During World War II, the US Air Force built a landing strip called Morse Field on the point. After the war the airfield was closed in 1953.[16] In 1961 it was on the list of final sites to be considered by NASA to launch manned rockets to space, but was considered too remote[17] although it was later used to launch sounding rockets for testing of instruments at the Air Force's Maui Space Surveillance Center.[18] The low latitude of the location also made it (and nearby areas that are as remote) attractive as a site for private rocket launches, but these plans were dropped in the face of high costs and local opposition.[19]