Kaho’olawe Island Reserve

The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve surrounds the smallest of Hawaii's main islands, encompassing waters rich in biodiversity and cultural significance. This unique MPA serves as a crucial marine sanctuary, helping to replenish fish populations throughout the Hawaiian Islands, particularly around Maui and Lana'i. The protected waters host a diverse array of marine life, including manō (sharks), nai'a (dolphins), hāhālua (manta rays), koholā (humpback whales), 'ilioholoikauaua (monk seals), honu (turtles), and manu kai (seabirds).

Kaho'olawe's history is characterized by both cultural reverence and environmental challenges. Settled by Native Hawaiians as early as 400 A.D., the island was traditionally dedicated to Kanaloa, the esteemed Hawaiian deity of the ocean. However, Kaho'olawe later endured periods as a penal colony, ranching site, and U.S. military bombing range until 1990. Today, the entire island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with nearly 3,000 archaeological and historical sites inventoried, underscoring its importance as a wahi pana (sacred place) and pu'uhonua (place of refuge).

The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) now manages the MPA, focusing on both ecological restoration and cultural preservation. KIRC includes a breadth of legislative and Indigenous representatives, and many volunteers and community organizations are also involved with the MPA. Key initiatives include monitoring fish populations, removing marine debris, conducting environmental surveys, and preventing and eradicating invasive alien species. All ecological restoration and protection is done in accordance with Native Hawaiian traditions and practices. Kaho'olawe Island Reserve is a model for combining marine conservation with cultural revitalization.