Forums look at Mauna Kea rules

The University of Hawaii’s Office of Mauna Kea Management held a series of open house informational meetings this week on proposed administrative rules regarding public and commercial access to the mountain.

The rules include prohibiting vehicles that do not have 4-wheel drive above Halepohaku, near the Mauna Kea Visitor Center. The office says half the steep summit road is unpaved, with several switchbacks and blind curves.

The rules would also prohibit the use of any devices for snow play without braking mechanisms or directional control, as well as snowmobiles.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management said the administrative rules are not intended to prevent public access into the Mauna Kea lands but to provide for the safe and appropriate access for all visitors.

They are also designed to preserve natural and cultural resources and prohibit disturbing plant or animal life except game animals. It prohibits hiking, conducting a nature study or any activity with a group larger than 10 people without a permit.

The open houses were held this week while protesters opposing the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea blocked TMT construction crews from gaining access to the site on Wednesday. At Tuesday’s meeting in Kona, 30 attended; 74 attended Wednesday in Hilo; and 25 attended Thursday in Waimea.

TMT opponent Pua Case of Waimea said it appears the meetings were deliberately timed. "You have us all caught up here at the mauna. You have your administrative rules open houses going on at the same time," she said.

University of Hawaii spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said, "We had no idea until this past Saturday that TMT was going to start construction. … The meetings were scheduled a month ago. There was never any intention to try to coordinate it so that they would be sparsely attended."

The contested case proceedings regarding TMT delayed the drafting of administrative rules. Since the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Office of Mauna Kea Management are defendants, there were complaints of collusion, so the two did not work together to avoid the appearance of impropriety, Meisenzahl said.

The rules are too restrictive, Case said. "They are going to change the way we interact with this mountain."

Case also objected to the open house format, saying it discouraged public input and interaction.

"There’s no way this is an engaging process," she said. "What has happened here to the system? It’s just so they can say they showed it to the public."

The office also proposes:

» Charging fees for permits, parking and entry.

» Closing roads and areas or setting a maximum number of vehicles due to inclement weather including icy roads, poor visibility and heavy usage due to construction activity or delivery of wide loads.

» A schedule of visiting hours.

The office also proposes prohibiting:

» Stacking or piling of rocks.

» Contests, meets or competitions.

» Use of drones, air toys and aerial activities.

» Installation of monuments, memorials, tablets or other commemorative items.

» Interference with a ranger or public agency law enforcement officer or authorized security officer.

» Commercial activities of any kind without a permit, including photography, video or film.

UH officials are seeking feedback from the public to create a draft proposal, which will go to its legal counsel for review. From there it will go to the Board of Regents before another round of public hearings starting possibly by late fall, Meisenzahl said.

For a full list of proposed rules, visit bit.ly/1BI4BwC. To take a survey on the proposals and to comment, go to bit.ly/1eO2dKQ

The survey and comments may be mailed by July 13 to Office of Mauna Kea Management, 200 West Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Tim Hurley contributed to this report.