Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii

The claim: Kahoolawe Island, 28,800. Until 1994, the entire island was off limits to civilians and used for bombardment practice, including simulated nuclear weapons.

What it really is: In 1990 the US Navy ended live fire training on the island of Kaho'olawe. In 1994 the island was transferred to the state of Hawaii.

In 1981 the island was added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its archaeological sites. In 1993 the state legislator established the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve, turning the entire island into a nature reserve.

The island itself has no permanent population due mostly to the fact that the island lacks fresh water.