Hawaii consists of 8 main volcanic islands, the smallest of which is Kaho’olawe. It is 10 kilometers wide and 18 kilometers long. Lua Makika is the highest point of Kaho’olawe. There is minimal precipitation and the island is quite dry. Saprolitic hardpan has resulted in the erosion of more than one quarter of the island.
When outsiders talk of Hawaii, they are usually referring to O’ahu, Kaui, Maui or the big island of Hawaii. Usually people have not heard of Kahoolawe. For natives, Kahoolawe is sacred. The roots of many Hawaiian traditions lie here. One volcanic dome makes what is known as Kahoolawe. Archaeological evidence suggests that Kahoolawe was settled in by 400 A.D. Fishing villages were established on the islands coastline. The island carries about 3000 bits of historical evidence in the form of historical features and sites.
The island and waters up to two nautical miles from the island are included in Kaho’olawe Island Reserve. The island is remote and uninhabited. There are not too many modern facilities here. Due to overgrazing, the island had become virtually void of vegetation. In addition as a military practice base it has been bombed for decades and thus the remains of bombings lie strewn over the island. Today Kaho’olawe is an island reserve.
