For the Love of Mauna Kea
Aloha mai kākou,
As so many of you already know, KAHEA along with five other petitioners participated in a contested case hearing on whether or not the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) should be given a construction permit to be built atop Mauna Kea. The last of the hearings are scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, September 26th at 9 AM at UHH College of Tropical Agriculture--please go if you are in the area to support the hui.
We’ve put out calls in the past months for support and indeed people have been generous. For this month’s feature we’ve decided to do a compilation of some of the beautiful words, pictures, and other projects that have been inspired by Mauna a Wākea. If you have something you'd like to share here, e-mail me at shelley(at)kahea.org, mahalo nui to everyone for all your support. Click here to give to the Mauna Kea Legal Defense Fund.
Mahalo to Hāwane Rios who wrote a beautiful song in honor of Poli`ahu called Poli`ahu i ke Kapu. Hāwane shared this mele at the contested case hearing last month. Click here to preview and purchase the song for just $.99! Hāwane has agreed to graciously donate any proceeds from this download to the Mauna Kea Legal Defense Fund! Mahalo nui iā `oe e Hāwane!
From Laulani:
Laulani even created the one below into a t-shirt. E-mail me at shelley(at)kahea.org if you'd like to place an order!
A banner by Noa and Li`a, protectors of Mauna Kea for many years:
A photo from a family friend with the words of a chant found in the Bishop Museum. From No`eau:
A beautiful letter to the editor from Aunty Pele Hanoa:
It is with kaumaha loa (extreme sadness) and ho'ohaka (disappointment) that I write about the Thirty Meter Telescope project. Mauna Kea is Hawaii's sacred mountain, home of Poliahu the beautiful snow goddess and Lilinoe goddess of mists. Our Native Hawaiian cultural religious beliefs and practices are still in existence and utilized. Our aumakua (personal gods and protective guardians) will be caring for our people at all times. The desecration of our sacred mountain is destroying the Hawaiian race. Hawaiians who say they are ancestors of Poliahu still support this project. They show no aloha or real connection to their culture.
Kupuna are having a difficult time understanding the viewpoint of scientists, chancellors, professors and developers who were not born and raised here. How dare they destroy historical sites, archaeological sites and burial grounds. For many years, outsiders and greed have devastated Hawaii and continue doing so. It is seldom that a situation occurs where we can have profound influence that will continue on past our short lifespan. You all want the sacred mountain nestled in a metal dome and iron structures.
The TMT is hewa (wrong), the cultural and spiritual significance of the mountain is a priceless asset to the life and culture of Hawaii's people.
Have scientists and developers not learned from the lightning strike this past June?
Are your existing telescopes still working?
This is a hoailona (sign) for you all to stop the desecration. Keep continuing your hewa and watch the effects happen before your eyes.
I would like to see the home of our sacred deities protected, because they exist here and nowhere else in the world.
As an 88-year-old kupuna I would like to thank all of you who oppose this TMT project and applaud your efforts in stopping this mess.
Winifred Pele Hanoa
Na`alehu
A slideshow put together by `Ilima, with chanting by Halau o Kekuhi off of their CD Puka Kama`ehu.
Eō E Mauna Kea:
Mahalo nui to all who allowed us to share their beautiful work!
