Bombing
After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 the Navy took military control of Kahoʻolawe. The residents living on island were forced to leave. The use of Kahoʻolawe as a bombing range was believed to be critical, since the United States was planning a war in the Pacific Islands.
The Navy assaulted the island with napalm, mock atomic warheads, bombs and rockets. Many of the unexploded warheads targeted for land landed in the ocean.
In 1965, the U.S. Navy conducted Operation Sailor Hat to determine the blast resistance of ships. Three tests were set off the coast of Kahoʻolawe, with 500 tons of conventional TNT detonated on the island. The blasts created a crater on the island known as "Sailor’s Hat" and might have cracked the island's caprock, causing some groundwater to be lost into the ocean.
Most of the land that has been cleared had only its surface cleared. Continued erosion has allowed buried active bombs to surface.
Only a portion of the land and none of the water has been cleared of unexploded bombs. Most of the land that has been cleared had only its surface cleared. Continued erosion has allowed buried active bombs to surface.
The Navy assaulted the island with napalm, mock atomic warheads, bombs and rockets. Many of the unexploded warheads targeted for land landed in the ocean.
In 1965, the U.S. Navy conducted Operation Sailor Hat to determine the blast resistance of ships. Three tests were set off the coast of Kahoʻolawe, with 500 tons of conventional TNT detonated on the island. The blasts created a crater on the island known as "Sailor’s Hat" and might have cracked the island's caprock, causing some groundwater to be lost into the ocean.
Most of the land that has been cleared had only its surface cleared. Continued erosion has allowed buried active bombs to surface.
Only a portion of the land and none of the water has been cleared of unexploded bombs. Most of the land that has been cleared had only its surface cleared. Continued erosion has allowed buried active bombs to surface.