

James Kelly

Howard Stephenson

Kahoolawe /rom page 1 hparings "immediately," and would conduct a second round of meetings before transmitting their draft report in June, 1991. Thefederal legislation also mandates that a final report must be submitted to the Congress no later than Dec. 1992. As Mayor Tavares emphasized, "sooner" than 1992 would be a goal of the commission. Speaking to reporters outside the meeting, Governor Waihee said he has spoken to the Secretary of the Navy and was reassured fhafany falk of the Navy resuming bombing of Kaho'olawe in the meantime is just that — talk. "It's a nonissue," Waihee said. Waihee said the state has no obligation to pay for any part of the return of Kaho'olawe. "Kaho'olawe was taken by the government and needs to he returned," he said. "And returned in original condition." The Department of the Navy will be footing the entire bill and has made $1.5 million available to the commission. Waihee wouldn't answer any specifics whether Kaho'olawe is included in any plans for sove-

reignty. "We don't envision high usage of Kaho'olawe; essentially preservation and cultural activities," he said. Waihee and the commission are optimistic and feel the final report will be finished before the twoyear deadline, Waihee sqid he just hopes Congress will implement the commission's recornmendations quickly. "I want Kaho'olawe back," he said. OHA trustee Frenchy DeSoto described the meeting as "historic." "I ean remember 15 years ago when everybody

thought we were crazy for demanding 'aloha 'aina.' Today, we have the Governor, a U.S. Senator, and the Congress saying that Kaho'olawe will be returned." "As I sat there," Trustee DeSoto continued, "I could feel the spirits of George Helm, Kimo Mitchell, Unele Harry Mitchell, and Aunty Emma DeFries." "Soon, they ean rest. Kaho'olawe is coming home." Assistant editor Ken Ige contributed to this report.