Kahoolawe or The Target Isle, is the minor of the 8 main Islands of Hawaii. Located seven miles southwest of Maui and to the southeast of Lanai. A relatively dry place, it doesn't have registered any permanent residents, also because for a large part of history the Armed Forces of the United States used it as a training ground and bombing range.
Kahoolawe is the crater of Lua Makika at the summit of pu'u Moaulanui, that's the highst point, standing at 1,477 feet above sea level. In ancient times Kahoolawe was settled, and small, temporay fishing communities were stablished along the coast. Some inland areas were cultivated. Originally a dry forest environment. Native hawaiians built stone platforms for religious ceremonies, set rocks upright as shrines for successful fishing trips. In 1922, Kahoolawe was appointed as a forest reserve, this program was looking to restore vegetation and remove livestock to create a sustainable environment on the Island. This program failed, and the island became available again. At the end the Island was eventually sublet to the US Army.
After Pearl Harbor, with the declaration of martial law in the Hawaiian islands, Kahoolawe served as training ground for American soldiers and Marines that were on their way west to engage in the Pacific War. The end of its use as a live-fire training ground was on the year 1990, when the Bush Administration ordered and immediate end to training on the island. In 1991 the Kahoolawe island was returned to the Conveyance Commission to recommend terms and conditions for the conveyance of the island from the U.S. Government to the Hawaii Government.
Since of it's know dry climate and inability to sustain crops due to constant droughts because of the climate, the Kahoolawe population is limited to a few park rangers and occational visitors. Temporary settlements at Hakioawa have been established from time to time with having as many as over 100 people staying at the Island, the largest settlement which was located at the northeastern end of Kahoolawe.
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