Kahoʻolawe 20-Year Commemoration

Photographers: Kaʻāina Paikai & Kamaka Pili

Producer: Kapōmaikaʻi Stone

Audio: Justyn Ah Chong

Editor: Kaʻāina Paikai

Supporters of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO) came together on September 25, 2011 at Ka Papa Loʻi Kānewai at the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa to mark 20 years since the military ceased bombing of Kahoʻolawe. Participants offered song, stories, and deep reflections that evidenced hope for a positive future for the island. A panel discussed how the Makahiki Festival held annually on Kahoʻolawe has influenced the increasingly popular event across Hawaiʻi. High school students remarked on how the island has reconnected them to their cultural past and inspires action in their own communities. Finally, individuals spoke of how Kahoʻolawe will play a role in the future of Hawaiʻi.