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Gov. David Ige on Monday nominated eight people to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, the board that will take over responsibility for overseeing the astronomy precinct at the summit of Hawaii’s tallest mountain.
The nominees will be considered for confirmation by the state Senate in a process set up by this year’s Legislature. The authority will completely replace the oversight of the University of Hawaii following a five-year transition period.
With its mix of Native Hawaiians, cultural practitioners and representatives of the state and other institutions, the new board aims to provide a more balanced management of the mountain, which has been a focus of controversy over the past decade.
“I want to thank these individuals for stepping forward. Through this new stewardship model, I believe we can find a way for science and culture to coexist on Mauna Kea in a mutually beneficial way,” Ige said in a statement.
The National Science Foundation aims to work with the new authority in its latest proposal for the Thirty Meter Telescope. The national funding agency recently launched an environmental review of the stalled $2.65 million TMT and suggested that “responsible astronomy” could be practiced on the mountain with the help of the new oversight panel.
The governor’s eight nominees are:
>> Kamanamaikalani Beamer, a University of Hawaii professor of Native Hawaiian law from Kamuela who has land resource management expertise and specific experience with Hawaii island-based management.
>> Gary Krug, described as possessing expertise in the fields of preschool through 12th grade public education or post-secondary education.
>> Rich Matsuda, W.M. Keck Observatory associate director for external relations, who was nominated by the Mauna Kea Observatories.
>> John Komeiji, former general counsel and vice president of Kamehameha Schools, who was nominated because of his business and finance experience. He also has had leadership roles with Hawaiian Telcom.
>> Pomaikai Bertelmann, a lineal descendent of a practitioner of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices associated with Mauna Kea. Among other things, she was a crew member on the Hokule‘a who served as an education specialist.
>> Joshua Lanakila Mangauil, a recognized practitioner of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices and staunch opponent of the Thirty Meter Telescope.
>> Paul Horner, president and CEO of Na Leo ‘o Hawai‘i, who was nominated by Senate President Ronald Kouchi.
>> Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, an educator and Mauna Kea protest leader who was nominated by Scott Saiki, speaker of the state House of Representatives.
In addition to the eight names submitted to the Senate for confirmation, three ex-officio, voting members will serve on the authority board:
>> The chair of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the chair’s designee. This position is currently held by DLNR Chair Suzanne Case.
>> The mayor of Hawaii County, or the mayor’s designee. Mayor Mitch Roth designated Douglass Shipman Adams, the county’s director of research and development management.
>> The chair of the UH Board of Regents or a designee. Chairman Randy Moore named fellow regent Eugene Bal III as his designee.
The chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo will be an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the authority. This position is currently held by Chancellor Bonnie Irwin.
Correction: John Komeiji is a former general counsel of Kamehameha Schools. He retired earlier this month. An earlier version of this story referred to him as the current general counsel.
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