For decades the island of Kaho'olawe was used by the military for target practice, using every type of weapon that could be shot, launched or dropped.
This month marks 20-years since the bombings stopped.
The island of Kaho'olawe has long been considered a sacred and spiritual place. But years of damage and destruction have left scars.
Despite a large scale clean-up, Kaho'olawe is still far from what it once was.
"Only 74% of the surface of the island was cleaned up still remains about 26% of island un-cleared," says Michael Nahoopii, Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission Executive Director.
Students from The University of Hawaii spent the week laying seed and mulch for native plants to take root.
But, restoration efforts aren't easy. Ordnance may still be just below the surface and digging isn't allowed.
"Some of the challenges is still how to revegitate areas that were just surface cleared of ordnance, areas where we cannot dig," says Paul Higashino, Kaho'olawe Island Restoration Commission Ecologist.
Some areas like "Sailor's Hat" are beyond restoration and serve as a grim reminder of the islands past.
In 1965 a test was conducted to simulate the effects of an atomic bomb detonation.
Five hundred tons of TNT were set off.
The blast launched boulders the size of cars and left a crater more than a hundred feet across.
"It's pretty incredible, pretty bizarre footage," says Bart Maybee, UXO Safety Officer.
Other ordnance still litters a large portion of the island.
These areas are off-limits to everyone but ordnance disposal experts.
"Some actually small explosive component some may fit in your pocket which have inherent danger of people collecting souvenirs," says Maybee.
Among, the littered debris sit several cultural artifacts, timeless treasures of the islands original Hawaiian settlers.
"The island is still in tact, those ancient remnants are still there," says Nahoopii.
While it may take decades to fully restore Kaho'olawe, the hope is this anniversary serves as a reminder that work is ongoing to turn the "Target Island" into a treasured one for future generations to enjoy.
Several ceremonies to mark the 20th Anniversary will be held on Friday, October 22nd.
Including an event at the U.H. Manoa Campus, Hawaiian Studies Building from 5:30pm-9:00pm.
The event will feature music, presentations and a film premier.
For more information on the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission visit
http://kahoolawe.hawaii.gov/home.php
