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The Thirty Meter Telescope’s effective life may be about 40 years. Subsequently, optical astronomy will be done from space. This gives Hawaii the opportunity to restore Mauna Kea, including all telescope sites, to as close to an original state as possible.
Without this vision and the funds, even if the TMT is not built, we will continue to face the degradation of the mountain’s environment.
Restoration funds would be raised globally by the developers of the TMT (think Notre Dame Cathedral), supplemented by the state, to approximately the cost of the TMT ($1 billion). Restoration would begin now and generations could be trained and employed in natural resource management and the natural sciences.
The result will be a restored Mauna Kea with funds to malama the mountain in perpetuity, a generational legacy for those who have staked much to preserve the mountain. It would allow the scientific, educational and economic benefits of the TMT to flow to the community. It will also be an example of how we in Hawaii resolve intractable problems with aloha and mutual respect, with Mauna Kea as our inspiration.
Francis Oda
Kuliouou
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