Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea include a virtual who’s who of Hawaiian cultural leaders. Many compare their cause to stopping the bombing of Kahoolawe, and speak as though the telescope would represent a profound desecration.

I find this baffling.

We are not talking about construction of a missile-launching site, an oil pipeline or a hotel. They will not be knocking down heiau walls or disturbing iwi. The environmental impact studies do not show risk of substantial environmental damage.

We seem to have a case of cultural projection here, where the cause serves as a stand-in for a laundry list of unrelated grievances.

Striving to explore and understand the universe, which is the sole purpose of the telescope, is not a form of cultural exploitation.

With proper protocols, surely it should be possible to reconcile this worthy endeavor with Native Hawaiian sensitivities about the sacredness of Mauna Kea.

David Kemble

Kailua

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