Funds for the cleanup and restoration of Kahoolawe are expected to run out in 2016, yet only 13 percent of the job has been done, according to a report issued Thursday by the state legislative auditor.
The report said the state commission in charge "is a long way from its vision of returning the island and surrounding waters to pristine conditions."
When Congress ended the use of Kahoolawe as a naval target island in 1994, it authorized $400 million for the island’s cleanup, including $44 million to the state for environmental restoration and other archaeological and educational activities.
The auditor’s report also said the commission has not established a comprehensive plan for its restoration effort, including forecasts regarding how much the project will cost and when it will be completed.
"As a result, spending has outpaced revenues and the trust fund, which contained as much as $33.6 million in … 2004, has been whittled down to $6.5 million," the report said.
The audit said 70 percent of the commission’s annual budget, about $2.1 million, has been spent on operating and administrative costs.
In response, Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission Executive Director Michael Nahoopii said the commission’s work did not get fully underway until after the Navy ended its ordnance removal work in 2003.
In a telephone interview, he said the funding for restoration was not based on an estimate of the amount it would take to clean up Kahoolawe. Rather, Nahoopii said, the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye set the amounts for cleanup and restoration based on how much he thought Congress would be willing to give.
He said those involved in the cleanup of the ordnance, including the Navy, found that cost would be much higher than then authorized funding.
The Navy has removed more than 10 million pounds of ordnance on the island, which is about the same size as Oahu’s metropolitan area, stretching from Waikiki to Moanalua.
Nahoopii said the ongoing restoration is the toughest and most challenging work the state has ever shouldered because of the island’s remote location and potential danger.
Initially the ordnance removal plan was to clear 100 percent of Kahoolawe’s overall surface. Additionally, 25 percent of the island would undergo a deeper sweeping — down to 4 feet below the surface, Nahoopii said. The Navy ended up clearing 75 percent of the island’s surface. About 10 percent of the island underwent the deeper sweeping work.
So there are still plenty of shells and bombs around, some of them certainly unexploded.
Nahoopii said the trust fund has suffered no returns on investment and a decrease in its ability to raise money in recent years because of the downturn in the economy. The annual $2.1 million budget is used to support the infrastructure on the island, including electricity and water, as well transportation and accommodations tied to volunteer visits for restoration work.
The commission hasn’t received state funds on an annual basis and wants to seek a portion of the annual revenues from the state conveyance tax, Nahoopii said.
He added that the commission plans to hold community meetings within the next few months to discuss possible plans for Kahoo-lawe’s future, including the idea of limited commercial use of the island. The state recognizes Kahoolawe as a cultural reserve, which prohibits commercial activity on the island.
