As the debate over the construction of the colossal telescope at the sacred Hawaiian spot of Mauna Kea rages on, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) aired its view on the governor's plans.
On Tuesday, May 26, Governor David Ige formally announced that the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) at the summit of Mauna Kea by TMT International Observatory Board will continue.
The construction of the $1.4 billion TMT, said to be 10 times more powerful than the Hubble Telescope, was halted abruptly in April amid protests from residents of Hawaii who argue that the project was violating their rights. The activists believe the TMT is being built on what they consider sacred land.
Over 300 protests have been made against the project, with activists rallying on social media with the hashtag #WeAreMaunaKea. The protest has also seen support from celebrity Jason Momoa of Game of Thrones.
The TMT International Observatory Board and scientists argue that the telescope—expected to be operational by 2022—will be the most powerful and advanced optical telescope on Earth and will enable researchers to look into the earliest years of the Universe.
Now, the OHA trustees have revealed that Governor Ige's plans are reflective of the stand of the office as well. The OHA agrees with the governor that the focus in the long term should be the management of Mauna Kea and not just the TMT construction.
Rowena Akana, an OHA trustee, believes that the governor's proposal will offer a chance for the complete revamping of Mauna Kea's safekeeping.
"The mountain holds many different things and feelings for different people, but for me the bottom line is if you cannot take care of the land then you should not be in charge of it. You should not be able to manage it," noted Akana.
It is for this purpose that the governor has requested the University of Hawaii to return more than 10,000 acres of Mauna Kea voluntarily.
Another OHA trustee , Peter Apo, is of the opinion that the proposal from the governor would be instrumental in returning Mauna Kea to its original state.
"If we can keep our eye on the future and think of it as a long-term project to finally clear the mountain of all commercial activity, I think that is a very achievable goal and something worth pursuing," shared Apo.
Photo: Thomas Tunsch | Flickr
