How PKO Members Can Get Involved in the Kaho'olawe Clean Up PKO members provide the clean up contractor with valuable workers that are knowledgeable about Kaho'olawe, are dedicated to the restoration of the island, and familiar with the cultural protocols associated with this special place. PKO members gain valuable experience for the future, get to spend a significant amount of time on the island and work in areas they may have never visited before.

There are many positions that will be available to those who show up to the contractor's door first. It is important that if you want to work on this project that you start getting all you paper work together now. Proposals for this contract has been submitted by at least nine major companies that are trying to win this contract. If the Navy follows through with their current plan, the contract will be awarded sometime later this summer. The first few months will require the contractor to develop plans and procedures on how to conduct the clean up. Sometime near the end of this year, the contractor should start working on the island. This means that they will be hiring people anytime from this summer till they start cleaning at the end of the year. The following are some of the positions they will need:

Many of these jobs are on the island, but many jobs will be available at all levels on both Maui and Oahu at the contractor's and subcontractor's home offices.

What do you have to do to be ready?

The first place to start is getting your resume together. Many of the experiences you have had on Kaho'olawe can be translated into valuable skills to be listed on your resume. For example, the work you did cleaning up the camp can be translated to; "Experienced in conducting intrusive work using hand and power equipment within the vicinity of archaeological and/or culturally sensitive sites".

The next step is to stay informed. The Kaho'olawe Homepage (www.kahoolawe.org) is an excellent resource for those with Internet access. Other sources include attending Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission meetings and the PKO Newsletter.

The last step is getting some of the necessary entrance training under your belt. It is more than likely that the Navy will require all people working on the island to attend the Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Training 40 hour course in accordance with 29CFR 1910.120 or have a current 8 hour refresher course. Currently there are sources in the community that provides this training for free or a reduced fee. This course can normally run anywhere from $250-$400. More information about opportunities for this training will be posted later or call Mike Nahoopii at 808-944-8009.