Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

With a mission to restore, preserve, and provide safe, meaningful access to the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve, the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) will implement new ways for the public to access the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the site. Due to limitations on physical access related to funding constraints and COVID-19, KIRC will develop digital tools to provide the greater community with access to the Reserve through virtual means. The project will focus on three deliverables: sharing livestreaming video from Kaho'olawe on the KIRC website; sharing 360-degree video updates of monthly volunteer access activities; and developing a pilot Kaho'olawe virtual reality Huaka'i, or expedition. The project will support the KIRC in serving as a model for other natural museum spaces that hope to maintain or expand public access beyond a physical means to local and worldwide audiences.