Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 5, 1 May 2006 — PKO'S STEWARDSHIP ROLE FORMALIZED [ARTICLE]

PKO'S STEWARDSHIP ROLE FORMALIZED

In March, the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana was named the official steward of the former "target island" after it entered into an agreement with the state. The 'ohana secured the Palapala 'Aelike Kahu'āina (stewardship agreement) through its nonprofit fiscal entity, the Kohemalamalama o Kanaloa/Protect Kaho'olawe Fund. The agreement allows the group to continue its cultural and spiritual activities on the island. The 'ohana was created to stop the U.S. Navy's military bombing of Kaho'olawe, and its members launched a series of occupations of the island starting in 1976. As a result of a federal lawsuit filed by the 'ohana, in 1980 the Navy agreed to allow the group monthly access to the island. The stewardship agreement was needed to officially spell out PKO's role after the Navy transferred control of the island to the state in 2003. The agreement also indemnifies the 'ohana and its members from being held liahle in case anyone is hurt during an access to the island, said Davianna McGregor, a spokesperson for PKO. After a 10-year, $400-mil-lion eleanup, the Navy cleared ordnance from only 77 percent of Kaho'olawe's surface. KIRC Executive Director Sol Kaho'ohalahala said that the agreement will strengthen the bond between the 'ohana and KIRC because they'll be working more closely together on restoration and other projects. Added McGregor, "Both KIRC and the 'ohana endorse the same land use plans, and we both want to enahle and expand the cultural use of the island to the broader community." E3