Column: Rejection of TMT would be disastrous for growth of astronomy and technology in Hawaii

On his way back to the airport last week, let’s hope the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had a chance to really look around.

Johnson did a drop-in last week to drum up publicity for the Mauna Kea protesters, who are blocking construction of the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope project on the mountain.

I don’t know how much Johnson could open his eyes to the reality of the situation; he tweeted that he kept his glasses on so fans wouldn’t know he was teary.

“Embracing and hearing the words of our kupuna brought tears to my eyes too. Why I kept my glasses on. I’m optimistic we will accomplish our goals,” Johnson said.

It’s a nice sentiment. I’m sure the 2,000 or so protesters loved the hugs.

Johnson was born in Hawaii and is a multi-millionaire movie star. Forbes estimates Johnson’s net worth is $280 million. He reportedly gets $20 million per film.

Perhaps Johnson had the time to run his figures down the Big Island spreadsheet.

U.S. Census data shows the poverty rate in Hilo is 19.0%, the worst of all four counties by a long shot. One out of every 5.3 residents of Hilo lives in poverty.

Hawaii may top the ratings as the “happiest place to live” in the U.S., but it is the nation’s high-tech laughingstock.

Hawaii ranks 48th in terms of economic growth. Hawaii was ranked as the nation’s seventh least-innovative state by personal finance website WalletHub.

In June’s economic ranking, WalletHub put Hawaii the fourth worst in the nation, ranking 48th in terms of economic growth.

It is listed as 50th in high-tech jobs and 51st in economic activity.

If there was ever a place that needed some high-tech boosting, it would be Hawaii.

So it is staggering to see Hawaii being forced to reject the world’s biggest astronomical endeavor: the construction of the best telescope on the planet.

Just last week, it was almost a protest breakthrough when the demonstrators allowed Mauna Kea scientists to do their job. Two dedicated workers with the Gemini telescope were allowed to pass through the Mauna Kea protesters to perform critical work on some of its instruments after being denied access earlier in the day, according to an announcement from Gemini.

The Star-Advertiser reported the crew was granted passage through the protesters at about 10:45 p.m. after the activists provided assurances through law enforcement and the Office of Maunakea Management that the technicians would be allowed to travel on Mauna Kea Access Road, according to the Gemini statement.

For one week, technicians trying to do their job on the summit have been blocked by activists.

This was a sudden and arrogant escalation, because it means that not only are the protesters stopping construction of the TMT, but now they have decided that no one except the protesters should be on the mountain.

“We will not allow TMT vehicles up, we will continue to monitor the road and ensure that Mauna Kea remains safe from further desecration,” protest leader Kaho‘okahi Kanuha said in this newspaper’s report.

“We are not willing to negotiate. We are not willing to compromise. Compromises have been made over and over and over again for the last 50 years through the mismanagement of Mauna Kea and way beyond.”

We learned how to share in kindergarten, but those who didn’t should not be allowed to set the destiny for a state in desperate need of educational, technological and scientific investment and advancement.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.