Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 6, 1 June 1994 — U.S. hands over Kaho ʻolawe [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

U.S. hands over Kaho ʻolawe

by Jeff Clark A few strokes of the pen, and the island of Kaho'olawe was transferred to the state of Hawai'i after 53 years of control by the U.S. Navy. The May 7 signing, made at Palauea Beach on Maui amid chant, ritual, song and prayer, was easy. Getting to that point, however, took many years and mueh personal energy and sacrifice by many Hawaiians and supporters.

"We've eome full circle," said OHA housing officer Stephen Morse, who was among the nine who made the daring first landing on Kaho'olawe back in 1976. "My happiness and joy is tempered by the monumental work that faces us. Kaho'olawe is back but let's not forget there's still thousands of houseless Hawaiians. Kaho'olawe is just the tip." Prior to the signing of the deed by Gov. John Waihe'e and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Bill Cassidy, more than a thousand people stood on the beach and grasped a rope whose ends extended into the kai. This kaula (rope) ceremony served to link kūpuna and keiki, the Navy

and the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, Hawaiians and nonHawaiians, politicians and grassroots activists, VIPs and maka'āinana - and to reaffirm the link between the people and the oeean. Kekuhi Kanahele and Kaipo Farias chanted "Ko'ihonua a Kaho'olawe," the epie genealogy of Kaho'olawe. It heralds "the day to return the island / The day to return the ancestral influence /

... A steadfast land for the Hawaiians / ... Forever in the heavens of Kāne / Forever in the sea of Kanaloa." "Ho'omau ka mana'o o nā Kūpuna, ola!" A. Frenchy DeSoto, who was instrumental in the island's return, said later. "That means perpetuate the thought of the kūpuna, and the kūpuna's mana'o was to restore the land, and with the land, the culture and everything that is Hawaiian. Ho'omau is 'keep going.' That is basically the entire concept of what is happening in Hawai'i today, sovereignty and all ofit." Dignitaries presented ho'okupu of ko'a (coral), 'awa, 'uala, 'ulu, and kalo.

Noa Emmett Aluli, longtime leader of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana (PKO) and current chairman of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, aeknowledged "the families of those who have gone before us, the families of those who have lent their support. ... This special day is very meaningful for all of us because we have joined ... in a partnership that will begin to heal our spirit, our soul, our 'āina. ... I wish to thank all those who worked so hard to get us this far."

Aluli also thanked the PKO, who he characterized as "the guys with the dirty backs, the guys , who have been out there, and I they're still out there, ... the guys who have been arrested so many times for putting their 'okole on the line and being barred from Kaho'olawe or other military bases, the guys who had really popularized this issue. Not only the guys, let me tell you, but some very strong women along the way - we wish to remember them also." Aluli said the memorandum of understanding between the state and Navy on eleanup and access continued on page 13

Ceremonies heralding the return of the island of Kaho'olawe began with 100 blows of the pū, or eoneh shell. Photo by Jeff Ciark

Kaho'olawe from page 1

is "a document that will grow, will develop, into a vision of how Hawaiians took care of their 'āina. It's a document that sets precedent for us to manage our lands the way our kūpuna managed them." eoniinueā on page 14

Kaho'olawe from page 13

Deputy assistant secretary Cassidy said he was proud that the Navy and the state will "together begin the process of restoring Kaho'olawe, an island that is important for its historical and cultural contributions to the people of Hawai'i, and an island that is important for its contributions to the national security of the United States. For that service, the United States Navy is grateful to all of the people of Hawai'i. But today, in 1994, the world has changed, and so has the Navy's relationship to Kaho'olawe. This ceremony reflects that change. It marks a new beginning for Kaho'olawe and a new chapter in the history of Hawai'i."

Cassidy then read a message from U.S. President Bill Clinton: "I join Gov. Waihe'e in congratulating you in this momentous step. As you look forward to the many challenges that lie ahead, I hope that eaeh of you will take full advantage of the opportunities that this change presents. I encourage you to press forward in your efforts to preserve and protect this special plaee — to build upon its rich cultural, historical and educational resources. This meaningful transition teaches us that, working together, we ean create a bright new future for Kaho'olawe and for all of our people." Gov. John Waihe'e said, "It feels like Hawai'i is whole again" now that Kaho'olawe is back. "To the malihini, today is a glance into our soul. To the kama'āina, the Hawaiian nation, today is a reaffir-

mation of our dreams and a commitment to hold steadfast to our destiny. If this ean happen for Kaho'olawe, there will be other great ceremonies like this in the future." Both Waihe'e and Aluli thanked Hawai'i's past and present members of Congress for their efforts to halt the bombing and have the island transferred. Sen. Daniel Inouye, although not present, issued a statement highlighting the long struggle for the protection of Kaho'olawe. "We have waited many years. Some have given their lives for this moment. The waiting for many has been painful. The government of the United States has acted, and Kaho'olawe is now returned to its rightful plaee in the bosom of the Hawaiian Islands."