By TOM CALLIS Hawaii Tribune-Herald Plans to remove Hoku Kea, the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s teaching telescope, from Mauna Kea are being delayed after a group of Native Hawaiians who support astronomy on the mountain and others urged officials to consider the impact to students. The university slated the tiny observatory for removal last year in order to meet Gov. David Ige’s decision to demolish three telescopes before the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope is completed. The move was part of Ige’s 10-point plan aimed at improving management of the mountain, the site of large protests against the TMT last year by the Native Hawaiian community. But members of Perpetuating Unique Educational Opportunities, a group of pro-TMT Hawaiians, and other individuals questioned the decision last month during an Office of Mauna Kea Management board meeting, citing the educational value of Hoku Kea for Hawaiians and other Hawaii Island residents if the broken 36-inch telescope is replaced as previously planned. In response, the board chose to defer approving the official notice of intent to decommission the observatory until it hears more public input and a report from a Governor’s Office representative. That effectively postpones decommissioning. “It’s like saying that our kids don’t deserve to have any kind of opportunities to access the technology that’s there,” said Patrick Kahawaiolaa, president of the Keaukaha Community Association and PUEO member, on Thursday. Reached by cellphone, UH-Hilo Chancellor Don Straney said the decision is up to the board. Hoku Kea is the only telescope owned by the Hilo campus. “I think if the board finds things it needs to discuss more, then that’s what...
HILO, HAWAII (HawaiiNewsNow) – By Ben Gutierrez, Reporter / Weather Anchor Retired Judge Riki May Amano on Friday approved requests by the Thirty Meter Telescope and the group Perpetuating Unique Educational Opportunities to be parties in the contested case hearing over the permit for the controversial telescope. Amano also approved 14 other groups and individuals who can file motions and call witnesses, and who are required to participate in any proceedings ahead of the hearing itself. Amano offered those who applied to be parties to be witnesses instead. Five applicants chose that option. There are now 24 parties involved in the hearing, including the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Mauna Kea Ainanahou, a group opposed to the $1.4 billion telescope and represented by attorney Richard Wurdeman. Those parties indicated that they would call upwards of 150 witnesses. Amano told the parties that with that number of witnesses, she expects the hearing to take three to four weeks. She said the hearings would be held on the Big Island. More than a hundred people jammed a small conference room at the Hilo State Office Building before Amani cleared the room because it was over capacity. Those who applied to be parties were then allowed back in. Any available seats left — about 40 — were then opened to the general public. The rest remained outside. Amano plans to have a pre-hearing conference to set dates for additional conferences and the hearing itself. Friday’s decision is another step toward the required repeat of the 2011 proceeding that was shot down in December by the Hawaii Supreme Court. The court ruled last...
Listen to the June 13, 2016 Hawaii Public Radio interview with Keahi Warfield who discusses the movement to support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Keahi discusses why they are openly supporting the construction and why they are expressing the need for the TMT. Please take time to listen to this interview and think about the best way for Hawaii to move forward....
Come to the pre-hearing conference on the Thirty Meter Telescope Friday, June 17, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hawaii State Building 72 Aupuni Street in Hilo to show your support for culture and science!...
HILO, Hawaii – The next pre-hearing conference on the upcoming Thirty Meter Telescope contested case will be held on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the County Council Chambers of the Hawaii County Building in Hilo.The announcement was made in Minute Order Number 8, posted to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Mauna Kea FAQ page.The proceeding will include hearings on Motions to Intervene. Today is the deadline for intervention applications.Right now, the list of parties requesting to intervene in the contested case redux is Harry Fergerstrom, Wai’ala Ahn, Ana Nawahine-Kaho’opi’i, Edward K. Akiona, Richard L DeLeon, Joseph Kualil Lindsey Camara, Hãlonaikaiopuna Mikala-Jiro Fukutomi, Crystal F. West, Mehana Kihoi, C. M. Kaho’okahi Kanuha, Ivy Mcintosh, Eric Hansen, Wilma H. Holi, Jennifer Leina’ala Sleighthoim, Moses Kealamakia Jr., Patricia P. Ikeda, Ricky Cassiday, Michelle Cabalse, Michael Lee, Maelani Lee, Lincoln S. T. Ashida (PUEO), Linda Namauu, Watanabe Ing LLP (TMT), and Keahi Tajon.Two new names requesting to be admitted as a party to the contested case: Maile Taualii PhD, MPH and Danelle Cooper MPH, who are against the TMT permit because they say it is their duty “to ensure the highest level of health for Indigenous/Aboriginal People and to ensure their human rights to health and culture.”“As public health professionals,” Taualii and Cooper stated in their request, “we are concerned in protecting the health of Native Hawaiians by stopping the desecration of Mauna Kea. Building the TMT on Mauna Kea has a negative health impact on Native Hawaiian communities. The TMT has a harmful impact on the cultural practices associated with Mauna Kea. We have...
Summary of Big Island News Video: A pre-hearing conference for the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing redux was held on May 16 on Oahu. Attorneys met with hearing officer, Judge Riki May Amano (Ret.), and discussed the schedule for the upcoming proceeding. A number of petitioners are requesting to be admitted as a party to the contested case hearing. So far the list is: Edward Akiona, Waiala Ahn, Hank Fergestrom, Ana Nawahine-Kahoopii, Richard Maele DeLeon, Mehana Kihoi, Kaho’okahi Kanuha, Joseph Kualii Lindsey Camara, Hālonaikaiopuna Mikala-Jiro Fukutomi, Crystal W West, Ivy McIntosh, Wilma H. Holi, Moses Kealamakia, Jr., Michael Kumukauoha Lee, and Ricky Cassiday. Another group – PUEO, Perpetuating Unique Educational Opportunities, which favors astronomy on Mauna Kea – has filed to participate as well. The group includes Shadd Keahi Warfield, Patrick Leo Kahawaiolaa, William H. Brown, and Richard Ha (press release below). PUEO ads momentum to what appears to be a renewed campaign to cast the observatory project in a positive light. New groups and sign waving events touting TMT are popping up, and recently TMT Systems Scientist Dr. Warren Skidmore gave a technology talk at the West Hawaii Civic Center This report was republished from Big Island Video News. ...
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