Turns out what appeared to be a bullet hole in the door of the Subaru Observatory on Mauna Kea is not a bullet hole after all.
The observatory announced Monday that the hole was actually created when wind from a storm months ago knocked the door into an intake manifold cover on the adjacent wall.
The dent created by the intake manifold cover was discovered Saturday and reported to the police as a possible bullet hole.
But Nobuo Arimoto, director of the Subaru Telescope, said Monday that the observatory’s day crews knew about the hole following a severe winter storm about six months ago.
"The wrap-around effect of the wind could be very severe at times, which can swing the heavy metal door to create this kind of dent on the door," Arimoto said in a statement.
A detailed inspection of the 9 mm hole early Monday morning confirmed a match between the hole and the bolt protruding from the intake manifold cover.
"We at Subaru Telescope are relieved that this is the case and regret the confusion caused by earlier reports," he said.
Hawaii island police officers responded late Saturday to the Subaru — one of 13 telescopes that populate the science reserve atop Hawaii’s tallest mountain — and opened a first-degree reckless endangering case and a second-degree criminal property damage investigation. It was believed the damage occurred sometime between Friday evening and Saturday evening.
But when a detective was sent to the observatory Monday, he confirmed the hole was caused by a bolt sticking out from an adjacent wall. The case was closed.
Initial reports of a possible violent act at the summit caused a stir in the Hawaii island community, with some assuming the dispute involving a group protesting the planned $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope had taken a turn for the worse.
More than two months have gone by since work crews were stopped by protesters while their vehicles were traveling to the TMT construction site in late March. A few days later 31 protesters were arrested and charged with trespassing and blocking traffic.
Since then the project that aims to build one of the largest and most powerful optical telescopes in the world has remained stalled, and the TMT has not announced any plans to resume work.
A group of mostly Native Hawaiians continues to maintain its presence near the Mauna Kea visitor center at the 9,200-foot level, standing guard in case the project starts up again, while security guards patrol the construction site near the mountain’s summit.
The "protectors," as they call themselves, said they were shocked and dismayed when they were informed about the bullet hole Sunday. They said they pride themselves in practicing "kapu aloha," in conducting a peaceful protest and in treating with reverence a mountaintop they view as sacred.
"This is outside our frame of reference," Kealoha Pisciotta, a leader of the Mauna Kea Hui, said Monday, explaining her reaction to the initial report. "We don’t believe anyone should be discharging any firearms up there, accidentally or otherwise. Our protocol calls for no firearms or guns."
The summit, she said, is a puuhonua, or place of refuge, where violence is prohibited. Even Kamehameha wouldn’t allow any guns above Mauna Kea’s tree lines, she said.
"I suppose it’s a good time to pause and reflect," she said. "Disagreement is not always a bad thing. It leads to greater discussion."
