Overview

The Legislature created the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to manage the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve while it is held in trust for a future Native Hawaiian sovereign entity. The KIRC uses the federal funds designated for State responsibilities in the restoration effort. The KIRC is administratively attached to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §6K sets forth the composition of the KIRC. One member shall be selected by the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi from lists submitted by Native Hawaiian organizations, one member shall be a reprsentative of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, one member shall be the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaiʻi, one member shall be a representative of the County of Maui, one member shall be a member of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, and two members shall be selected by the Governor form a list submitted by the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana. The Chair of the KIRC shall be selected from among the members by the Governor. The membership of the KIRC is:
• Michele McLean, Chair (County of Maui)
• Amber Nāmaka Whitehead, Vice Chair (Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana)
• William J. Aila Jr., Member (Chair, Board of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaiʻi)
• Emmet Noa Aluli,M.D., Interim Member (Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana)
• Christopher M. Kaliko Baker, Interim Member (Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana)
• Colette Y. Machado, Member (Office of Hawaiian Affairs)
• Kaʻiulani Murphy, Member (Native Hawaiian Organizations)

The KIRC maintains staff to assist it in its restoration and management of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve. The staff consists of:
• Executive Director - Michael Nāhoʻopiʻi
• Administrative Officer - Kaʻonohi Lee
• Administrative Specialist III - David DeMark
• Administrative Specialist II - Mei Mailou-Santos
• Commission Coordinator - Terri Gavagan
• Public Information Specialist - Daniela Maldini
• Cultural Resources Project Coordinator - currently vacant
• Ocean Resources Specialist III - Dean Tokishi
• Ocean Resources Specialist II - Cheryl King
• Ocean Resources Specialist II - Jennifer Vander Veur
• UXO Safety Specialist - Bart Maybee
• Access Control Specialist - Tina Kekoʻolani
• KIR Specialist III - Grant Thompson
• Logistics Specialist - Keʻone Laepaʻa
• Maintenance and Vessel Specialist- Charlie Lindsey
• Natural Resources Specialist V - Paul Higashino
• Natural Resources Specialist III - Lyman Abbott
• Natural Resources Specialist III - Jamie Bruch
• Natural Resources Specialist II - Lopaka White
• GIS/LAN Specialist - Carmela Noneza

KIRC establishes policies and controls uses; coordinates the environmental restoration of the Reserve; provides for the perpetuation of Native Hawaiian customs, beliefs and practices.