Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 1995 — Kahoʻolawe ʻĀina Kaulana [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kahoʻolawe ʻĀina Kaulana

by A. Frenchy DeSoto Trustee-at-large May 7, 1 994 marked the dawn of a new

era in Hawai'i nei; a renewed life for Kaho'olawe and for Hawai'i's native culture. On this day, Kaho'olawe and its surrounding waters were returned to the people of Hawai'i by the U.S. Government. Now begins a new ehallenge for all of us to begin

the effort to bring the life and spirit of Kaho'olawe and its surrounding waters to life based on the Hawaiian concept of

Aloha 'Āina. 1. The DRAFT Kaho'olawe land use plan has been completed and taken out to eaeh island for input. Interest has

been outstanding! 2. The purpose of the land use plan is to envision the complementary uses and activities that will implement the intent of Federal and State law. The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve shall be used solely and exclusively for the followI ing purposes:

(1) Preservation and practice of all rights customarily and traditionally excercised by native Hawaiians for eul-

tural, spiritual and subsistence purposes; (2) Preserve and proteet its archae!ogieal, historical and environmental resources; (3) Rehabilitation, revegetation. habitat restoration and preservation; (4) Education. The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission hopes to eomplele the draft use plan by late August, share it with the Navy and then collaboratively complete by the end of the year. The KIRC has just contracted for an oeean management plan, a cultural protocol plan that will help the Navy implement its eleanup plan. For additional information, please eall KIRC at 586-0761.