State officials are allowing telescope protesters to continue camping on Mauna Kea, where they’ve been for more than two months. 

The camp sits on Department of Land and Natural Resources land. Agency spokeswoman Deborah Ward said in an email that the protesters are being allowed to stay for now, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.

“At this time, we have allowed them to remain and peacefully express their right of free speech while we assess the situation,” she said.

Department officials did not comment on why these protesters are being allowed to remain on state land. The same agency in 2013 had 11 protesters arrested for camping in a Hilo recreation area.

Organizer Kahookahi Kanuha says protesters have been taking trash out of the site daily, recycling and composting.

“We’ve had days of even pulling some of the fireweed,” he said. “Just keeping the area around us a lot better than we found it.”

Kanuha says he doesn’t consider what his group is doing camping. 

“We are here protecting Mauna a Wakea because it is our responsibility, and this protection requires 24/7 watch,” he said.

The University of Hawaii manages the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and the visitor center protesters are camping across from.

Spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said in an email that the Mauna Kea group has not caused any incidents or trouble.

“I think the fact the rangers have a consistent presence has kept things relatively mellow,” he said. “Also, the numbers (of campers) have been really low since the moratorium on construction was announced.”