A former U.S. Navy bombing target, Kahoolawe Island has since been returned to the state of Hawaii, to be held in trust for the Hawaiian nation. Despite a major cleanup area, much of the island remains unusable because of unexploded ordnance. A cultural and environmental preserve, it has no tourism, and access is strictly limited.
Those interested in visiting can volunteer with the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC), which ensures that the island and its surrounding waters will be preserved for future generations. The group offers weekly work trips to Kahoolawe. Volunteers meet on Maui before being ferried over to Kahoolawe where they work Tuesday-Thursday. There is a US$125 fee that covers transportation from Maui to Kahoolawe, food and boarding costs. http://kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.
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