New Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana collection

We’re excited to share that we’ve received about 80 items from the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana (PKO). The collection includes raw footage, edited materials, and documents related to the activities of the PKO from the 1970s through the 1990s. The majority of videotapes are ½ EIAJ videotapes and VHS. From what we’ve learned thus far, it looks like these include footage of community meetings in Hāna, Kaunakakai, Kailua-Kona, Hilo, Lāna‘i City, at Kaua‘i Community College, and elsewhere around Hawai‘i. We’ll be taking a closer look at these in the coming weeks, so we’ll be able to gather more complete details and research on the contents.

For those who might not be familiar with the ‘Ohana, the PKO is a grassroots organization dedicated to the island of Kaho‘olawe and the principles of Aloha ‘Āina throughout Hawai‘i. The organization was instrumental in stopping the bombing of Kaho‘olawe and in the return of the island from the United States military in 1994. Even today, nearly forty years after carrying out its first occupation of the island (which attracted national attention), the PKO continues to work actively to restore the health of Kaho‘olawe by revitalizing its natural and cultural resources. Many well-known individuals were members and leaders of the PKO, including Harry Mitchell, Kimo Mitchell, George Helm, Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli, Loretta Ritte, Scarlett Ritte, Walter Ritte, Davianna McGregor and Collette Machado.

While we haven’t yet finished processing the collection, we wanted to share our excitement and let you know about this new collection. Check our website for updates and feel free to email us (uluulu at hawaii.edu) for more information.

For more info on the PKO and on Kaho‘olawe, visit the PKO’s website (http://www.protectkahoolaweohana.org/) and the Kaho‘olawe Reserve Commission’s website (http://kahoolawe.hawaii.gov/home.php).