TMT supporters rally at the Capitol

More than 400 people waved signs and shouted slogans Thursday at a state Capitol rally called to show support for the beleaguered Thirty Meter Telescope.

But about half of the demonstrators were there to oppose the planned Mauna Kea telescope.

Nearly an equal number of people lined Beretania Street, the pro-TMT contingent on the Capitol side and the anti-TMT group on the other.

The mood on both sides of the street was spirited, peaceful and even festive at times. Honking horns and shouts were heard in support of both groups as a gentle rain fell off and on, and a rainbow appeared gracefully over the mountains.

Meanwhile, activists on the Big Island continued to hold their ground at the base of Mauna Kea, delaying construction of the $1.4 billion next-generation telescope promised to push astronomy to an unprecedented level.

Organizers of the two-hour rally in Honolulu said they wanted to show the world Hawaii appreciates astronomy, that its edu­ca­tional and economic benefits are welcomed and that Hawaiian culture and science can coexist on Hawaii’s tallest mountain.

Organizer Samuel Wilder King II said he was happy with the turnout.

“It’s way better than I thought it was going to be, to be honest,” said King, a Native Hawaiian attorney who practices in Honolulu.

“I was going to be happy if I was out here by myself. I want my story to be heard. This is what I want my story of Hawaii to be — embracing the future, embracing progress, cooperating, sharing the culture. There’s space on the mountain for all of us,” he said.

TMT supporter Holly Lindsay said there would have been many more pro-telescope folks at the rally, but they were feeling intimidated. She said she called about 100 supporters, and she saw only about 10 of them Thursday.

“Overall there’s a lot of support, but the people are scared. They are scared because they (opponents) are colorful, they’re noisier, they’ve got control of social media,” she said, pointing across the street.

The TMT opponents met before the 4:30 p.m. rally by the Queen Lili‘uokalani statue and marched around the Capitol to take up positions along Beretania Street directly across from the pro-TMT forces.

Kumu hula Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, the opposition leader, said the group was not there to intimidate.

“We’re just trying to show that we’re here,” she said.

Asked whether she believed the polls that indicate that most people, including most Native Hawaiians, support the TMT, she said she did not. But, in any case, she said, the issue had gone way beyond the telescope.

“The telescope is almost irrelevant,” Wong-Kalu said. “This has turned into finally the reinstatement of the heart and spirit of my people, the kanaka of this land. And we have risen and heard the call.

“I should actually be thankful for this effort to build a telescope, because if it were not for this, we would still be waiting in the wings for the catalyst that would awaken a nation,” she said.

Several others on the mauka side of Beretania Street said images of kupuna being arrested and Hawaiians standing up for what they believe in helped motivate them. Many of them were urging the TMT developers to take their telescope to a place where a sacred mountain isn’t being desecrated: the Canary Islands.

On the Capitol side of the street, Ken Wagner, who identified himself as part-Hawaiian, held a sign that urged, “Imua TMT.”

“I think we ought to be able to share the mountain. I believe it is possible,” he said.

As the anti-TMT “protectors” voiced their signature “Ku kiai mauna” slogan, Native Hawaiian Melody Chang was shouting “Imua kilo hoku” (moving forward with astronomy).

Chang, donning an “Imua TMT” T-shirt, said she believes the mountain is sacred to everyone — and especially to her, an amateur astronomer, who has studied the ancient Hawaiian legends of the stars.

Louise Johnson of Waikiki said she was compelled to show up Thursday with a pro-TMT sign because of a growing disgust: “The state has completely mishandled the situation.”

“It’s clear the state doesn’t support science,” she said.

Attorney Gunner Schull said he too is worried Hawaii is going to lose out.

“We could lose a really valuable resource,” he said. “The TMT has done everything legally required. The law should be supported.”