Things looking up for TMT support

The latest Hawaii Poll, conducted June 30 through July 9, shows an increase in support for the Thirty Meter Telescope, compared to January when the poll last asked a similar question.

Then, the general support for the controversial project planned for the Mauna Kea summit stood at 70 percent; more recently, it’s up 76 percent. Even among Native Hawaiians, the support is now measuring 57 percent.

Two caveats here: The earlier poll was taken very soon after the Supreme Court invalidated the project’s state permit, faulting the contested-case hearing process. The issue was in the headlines, emotions were riding high, and perhaps things have cooled.

Also: The poll sampled Oahu residents. Perhaps Hawaii islanders beg to differ?

Say your piece on reserve proposal

An audacious proposal to triple the size of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument — making it the largest in the world — could be done with a stroke of the president’s pen, using the Antiquities Act.

Fortunately, the public will get to weigh in first.

Two federal agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will hold hearings at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu on Aug. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m., and at the Kauai Community Performing Arts Center in Lihue on Aug. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m.

There’s much at stake in this debate, and all sides need to be heard.