Sacredness is in the minds of the beholders. Before Hawaiians discovered Hawaii, the mountain of Mauna Kea was not sacred. The Hawaiians made it sacred.

The Hawaiians of the 19th century adopted, adapted and made their own many things from Western civilization. Living cultures change.

I personally believe that the Thirty Meter Telescope is a project of great beauty and great purpose that can be seen to have a mana of its own. It can be viewed as something that could augment or live in harmony with Hawaiian beliefs but that can also be seen as a great contribution to the world as a whole.

TMT is something that Hawaiians could be proud of instead of something that has to be stopped. I know there are some Hawaiians who believe that already.

Roman Leverenz

Kaimuki

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