clip from Kaho‘olawe Aloha ‘Aina

produced by the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana
directed by Na Maka o ka ‘Aina

KU KAHAKALAU: And we see that Kaho‘olawe wants to live, it wants to be populated. It wants to have people living here. It wants to have people enjoying themselves. It wants to have people around. It doesn't want to be by itself.

It doesn't want to be an outcast amongst all the other islands and be called the "island of death," or any of these other labels that people tend to give it.

It wants to be an island just like every other island, populated, and have a chance to grow and to support its people. And this island is willing and ready to support us if we give it a chance to.

SONG:

And maybe someday you'll go back to those days of old,
When you were beautiful in silver and gold.
And I've hung my head in prayers and cried out your name.
Kaho‘olawe, I feel your pain,
Kaho‘olawe, I feel your pain,
Kaho‘olawe, I feel your pain.

NARRATOR: On October 22, 1990, Marine jets scheduled to make a bombing run on Kaho‘olawe were grounded. That was the historic day when President Bush issued a directive to stop all weapons delivery training on Kaho‘olawe.

On November 8, 1990, a measure drafted by United States senators Akaka and Inouye was signed into law, stopping all United States and foreign bombing of Kaho‘olawe.

MARY ALO: Kaho‘olawe is our home. We are not strangers there. Instead, within her wounds, we can find her beauty and a solemn place of refuge.

SHANNON LIMA: I thought that dancing hula and just reading books would make me feel like a Hawaiian. But it didn't until I went to Kaho‘olawe. And so, instead neglecting it, we as young people want to learn more so we can pass it on to our children. And Kaho‘olawe is a very significant part of our culture.

NARRATOR: Now the ‘ohana can turn its full attention to the task of healing the ‘aina. The ordnance has to be removed. The cultural sites have to be stabilized. Soil erosion has to be stopped. Ground cover and trees need to be planted. The native birds need to be attracted back to the island. And the surrounding marine life needs to be protected.