Slowing Kahoʻolawe Fire Has Two Heads: One To Hakioawa and One Mauka Heading Back to Honokanaiʻa

Image 1: Aerial photograph taken Thursday morning of the fire line on Kahoʻolawe. Image courtesy of Poʻokela Hanson.

Kanaloa-Kaho‘olawe - At 8:01 am this morning, February 27, 2020, four members of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (ʻOhana) safely landed by zodiac in Hakioawa. Initial observations from this morning’s aerial survey (Image 1) of the island indicated that the fire on Kahoʻolawe has two heads: one near Kuheia progressing northeast toward the base camp of the ʻOhana at Hakioawa, and one heading southwest back toward Honokanaiʻa. 
The primary goal of ‘Ohana members accessing Kaho‘olawe is to create a fire break around our primary structures - a traditionally-constructed hale, a pavilion, storage areas, and water tanks - as the fire continues to head north toward the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana base camp in Hakioawa. The roof of the hale has been sprayed with water and the surrounding area cleared of debris in an effort to create a fire break and prevent the structure from catching fire (Image 2).

Image 2: On Thursday February 27, 2020 a small group of ʻOhana members prepare a traditional hale for potential fire spread to Hakioawa by spraying the pili grass (Heteropogon contortus) roof with water (left) and clearing the area of grass. Image by Luna Kekoa.

Image 3: A potential firebreak is created around Nāmakapili, our traditionally-constructed hale pili, by weed whacking invasive vegetation surrounding the hale. Image by Luna Kekoa.

​As the Hakioawa base camp has been twice cleared of unexploded ordnance to a depth of four feet, and the structures are close to the ocean, it is hoped that fire buckets might be able to be deployed to protect the structures. We continue to encourage the public to pule, focus on strong prayer, with us.

PULE FOR RAIN
He ua lā, he ua 
A rain, a rain

He ua pi‘i mai
A rain travels inland

Noenoe hālau,
Covering the hālau in mist

Hālau loa o Lono
The long hālau of Lono 

Ō lono ‘oe
Listen!

This is an excerpt of a traditional pule, as provided by Kīhei de Silva, available here.

Image 3: Dr. Clay Traurnicht (@claytrau on Twitter) of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Natural Resource Environmental Management (NREM) Wildland Fire Cooperative Extension network shares the first satellite images from Sentinel 2 from February 25, 2020. Last night's #SuomiNPP shows the fire slowing down, custom script by Pierre Markuse (@Pierre_Markuse).

The ʻOhana acknowledges the KIRC’s diligence in assessing the current situation on the island and has been working closely with KIRC staff to mitigate damages to structures, archaeological features, and restoration areas. The ʻOhana’s access to Hakioawa this morning would have not been possible without the support of the KIRC staff who graciously went above and beyond their duties.

More Information

The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe with a vision of Aloha ‘Āina and the mission to perpetuate Aloha ‘Aina throughout our islands by means of cultural, educational, and spiritual activities that heal and revitalize the bio-cultural resources of Kaho‘olawe. In our work to heal Kaho‘olawe, from ranching (1858-1910; 1918-1952) and military use (1941-1993), we strengthen our relationship and pay respect to elemental phenomena connected to land.

To donate to the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana visit: www.protectkahoolaweohana.org

​For conversations relevant to the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana on social follow: @kahoolawe (IG); @protectkahoolaweohana (FB)