Showdown over telescope looms anew

With construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope scheduled to resume Wednesday and the Mauna Kea "protectors" refusing to back down, the possibility looms of a replay of the drama that saw the arrest of 31 protesters in April.

"I think it could be way more than 31," Mauna Kea Hui leader Kealoha Pisciotta said Sunday.

Pisciotta and other protest leaders said they expect to be joined Wednesday by scores of demonstrators in their crusade against what they consider a desecration of a sacred mountain.

An islandwide alert has been sent out over social media, she said.

"We’re putting out a call to stand with us in kapu aloha (nonviolent protest)," she declared.

Following a standoff of more than two months, Henry Yang, chairman of the TMT International Observatory board, announced Saturday that construction of the controversial $1.4 billion telescope will begin again Wednesday morning.

"Our period of inactivity has made us a better organization in the long run," Yang said in a statement. "We are now comfortable that we can be better stewards and better neighbors during our temporary and limited use of this precious land, which will allow us to explore the heavens and broaden the boundaries of science in the interest of humanity."

When operational in 2024, the massive observatory is expected to house one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes in the world.

In his statement, Yang said the first order of business for work crews is to investigate any possible oil leaks caused by idle construction equipment. He said workers also will need to make sure machines and equipment receive proper maintenance.

Next, he said, the plan is to repair and install fencing in the interest of public safety.

"We look forward to a positive relationship with all Hawaiians," he said, "while we understand that the majority of Hawaii’s people are supporting the TMT project. We deeply respect and are mindful of those who have concerns, and yet we hope they will permit us to proceed with this important task while reserving their right to peaceful protest.

"As we proceed, TMT is open and willing to allow cultural practitioners in the area of the construction site to continue customary and traditional practices. Allowing this practice to continue to occur will require further dialogue and mutual agreement to work out the details in order to establish a cooperative and harmonious environment for all parties.

"In an effort to be sensitive to and observant of the Native Hawaiian host culture, we will deepen our knowledge of the cultural, ecological, and spiritual aspects of the mountain and continue to learn how to better respect and appreciate Mauna Kea’s important cultural areas."

Yang added that, on behalf of the TMT, he wanted to express "a sincere appreciation" to the people in Hawaii for their understanding and support.

In response to Yang, Kamahana Kealoha of Sacred Mauna Kea Hui (a group distinct from Mauna Kea Hui) said his group "reaffirms strongly, proudly and with all aloha our commitment to reinforce the blockade and continue to pursue legal routes while being forced to protect the Mauna with our bodies."

Pisciotta said she’s disappointed the TMT is moving ahead even as the state Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear oral arguments in the Mauna Kea Hui’s case against the project’s Conservation District use permit. The case is scheduled to be heard Aug. 27 at 8:45 a.m.

Last month, Gov. David Ige announced he would he would revamp the management of the summit to give culture and natural resources equal footing with science. Ige announced the pending formation of a Mauna Kea Cultural Council to advise the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and asked the University of Hawaii to take actions to improve its stewardship, including decommissioning at least 25 percent of the current telescopes before the TMT is operational and returning to the state more than 10,000 acres at the summit.

At the same time, the governor, for the second time in as many months, affirmed the TMT’s right to proceed with construction, saying the project won all the necessary governmental approvals. He added that the state would support and enforce the TMT’s right to continue work and ensure public safety and the company’s right to use roads.

That would indicate that TMT work crews will be given the same support they received April 2, when Hawaii County Police and state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers met the protesters at their encampment at the 9,200-foot level near the Mauna Kea Visitors Center. The confrontation resulted in the arrests for trespassing and blocking the road.

Paul Neves, another Mauna Kea Hui leader, said protesters will be on the mountain in large numbers.

"The people are not going to stand down," he declared. "They may sit down, but they aren’t going to stand down. We have no choice but to protect the land and the law."