A series of three tests were conducted at Kahoolawe under Operation Sailor Hat.
Over this crater another of dome of TNT blocks were built for the second test.
This was repeated for the third test.
500 tons of TNT awaiting detonation at Operation Sailor Hat.
Each of the three massive blasts could be seen for miles, by land, air and sea.
A life size mannequin placed on the deck facing the blast was violently thrown over.
The Navy was impressed with how well the blast was resisted by their ships.
Only some minor design improvements were needed to make the ships more robust.
The Sailor’s Hat crater is now home totwo endemic speciesof shrimps.
Over $400 million have been poured into the effort, yet the job is far from over.
A quarter of the island is still off-limits.
Photo credit:Forest Starr and Kim/Flickr
