Protecting Kaho’olawe

Documentary | 31 min

SHOWTIMES:

Doors open 30 min prior to showtime

Synopsis: For decades, Kahoʻolawe endured use as a bombing range by the U.S. military, leaving profound scars across an island sacred to Native Hawaiians. This documentary chronicles the history of Kahoʻolawe, the formation of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO), and the extraordinary movement that fought to reclaim and restore the island.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the first landing by the “Kahoʻolawe Nine,” whose courageous actions in 1976 galvanized a movement that ultimately helped end military bombing, directors Mark Carpenter and Corbin Gregory journey to Kahoʻolawe to witness the ʻohana’s work firsthand. Through intimate personal stories, historical reflection, and the ongoing restoration of the ʻāina, the film honors generations of activists, cultural practitioners, and community members who dedicated themselves to protecting the island. More than a history of resistance, it is a testament to aloha ʻāina—the enduring relationship between people and land—and the continuing responsibility to heal and safeguard Kahoʻolawe for future generations