Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 6, 1 June 1991 — Hearings on Kahoʻolawe fate first step for new commission [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hearings on Kahoʻolawe fate first step for new commission

by Deborah L. Ward Editor, Ka Wai Ola O OHA A series of statewide public hearings on the return of the island of Kaho'olawe concluded last month and puhlie testimony is now being compiled. The hearings were held by the Kaho'olawe Conveyance Commission whieh was established by federal legislation in late 1990 to study and recommend terms and conditions for returning the island to the state of Hawai'i, including the cost of elean up and time frame for such return. All weapons delivery training on the land and in the waters of the island was halted in October 1990 for two years, by order of President Bush. The commission held public hearings about Kaho'olawe in April and May in Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Honolulu, Wailuku, Lihue and Lana'i City. Both

written and oral testimony were accepted on the: • significant cultural history of Kaho'olawe • restoration and rehabilitation of Kaho'olawe • future use of Kaho'olawe • rhilitary use of Kaho'olawe • title to, and jurisdiction of Kaho'olawe The public comment will be part of the commission's report and recommendations whieh is due to Congress by the end of 1992. The bombing prohibition will end 120 days after the commission's report is submitted to Congress. Commission members include: chairman and former Maui Mayor Hannibal M. Tavares; vicechairman Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli, a member of Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana; OHA trustee A. Frenchy DeSoto; and James A. Kelly and H. Howard Stephenson, who were appointed by continued page 5

Kaho'olawe Conveyance Commissioners listen as OHA trustee Moses Keale presents OHA testimony at hearing on O'ahu April 25.