What? No sub-forum for Kaho'olawe?

[Kawena]

When asked by a mainlander what Island is best to move to I ALWAYS recommend Kao'olawe....

Kahoolawe Reborn Part 1 - YouTube



Kahoolawe Reborn Part 2 - YouTube

[KauaiHiker]

Thank you Jungjohann for bringing this up, and for those that mentioned the Sailor Hat explosions. I was reluctant to mention it myself.

Did the fresh water really get permanently contaminated on the island? I thought the fresh water lenses on each island were maintained by the differing density with the sea water, though I could see how the structure and integrity of the rock could affect the degree of mixing.

Maybe it was mentioned in the videos, but the thing to remember is that the removal of unexploded ordinance was never finished. The other piece to mention in this sad story is that Kaho'olawe is, get this, the land that is designated as the homeland for whatever form of tribal "sovereignty" the fed and state goverments are willing to offer the Hawaiians.

[fancyapint]

If that is true KauaiHiker thats a darn shame

[Jungjohann]

There's still a well up by Pu'u Makika, I think. When I was out paddling the other morning, right after sunrise, the KIRC boat was taking off from the Kihei boat launch with supplies for the Island. Oddly enough, the fellow I was paddling with is Guy Helm, do a little research on that name and the initial Kaho'olawe movement from the mid 70's and I think you'd understand why anyone familiar with the history of the place would take offense at someone from the mainland taking the Island lightly. I was over there goat hunting and opihi picking back in 1976, when the Island was still being actively used by the military. If you want to volunteer for help with the ongoing cleanup and reforestation effort over there look up KIRC. The history of the place is quite interesting, from it being used as a spot to drop opium and booze for later transport to Oahu, (hence 'Smugglers Cove' on the west end), to Juan Pedro, who resided there from 1919 till 1941, overseeing the McPhee Ranch operation and maintaining the wells and cisterns.

Aloha

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Jungjohann

... I think you'd understand why anyone familiar with the history of the place would take offense at someone from the mainland taking the Island lightly. ...

Gee, if you're referring to the OP (that would be me), aside from me living part time in Hawaii and part time mainland, and aside from my association with Hawaii starting back in the mid-60's -- including with Kaho-olawe ... well, the way I see it is this: the whole world is full of messes, ugly messes, made by man, since the dawn of the agricultural age. And no one is free of some level of exploitation of the environment. Yeah, it's a damn shame (really) and I am quite the environmentalist -- and a minimalist with a lighter footprint on this planet than probably 99% of the population of the developed world, living in a small van and on small sailboats as I do.

But that doesn't mean I've lost my ability to find humor in the mess we live in