The issues swirling around the Big Island’s proposed Thirty Meter Telescope are so intense it now appears to be no longer about winning, but just not losing.
On Monday, TMT protesters dropped a 53,000-signature petition on Gov. David Ige’s desk opposing the $1.4 billion project.
Early this month, Ige reacted to escalating protests regarding the TMT not by first coming out with a clear statement of purpose, but instead, meandering through an undefined and private series of "dialogues."
At the end of one set of conversations with protesters on Mauna Kea, Ige flew back to Honolulu. He announced what he called a one-week timeout for construction on Mauna Kea.
"We are actively engaged with various stakeholders. I wanted to announce that the TMT group has agreed to a timeout from construction activities.
"They have responded to my request and on behalf of the president of the university and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have agreed to a timeout on the project and there will be no construction activities this week," Ige said on April 7.
Another timeout was given on April 11, and then on Friday afternoon, Ige said construction is again halted but that he was changing his role from that of decider to messenger.
"The TMT leadership informed me that construction will continue to be postponed. Any further announcements about the construction schedule will come from TMT," Ige said.
As it turns out, stopping was never Ige’s idea.
In clarification, Ige’s communications direction, Cindy McMillan, said TMT held the timeout whistle all along.
"They have been the ones making the call regarding the delay in construction and have simply asked (the) governor to make the announcements. From this point on, TMT will be both making the decision and the announcements," she said in an email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
It is worth pointing out that the TMT is not a little project, nor is it of little interest.
Scientists, astronomers and planners around the globe have spent seven years planning this telescope, which they say "will become the most advanced and powerful optical telescope on Earth.
"When completed, the Thirty Meter Telescope will enable astronomers to study objects in our own solar system and stars throughout our Milky Way and its neighboring galaxies, and forming galaxies at the very edge of the observable Universe, near the beginning of time."
At the same time that Hawaii is poised to open that door, Gov. Ige is saying via news release that he is considering decommissioning and removing older telescopes to restore the Mauna Kea summit, reduce the level of activity on the summit and do something about "integrating culture and science."
The protesters will not be satisfied with any of those peace offerings. Their demands are for the state and the telescopes to get off the mountain. They are raising money for bail bonds after they get arrested for blocking construction access, not for having a dialogue.
It appears that the leadership from the Governor’s Office is much like the direction provided by the major league baseball player and coach, Yogi Berra, who said: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.
