Timeline of Kahoolawe History

A chronological timeline of the history of Kahoolawe Island in Hawaii.

1939
Kahoolawe Island became a site for military bombing practice

1941
Dec 7: Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island
Dec 8: U.S. declares martial law and claims Kahoolawe for bombing tests

1945
World War II ends

1965
500 tons of TNT are detonated to simulate an atomic blast

1967
Kahoolawe used as a testing and training facility for the War on Vietnam.

1976
The Protect Kahoolawe Ohana (PKO) was formed.

1976
1976 Jan: Protect Kahoolawe Ohana (PKO) movement begins st
Young native Hawaiians occupy the island.
PKO leader George Helm and other file civil suit again the Navy

1977
?

1980
?

1981
?

1990
United States president George Bush, Sr. ordered the stop of all bombing operations on Kahoolawe Island.

1993
- Kahoolawe was returned to the state of Hawaii by the U.S. Navy
- Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) was established
- The job of the KIRC was to supervise restoration and cleanup

1994
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission is established to preserve the island until it can be transferred to Native Hawaiian management. Goals: restore wildlife populations and preserve cultural heritage sites on the island.

1997-1998
The U.S. Navy awards contracts to remove the unexploded artillery on Kahoʻolawe.

2004
The U.S. Navy ends the Kahoʻolawe UXO Clearance Project.

References

lessons world war ii bombings island kahoolawe