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Why can t you visit kahoolawe?

Access to the Reserve (the island and the 2 miles of ocean surrounding Kaho'olawe) is restricted because of the continued danger of unexploded ordnance. Access to the Reserve is permitted only with authorization of KIRC for specific purposes, such as restoration, education, and culture.



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A hint: It's not because you have to be rich and famous to visit the island. Quite the contrary, Niihau's owners are upholding a promise made to a former Hawaiian king to protect the island from the outside world and to maintain the island's beloved Hawaiian heritage.

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Access to the Reserve (the island and the 2 miles of ocean surrounding Kaho'olawe) is restricted because of the continued danger of unexploded ordnance. Access to the Reserve is permitted only with authorization of KIRC for specific purposes, such as restoration, education, and culture.

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Kaho'olawe, A Sacred Island Called in ancient times, “Kanaloa” or “Kohemalamalama,” the island was a place where kahuna and navigators were trained and played an important role in early Pacific migrations.

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The island of Kaho'olawe and the waters two miles from the shoreline are designated as the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve, owned by the State of Hawai'i. KIRC manages Kaho'olawe in trust for a future Native Hawaiian sovereign entity.

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U.S. Navy conveys deed of ownership of Kaho'olawe to the State of Hawai'i. The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission is established to manage activities on the island.

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About eighteen miles southwest of the Garden Island (Kauai), sits Hawaii's “Forbidden Island”, also known as Niihau.

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It is not necessarily accurate to say that all Native Hawaiians & locals dislike tourists. Many Native Hawaiians work in the tourism industry & rely on it for their livelihoods. But, more commonly, people find that there are less and less Native Hawaiians willing to work in the tourism and hospitality industry.

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Some locals, many of them of Native Hawaiian descent, have gone so far as to argue that travelers should cross Hawaii off of their future itineraries for good. Tourism is seen as one of several factors that allowed the Maui fire to become so deadly.

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No one is allowed to land on Niihau unless you are a resident of the island, a member of the Robinson family, or an invited guest. The Robinson family permits helicopter tours, but contact between the visitors and natives is not allowed. Fishermen and sailors may visit the island by sea, but are not able to land.

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To the east, much of the island has an orange-red tone due to bare hardpan dirt—a result of erosion and dry weather.

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Hawaii public officials want tourists back after the horrible wildfire as soon as possible, but airlines and tour operators know that it takes time for local communities to heal. Maui's tourism recovery has been moving at a sluggish pace since the wildfires devastated the island's western region in early August.

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Whether you like it or not, tourism is the main engine of our economy here on Maui. During COVID, we had lofty utopian thoughts of diversifying away from tourism, but it hasn't happened and would take far too long for our residents to survive financially.

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Here are a few to keep in mind:
  1. Drive ~with aloha~. ...
  2. Make time to “talk story” with locals. ...
  3. Refer with respect. ...
  4. Don't call the continental U.S. “the mainland” when people ask you where you're from. ...
  5. When someone gives you a lei, don't throw it in the trash after your trip. ...
  6. Stay on the path and follow the signs.


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The reasons behind the migration vary from family to family, but economic prospects in Hawaii are heavily at play. A study by Kamehameha Schools cited the high cost of living coupled with a lack of job opportunities and career growth in Hawaii.

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State economist Eugene Tian said the reason some people move is Hawaii's economy is moving at a slower rate than the continent. Hawaii's cost of living has been increasing, especially since we experienced an increase in housing prices in 2022, said Tian.

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Billionaire Larry Ellison owns an island in Hawaii. 98 per cent of the island of Lanai is his property.

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During World War II, Kahoolawe became a bombing range for the U.S. Military. Finally in 1990, the military ceased live bombings, and today the island is protected to reestablish plant life and to preserve native Hawaiian culture.

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