8 telescope protesters arrested on Maui

Eight protesters were arrested early Thursday in the demonstration against the solar telescope under construction atop Haleakala, according to a protest leader.

Despite two separate demonstration locations and hours of delay, oversize trucks carrying parts and materials to the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope apparently made it to the summit in the early morning.

Kahookahi Kanuha, one of the leaders of the Mauna Kea “protectors,” said in a Facebook post Thursday morning that eight were arrested. He said he also was hit by a car on Crater Road and ended up on the hood, but he was apparently OK.

“Tense moments. Police force was STRONG. Riot gear. Truck loads of shields. Occupation is real,” he wrote.

Dozens of Maui Police Department officers cleared about 200 or so demonstrators away from the convoy of oversize heavy-load trucks at the Central Maui Baseyard near Puunene after midnight following a lei-offering ceremony that delayed the 10 p.m. shipment.

Later, officers cleared the protesters from Crater Road at about the 4,000-foot level of Haleakala.