Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 5, 1 May 1991 — Commission holds Kahoʻolawe hearings [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Commission holds Kahoʻolawe hearings

by Deborah L. Ward Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA

What fate lies ahead for the island of Kaho'olawe? Will its use as a military target island resume or will it be returned to the state of Hawai'i? These questions are at the heart of the work before the Kaho'olawe Conveyance Commission, whieh is holding its first round of public hearings that began in April and conclude this month. The Kaho'olawe Island Conveyance Commission was established by federal legislation in late 1990 to study and recommend terms and conditions for returning the island to the state of Hawai'i. Bombing of the island was halted in October last year, for two years, by order of President Bush. Commission members include: chairman and former Maui Mayor Hannibal M. Tavares; vicechairman Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli, a member of Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana; OHA trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto; and James A. Kelly and H. Howard Stephenson, who were appointed by Navy Secretary Lawrence Garrett. Staff to the commission are executive director Rodger Betts, a Maui attorney, and deputy director Velma Santos, a former state legislator.

Hearings have already been held on Moloka'i, in Hilo and Kailua-Kona and in Honolulu. The commission has sought to notify all organizations, both public and private, with an interest in Kaho'olawe to respond with their testimony. (Editor's note: notice of the April hearings reached Ka Wai Ola O OHA after publication of the April issue.) Moloka'i shares its mana'o At the first Commission public hearing on the future of Kaho'ojawe, chairman Hannibal Tavares told the 75 persons gathered at Mitchell Pau'ole Center in Kaunakakai, Moloka'i, "This is a milestone in the dynamic history of Hawai'i nei." He stressed that the commission wants the entire community to participate in the decision on the fate of the island. All public testimony will be part of the report the commission will make to Congress with its final recommendations. The commission has until December 1992 to present this final report to Congress.

During the hearings individual commission members will not bq making position statements. The purpose of the hearings is to invite and record public opinion on the future status of the island. However, in prior remarks, three of the commission members, Tavares, DeSoto and Aluli have publicly stated their belief the island should be returned to the state and that use of the island for target practice should cease. Hawai'i news media reports on a commission visit to Kaho'olawe last month quoted Navy personnel as saying Kaho'olawe was still needed as a target range because it offers conditions that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Navy replanting efforts are also underway to prevent erosion, they say. Moloka'i residents, from homesteaders to students (who submitted 60 letters of testimony) testified on the first day before the commissioners and unanimously favored the return of Kaho'olawe. Many called for the island to be cleared, at federal expense, of as mueh ordnance as possible in advance of the return. They favored continued stewardship of the island going to the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana. The Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana in a January 1991 position statement maintained that the Navy does not need Kaho'olawe for training because other alternatives to meet training needs are available. The 'Ohana believes continued military use of the island poses a danger to the growing population of Kihei, Maui and is a public nuisance for human and wildlife communities on Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i. The 'Ohana's long opposition to bombing and shelling on the island also stems from the belief these activities violate and interfere with traditional and contemporary Hawaiian spiritual beliefs, customs and practices, such as "aloha 'aina'." The 'Ohana believe Kaho'olawe should revert to the state and be land banked for the Hawaiian people's nation by the federal or state government and managed under 'ohana stewardship until the

Hawaiian nation is recognized and re-established. The future use of the island is envisioned as a traditional sacred plaee, a plaee of refuge, as a cultural learning center, and as a natural manne and land reserve where Hawaiian access and gathering rights are recognized and allowed. Walter Ritte, Jr., who was involved in the first landings on Kaho'olawe and served a brief sentence for criminal trespass at the time, told the commission he believes the military must not be allowed any use of Kaho'olawe. He wants the commission to bring criminal charges against the U.S. military for destruction of the island. Unlike most other witnesses, Ritte said the island, onee returned, should be left alone by everyone, with neither use by Hawaiians nor the general public. "Leave Kaho'olawe alone. She will heal herself." He said issues of restoration and jurisdiction ean "wait until the year 3000." nram iihiimimi nm n—miniwiM w » mnn i

Kamakahukilani Von Oelhoffen, who was born and raised on Moloka'i, said she felt the federal and state governments have been negligent in the past toward the island. She said its future care should be entrusted to Ka Lahui Hawai'i to protect and perpetuate cultural values of indigenous peoples, with Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana continuing as steward. Molokai High School teacher Moses Kim presented a brief slide show to the commissioners continued page 23

The commission will hold hearings about Kaho'olawe this month on Tuesday, May 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Maui County Council chambers in Wailuku, Maui; on Wednesday May 15 from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Kaua'i Community College Dining Room in Lihu'e, Kaua'i; and Thursday, May 30 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Lana'i Library meeting room in Lana'i City, Lana'i. The public is invited to attend and weleome to submit either written (10 copies are requested) or oral testimony on the fo!lowing Kaho'olawe issues of eoneem: • significant cultural history of Kaho'olawe • restoration and rehabilitation of Kaho'olawe • future use of Kaho'olawe • military use of Kaho'olawe • title to, and jurisdiction of Kaho'olawe For further information eall 242-4959, the commission's office on Maui.

Walter Ritte tells commissioners (at right, chairman Hannihai Tavares) onee the island is returned to the state "Leave Kaho'olawe alone."

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Molokai residents listen as neighbors testify.

Kaho'olawe /rom page 1 showing a visit by Moloka'i High students to Kaho'olawe in January. He said the trip represented a significant learning opportunity for students to experience their cultural and spiritual heritage and to leam in practical ways about how Hawaiians voyaged by sea, and worked together. Kim favors the use of Kaho'olawe as a cultural leaming center for use by all Hawaiians. "To shut it down will keep Hawaiian children in the dark," he said. Eldridge Spencer said the commission should recommend Congress set up a United Nations. investigation on the fate of Kaho'olawe and let a higher body decide for the Hawaiian people, not the county, state or Congress. Halona Kaopuiki, a Hoolehua homesteader, told the commission, "Tell Unele Bush 'leave us alone,' . . . Please Mr. Military, tell us you're sorry . . . You guys don't know how to take care of our island." With 1993 in mind, the centennial of the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom, he said "We like everything back . . . it was stolen land . . . The wala'au-ing is pau. The time is now, Hawaiian, to take back what is rightfully ours. But then we must Dreserve this."

Colette Machado showed a 20-minute video produced by Na Maka O Ka Aina and Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana whieh describes the resources of Kaho'olawe today, its history and significant sites at Hakioawa. It alsoincluded rare footage of George Helm in his role as a singer with an exceptionally beautiful and powerful voice, and as inspiring director of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana in its early years. Wilma Grambush, a fourth-generation Moloka'i native living on family ahupua'a at Kawelo, seemed to speak from the heart of island residents when she said Kaho'olawe is a symbol of the Hawaiian people's struggle to be Hawaiian, to have a plaee to live, to have pride in who they are, and in the continuance of generations past and to eome. "Aloha 'aina is love for the Hawaiian people," she said. "There would be no aloha without real Hawaiians . . . Please do not kill us . . . Love us for who we are." She said, "The negation of the presidential order (giving Kaho'olawe to the Navy for military use) could have been resolved long ago, but Hawaiians didn't count." She asked that Kaho'olawe be given back to the Hawaiian people, with the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana as stewards. "T ell us as Hawaiians we are not in the way and love us as a part of you." "Do what is right. Do what is just and give it back."