He held a sign that said In Search Of Knowledge with a drawing of Mauna Kea.Ībout an equal number of people opposed to the telescope stood on the other side of the street, waving upside down Hawaiian flags and signs saying Protect Mauna Kea.ĭrivers supporting the opponents honked too.The 34-foot-diameter telescope mirror from the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory will be removed from Mauna Kea in pieces this summer, following complications with the original $4 million plan to remove it in one piece. I think it brings a lot of good to humankind,” said retired Navy researcher Tom Strickland. “I’m a strong supporter of the advancement of science and technology. “What is it that makes it worth passing that up?” Mr McLaren said.Ībout 100 to 150 supporters of the telescope gathered for a rally in front of the Hawaii State Capitol during the evening rush hour.Ī telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea (Caleb Jones/PA) “People need to think really hard about exactly why they would want to pass that up. Having one of the most significant scientific facilities in the world is an incredible opportunity, Mr McLaren said. Hawaii would lose employment in science, maths, engineering and technology fields, forcing residents with such interests and careers to leave home for work, supporters say.
#HAWAII TELESCOPE PROJECT UPGRADE#
| #TMTĮxisting telescopes may not want to upgrade facilities and make further investments, and it could lead to a downward spiral for the field, he said. This is a long-term process and we are committed to enforcing the law and seeing this project through. #Maunakea Our top priority is the safety and security of our communities and the TMT construction teams. Hawaii will lose its status as a world leader in astronomy if the telescope is not built, said Bob McLaren, the director of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy. It is expected to employ 140 employees when operational. The Thirty Metre Telescope is projected to create 300 union construction jobs during its eight- to 10-year construction phase.
The economic benefits are substantial, particularly in a state heavily reliant on low-paying service industry jobs in the tourism business. Mr Baybayan said he views the summit as a spiritual place but not a sacred one. He said people have to learn to share the mountain and there was more than enough space for everybody. Mayor Kim is closest to the situation & the impacts are greatest on the island he leads #TMT I’m asking to coordinate both county & state efforts to peacefully attempt to reach common ground w/ the protectors of #Maunakea & the broader community. “I want to be on the right side of enlightenment,” Mr Baybayan said. “I want to be on the right side of humanity. “I’ve heard the comment that the protesters want to be on the right side of history. It is expected to help astronomers determine whether life exists on planets outside the solar system and better understand fundamental concepts like gravity.Ĭhad Kalepa Baybayan, a Native Hawaiian expert in the traditional art of using the stars, weather and birds to navigate the seas, said astronomy advances human knowledge. Last weekend, 2,000 people joined the protest camp.Īctor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson visited the protesters this week to declare he stood with them.īut supporters also are impassioned about why they believe the telescope belongs on Mauna Kea, which has the best conditions for viewing the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere.Īctor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, right, is greeted by community leader Pua Case during a visit to the protest site blocking the construction of the TMT telescope (Jamm Aquino/AP) The protesters say building another telescope on a peak that already has 13 observatories will further desecrate the mountain on the Big Island.
The Hawaii Supreme Court last year ruled the project had a valid permit, clearing the way for construction to begin after a decade-long battle.Īstronomers Alan Stockton, centre, holding a sign saying Build It!, and Alan Tokunaga, left, join a rally in support the Thirty Metre Telescope (Audrey McAvoy/AP) A giant telescope planned for Hawaii’s tallest mountain will enhance humanity’s knowledge of the universe and bring quality, high-paying jobs, supporters said as protesters blocked construction for a second week.Īn international consortium plans to build the 1.4 billion US dollar Thirty Metre Telescope at the top of Mauna Kea, which some Native Hawaiians believe is sacred.
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