Kahoʻolawe is uninhabited, closed to the public, and still being cleared of unexploded ordnance. It is the smallest of the eight main islands and the only one with no visitor economy at all.
| Fact | Kahoʻolawe |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Target Isle |
| Land area | 45 sq mi |
| Population | 0 (uninhabited) |
| Highest point | Puʻu Moaʻulanui — 1,483 ft |
| Main airport | No airport |
What Kahoʻolawe Is Known For
Used as a bombing range
The US military used the island for live-fire training from the Second World War until 1990. Ordnance clearance has never been completed.
Returned to the State of Hawaii
Control passed to the state in 1994. The island is held in trust for a future sovereign Native Hawaiian entity.
A cultural reserve, not a park
Commercial activity is prohibited by law. Access is limited to approved volunteer restoration and cultural work through the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission.
Kahoʻolawe Compared With the Big Island
Kahoʻolawe is not a visitor destination and will not become one. Visitors interested in Hawaiian cultural landscape should look instead at sites on the Big Island such as Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.
Who it suits: Approved volunteers participating in restoration work.
Who it doesn’t: All general visitors. There is no lawful tourist access.
Getting to Kahoʻolawe
There is no airport, no harbour service and no lawful visitor access. Approved volunteers travel with organised groups through the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission.
How long to spend: Not applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Kahoʻolawe?
Not as a tourist. Access is restricted to approved volunteer and cultural groups, because unexploded ordnance remains across the island.
Why is Kahoʻolawe uninhabited?
Limited fresh water made permanent settlement hard historically, and decades of use as a bombing range left contamination that prevents habitation today.
VentureHawaii focuses on the Big Island — that is where our in-depth guides are. This page is here to help you work out whether Kahoʻolawe or Hawaii Island is the better fit for your trip. Read the Big Island guide.