George Jarrett Helm, Jr., 1950–1977
James Kimo Mitchell, 1952–1977
Kaho'olawe – 28,000 Acres
Põhakuloa Training Area – 133,000 Acres
Stop The Bombing!
The US Navy used the Hawaiian island of Kaho'olawe for target practice from 1941 to 1990. The US dropped thousands of tons of bombs, devastating the island and the surrounding ocean environment. In 1976, the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana (PKO) formed and began organizing through political education, direct action, and legislative disruption. On Marcch 9, 1977, Helm Jr. and Kimo Mitchell were loast at sea during rescue mission connected to a PKO direct action. Their mysterious deaths galvanized support to stop the bombing of Kaho'olawe and in 1990 the Navy finally ceased activity. Yet the struggle to demilitarize Hawai'i continues. The US military still conducts devastating live0fire training across the islands, including the Põhakuloa Training Area, which has become the largest live-fire training site in the Pacific.
This CPH poster printed at the worker-owned and union-run Community Printers, Santa Cruz, CA.
This is #210 in the Celebrate People’s History Poster Series.
