From the Honolulu star bulletin> Sunday, November 9, 2003

-Kaho'olawe time line

A.D. 1000: Evidence indicates Hawaiian presence on the island.

Late 1800s and 1900s: Cattle and sheep introduced for ranching.

May 1941: Kaho'olawe Ranch sub leases portion of the island to Army for training.

Dec. 7, 1941: Under martial law, military begins use of Kaho'olawe as a bombing range for aircraft and ships.

Feb. 20, 1953: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order, reserving Kaho'olawe for the use of the United States for naval purposes and places the island under the jurisdiction of the secretary of the Navy.

Jan. 4, 1976: Nine protesters with Project Kaho'olawe Ohana occupy the island. Seven are arrested within hours, but two elude capture and remain on the island for three days.

1977: James "Kimo" Mitchell and George Helm disappear in an attempt by Hawaiians to reclaim the island.

1979: The state and Navy plant tamarisk trees to fight erosion.

1980: The Navy and the Protect Kaho'olawe Ohana enter a consent decree, allowing continued military training, access by the PKO, and limited surface clearance of ordnance, soil conservation, goat eradication and an archeological survey of the island.

March 18, 1981: The island is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Oct. 22, 1990: President George Bush directs the military to discontinue use of Kahoolawe as a weapons range.

1994: Under a presidential order, the island is turned over to the state, with the understanding that the Navy is to be in charge of the cleanup. Congress projects spending $400 million over 10 years for the project.

July 1997: A contract is awarded to Parsons-UXB Joint Venture to clear ordnance from the island.

May 23, 2003: A civilian pilot is killed when a cable used to pick up equipment gets stuck in the tail rotor blade of his single-engine Bell 205 helicopter.

Nov. 11, 2003: Navy transfers control of access to the state.