With the construction of the $1.4 billion dollar endeavor of the Thirty Meter Telescope beginning this week, news arrives from the Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, as a dozen protestors were arrested for obstructing construction crews on their way to the summit. Astronomers anticipating the Thirty Meter Telescope believe that the largest telescope ever built will give us new insights never-before-seen into space, however, locals in Hawaii are not convinced that the $1.4 billion investment is worth compromising their lands.
According to the Hawai'i Police Department, 12 individuals were arrested Thursday afternoon, April 2, when they blocked access to construction crews on their way to the potential site of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Speaking with the individuals, who call themselves "protectors not protestors", local police officials had informed the group earlier in the week that they could peacefully protest nearby, but were not legally allowed to obstruct the roadway. But when local conversations and appeals with high-ranking officials including Hawai'i County Mayor Billy Knoi and Governor David Ige went unheard, the protest escalated leading to the arrest of the dozen "protectors".
"There are no words...we are deeply deeply saddened by the arrests today of our Hawaiian brothers and sisters and other citizens who were peacefully protecting Mauna Kea from further desecration while we wait for Hawaiʻi's courts to hear our appeal" Director of local environmental alliance Mauna Kea Hui, Kealoha Pisciotta says. "Today's arrests are hewa-a grave wrongdoing. At least 30 of our Mauna Kea ohana have been handcuffed and hauled off the mountain by County police and by State DOCARE officers of the Department of Land and Natural Resources-the very state agency that we are challenging in court."
Compassionate local police officers pled with the protestors before eventually making their arrests, and said that they had hoped to come to a peaceful resolution. And though the directors of the Thirty Meter Telescope project also had hoped for a peaceful resolution, the twelve suspects were arrested for misdemeanor obstruction.
"TMT respects the rights of everyone to express their viewpoints" Project Manager of the Thirty Meter Telescope, Gary Sanders says. "We also respect the law of the State of Hawai'i and the seven-year-public process and authority that granted us permits to build the Thirty Meter Telescope in the Maunakea Science Reserve's Astronomy Precinct."
"Like most people in the community we truly believe that science and culture can coexist on Maunakea as it has for the past 50-year along with other public uses."
