Featured Article Summary #68

Ford Island, located in the center of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, has a rich history. Originally known as Rabbit Island, Marín's Island, and Little Goats Island, it was given the name Mokuumeume by the native Hawaiians. The island was used for an ancient fertility ritual until it was stopped by Christian missionaries in the 1830s. It changed hands several times before becoming the property of Dr. Seth Porter Ford, who renamed it Ford Island. During World War II, the island was the site of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese fleet. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark and is used for military and civilian purposes, as well as being a popular tourist destination. Ford Island is located in the center of a large body of water called the East Loch, which is part of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The island is relatively flat and was made larger by adding landfill from the harbor. It is connected to the larger island of Oahu by a bridge. The island's soil is mainly volcanic material, lagoonal deposits, and coralline debris. In 1991, contamination was discovered in Ford Island's soil, groundwater, and marine sediment, with suspected sources including fuel tanks, a landfill, and ordnance bunkers. The Navy initially considered removing the contaminated soil but ultimately decided to cover it with clean soil and vegetation. This containment system was completed in 1996. The wildlife on Ford Island is mostly invasive species, with the endangered pueo owl being the exception. The plant life on the island is also non-native, with edible cacti being introduced in the late 1700s. The National Park Service manages the Pearl Harbor National Memorial sites. Ancient Hawaiians called Ford Island "isle of attraction" or "island of strife" and used it for a ceremony called ume during the Makahiki festival. The ceremony involved singing, touching, and having sex with individuals who were having difficulty conceiving children. By 1830, this activity was forbidden by Christian missionaries. The native Hawaiian people used the island for agriculture and a legend tells of a goddess who killed a girl on the island and proclaimed a law against killing.