Kahoʻolawe
Island Uninhabited Hawaiian island undergoing ecological restoration
Kahoʻolawe, a small Hawaiian island, served as a military training range and now undergoes ecological restoration and cultural stewardship; access is restricted and organised through conservation programmes.
Kahoʻolawe is a small, uninhabited island in the Hawaiian archipelago, southwest of Maui. It covers roughly 45 square kilometres and is the smallest of the main Hawaiian Islands.
The island is noted for its stark, eroded landscape and cultural sites sacred to Native Hawaiians. Access is restricted - most visits are by organized cultural, restoration or research trips with permits; there are no regular tourist facilities.
From the 20th century into the 1990s Kahoʻolawe was used by the U.S. military as a training and bombing range. After the cessation of most military activity control of the island was returned to the State of Hawaii and it is now managed for cultural restoration and ecological rehabilitation.
Kahoʻolawe sits in the central Hawaiian Islands, southwest of Maui and within the State of Hawaii. The island is remote, with no permanent population or public infrastructure.
- Access: Landing and visits are tightly regulated; public access requires permits and is generally limited to cultural, restoration and research groups.
- Size: The island is uninhabited and totals roughly 45 square kilometres (about 17 square miles).
- Conservation: Managed as a cultural and ecological reserve with ongoing revegetation and unexploded ordnance clearance after decades of military use.
How to Get to Kahoʻolawe #
There are no commercial services to the island. Visits are possible only through authorized organizations based on Maui; interested parties should contact the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission for information on permitted cultural or volunteer programs. Landings are weather-dependent and subject to strict safety briefings.
Tips for Visiting Kahoʻolawe #
- Access is tightly controlled; look for authorized cultural- or conservation-led trips from Maui with required permits.
- Respect restrictions: Kahoʻolawe is a cultural reserve and access is limited to restoration teams and permitted visits only.
- If participating in a permitted trip, pack sun protection and a firmly secured boat-line - landings are often on rocky shorelines.
Best Time to Visit Kahoʻolawe #
Access windows are determined by conservation schedules and weather; interested visitors must join sanctioned, permitted programs from Maui.
Weather & Climate near Kahoʻolawe #
Kahoʻolawe's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 16°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1200 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 17°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (199 mm).
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February
February is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm).
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March
March is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).
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April
April is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (108 mm).
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May
May is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (136 mm).
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June
June is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm).
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July
July is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm).
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm).
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September
September is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).
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October
October is warm with highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm).
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November
November is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (128 mm).
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December
December is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (127 mm).
