Hawaiian locals opposed the construction of a billion-dollar telescope on one of its sacred sites. The state has then proposed a revised set of administrative rules regarding use of the restricted sacred area and will be deciding on vote by the end of this week.
Meanwhile, the construction is said to resume middle of this week.
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Observatory is working on a $1.4 billion project to put up a telescope in Mauna Kea, aimed to be one of the largest telescopes in the world. The project is majorly funded by San Francisco's Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation. The telescope is planned for the summit of the sacred site on Hawaii's Big Island.
In April, protesters settled in an area going towards the summit and refused to leave until law enforcement arrested them. TMT decided to temporarily suspend construction.
The non-profit company behind the project announced construction will resume on Wednesday.
According to a shocked Kealoha Pisciotta, one of six plaintiffs who are challenging TMT's construction permit, the announcement triggered an island-wide alert for protesters.
TMT's chairperson of the Board Henry Yang said that after two months of consultations since April, they decided to resume with the construction.
"Our period of inactivity has made us a better organization in the long run. We are now comfortable that we can be better stewards and better neighbors during our temporary and limited use of this precious land," he said.
The protester Pisciotta stood firm, however, in saying she believes resuming the construction demonstrates a lack of good faith. The Supreme Court of Hawaii scheduled to hear oral arguments regarding the telescope permit on Aug. 27; however, TMT made its announcement to resume construction just a day after the Supreme Court's announcement.
While local protesters argue against TMT's telescope construction project, the Board of Land and Natural Resources proposed amended administrative rules regarding the use of the restricted Mauna Kea site. In a meeting set on Oahu this Friday, the Board will decide on the proposal by vote.
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife at the Department of Land and Natural Resources proposed [pdf] amendments to Chapter 13-123-21.2, prohibiting activities within a one-mile radius of the restricted Mauna Kea Observatory Access Road. The area should be strictly closed to public access from 5pm to 8am, except for passers-by on motor vehicles. The proposal also forbids the use of camping equipment like tarpaulins, tents, blankets or backpacks.
While locals and concerned organizations await the decision on Friday, the construction of the billion-dollar telescope on an area sacred to Native Hawaiians remains a hot topic.
In April, Gov. David Ige said TMT is legally entitled to use its discretion in proceeding with the project, while acknowledging the protesters' rights to appeal in court. He added that such projects take a while to obtain permission, this one taking seven years, including public hearings.
"I'm sorry to say that Mr. Moore and the Thirty Meter Telescope board are demonstrating their lack of willingness to follow the law," Pisciotta said.
Yang, on the other hand, believes the project will allow the exploration of the heavens and "broaden the boundaries of science in the interest of humanity."
Photo: Cucombre Libre | Flickr
