The stand at Mauna Kea is against the bill of goods that Hawaiians have been sold over the years.

“The Great Mahele? You’re going to love it — you’ll be able to buy and sell your own land.”

“Sugar and pineapple? Going to be great — jobs, jobs, jobs, and you’ll be the lunas.”

“Statehood and tourism? Even better — jobs, jobs, jobs, and control over your own destiny.”

None of that was true. It is no reflection on Hawaiians to say that they make up more than their share of the poor, homeless and imprisoned.

Activists on Mauna Kea are saying, “Enough is enough. Don’t tell us how much we are going to love the Thirty Meter Telescope and the jobs and reputation it will bring. Do you think we don’t know that? But all of that is a drop in the bucket compared to what our people need. So we say, ‘No.’”

Want to save the TMT and fix this? Let the Legislature actually do something for Hawaiians. Free post-secondary education would be a start.

John D’Amato

Downtown Honolulu

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