Re: Full PMRF Environmental Impact Assessment is Necessary for Ka‘ula Island
 
To the PMRF LBT EA Project Manager: 
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The Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (ʻOhana) believes the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for expanded military activities at the Pacific Missile Range Facilities (PMRF) and Kaʻula Island does not accurately or adequately assess the impacts that increased military exercises will have on Kaʻula Island, the local environment and marine resources surrounding the island. The draft EA is also deficient in its Cultural Impact Assessment. A full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is necessary. 
The ‘Ohana is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to healing Kaho‘olawe after nearly 50 years of direct bombing abuse by the U.S. Navy. The ʻOhana also works to protect the natural and cultural resources of our ancestral lands and ocean waters of the Hawaiian archipelago. Kahoʻolawe and Kaʻula share a similar plight. Both are sacred sites of irreplaceable cultural significance to the Native Hawaiian people that were wrongfully taken by the U.S. military for live-fire use. In fact, it is unclear how the U.S. military could move forward with its illegal use of Kaʻula for live-fire ordnance training purposes until the all-important question of ownership of the island is resolved. We understand that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has asked the state Attorney General to opine on ownership of Kaʻula. 
1) The cultural analysis in the draft Environmental Assessment is deficient. The draft EA incorrectly assumes there are no historic sites or Hawaiian cultural practices that will be impacted. That is not true. One important site on Kaʻula is Lua o Kuhaimoana (Cave Dwelling of the shark akua Kuhaimoana), commonly known today as Shark Cave. The presence of sharks and other animals such as seabirds in these waters indicate that Kaʻula is a critical haven for marine and terrestrial life. The surrounding waters of Kaʻula are traditional sea lanes that are well-traveled for spiritual and physical subsistence by Native Hawaiians of Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, and the broader Hawaiʻi communities.    

He lani ko luna, he honua ko lalo nei. 
He kanaka koʻonā, he kanaka ko neʻi. 
He aloha ko neʻi, he hoʻolono koʻonā.

Aloha nui kākou!

This year's Makahiki opening, or kuapola, went very well. We had calm winds and water. Was hot though.  We were 18 strong as a few were unable to be with us unfortunately. Mahalo to all those who sent hoʻokupu. Mahalo to Momi for coordinating the access. Mahalo to Kalei Luʻuwai and his keiki for getting us to Kanaloa safely. Mahalo to D-Mar for driving zodi and cooking super ʻono kind grinds. Mahalo to Kat for all the photos. 
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Camp looked amazing. Seeing the green plants in Hakiowa is reason to rejoice. Mahalo nui to those who have been making that happen over the course of this year. Doesn't seem long before we'll be harvesting hoʻokupu and meaʻai from Hakioawa. 

​Ceremonies went well. Everyone worked really hard and uniformly toward our goals. All hoʻokupu were prepared by 10am and we were on our way to ceremony. Lonomakua looked majestic and regal while presiding over our ceremonies. The hoʻonuʻunuʻu, or speeches that accompanied the hoʻokupu when presented, were crafted and delivered at the imu and even up at the Mua too. The ʻauamo took double duty given that we were short handed. They were used at the imu and at the Mua. It seemed to enhance the ceremony. 

With heavy hearts after hearing that Uncle Bobby passed the evening prior and our beloved Cami weighing on our thoughts, we departed on our pinana i uka at about 5:30am under a setting Hoku moon. We chased Hoku as she set around day break. E Ala Ē was on the first hard-pan ma uka of "buns of steal" (well, maybe a little earlier ). Ceremony wrapped up around 10am. We made good time. So, we took a siesta at Kauhialono.

Our free day was no different. We were able to reattach a covering to the water tank, inventory and clean up. ​

​No laila e ka ʻOhana, this kupa of the Ua Pōʻaihale is returning to nestle beneath the verdant Koʻolau cliffs. 

Ke aloha nui!

Kaliko. 

Check out this 1982 article from The Maui News. Author Gary Kubota describes the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana's first Makahiki ceremony on Kahoʻolawe. The resurgence of Makahiki was aimed at petitioning Lono, the deity of fertility, to aid in the ʻOhana's efforts to regreen Kahoʻolawe. 

Earlier this summer, a small contingency of PKO kua and regular huakaʻi participants visited Kahoʻolawe with the intention of observing and monitoring marine life in the area. They also worked on the water catchment system that sustains our periodic residence in Hakiowa. Check out the video below to learn more!

Earlier this month, we commemorated 45 years since the first landing on Kahoʻolawe on January 4, 1976. Since then, thousands of people, from kūpuna to keiki, were given the opportunity to connect with Kahoʻolawe while participating on a huakaʻi with the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana. We can all agree that Kahoʻolawe is an extremely special place. To truly know how extraordinarily magical Kahoʻolawe truly is, one just “gotta go.” “Cause if you no go, then you donʻt know!” 
Mahalo to everyone who has contributed to the various work projects that that the ʻOhana has engaged in over the years. All of our huakaʻi participants have given so much to this island, but not nearly as much as Kahoʻolawe has given to all of us in return. I mua, nā pua. Lanakila, Kahoʻolawe! Tsua!


Song: Mele O Kahoʻolawe, by Uncle Harry Kunihi Mitchell
Recorded by Maunalua. We do not own the rights to this recording.