WASHINGTON -- The Smithsonian Institute opened an exhibit Wednesday that is a demonstration of Kahoolawe's duality.

Photographs of scenic landscapes sit next to military mortar gathered from the island at the display.

"Part of what we photographed was the bombs and the devastation and what had happened in that time. But, we also wanted to show that there was life on the land, there was beautiful places on the island, that it wasn't all destroyed, and it wasn't all just a barren red rock," photographer Rowland Reeve said.

Aerial bombs, rockets and grenades pummeled Kahoolawe for more than 50 years.

Cleanup began in 1999 and will continue until 2003. Crews are removing explosives. In their tracks, others replant Native Hawaiian fauna.

The Smithsonian exhibit is an effort to educate those beyond Hawaii about Kahoolawe's past and its future. The display was put together with the help of the Bishop Museum.

"In Hawaii, I think everyone knows of Kahoolawe, and we try our best to get people to come and visit the island with us, but here in Washington D.C., it's not as well-known. It's a wonderful story, about how a community can work together with engineers such as Parsons and USB, as well as the military to begin to heal very precious natural resources that we value here in Hawaii," exhibit co-curator Davianna McGregor said.

The exhibit runs at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., until Sept. 2.

The exhibit will return to the islands. It will become part of a permanent exhibition in Maui.