The University of Hawaii Board of Regents has approved a plan to build the world’s largest telescope at Mauna Kea’s summit.

The 16 board members voted unanimously today in favor of the Thirty Meter Telescope spearheaded by a consortium of Canadian and California universities.

The decision clears the way for telescope managers to seek a permit from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to build the facility on conservation land.

Some Native Hawaiians have opposed the telescope on the grounds it would defile the Mauna Kea’s sacred summit. Environmentalists say the telescope would harm the rare wekiu bug.

The university must vote on the project because it owns the lease for the land on which the telescope would be built.