As a kanaka maoli, I support the Thirty Meter Telescope project on Mauna Kea, a mauna that was sacred to the snow goddess Poliahu in the ancient religion.

As to whether the telescope should be built, I consider what our alii of old would say about it. It seems clear to me that Lunalilo, Kalakaua and Liliuokalani would have supported it because they were modernists, not Luddite retrogressists.

Their support, however, would have been conditional and dependent on a proper respect for the traditions that they were entrusted to uphold.

The present desecration of the summit with its hideously obvious and ugly white pimples would not have been tolerated. To move forward, the state must begin immediately to live up to the agreement it made to Hawaiians in 2015 to tear down five structures on the summit. To finally and earnestly begin that process would change the dynamics of the present impasse.

Lono Correa

McCully-Moiliili

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