 The summit of Mauna Kea is a wahi pana (sacred place). Oblivious to the negative impacts of bulldozing this wahi pana, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the University of Hawai‘i continue to build giant telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea. More than 30 years of destruction in the name of science has devastated this fragile ecosystem, pushed rare species to extinction, and alienated Native Hawaiians from their own home land. KAHEA supports the efforts of many to protect the sacred summit of Mauna Kea. Currently we are awaiting the decision of the Third Circuit Court on the island of Hawai‘i whether the state violated the law by granting NASA and the University of Hawai‘i a permit to build another Keck Outrigger Telescope on the sacred summit without the requisite environmental review and long-term management plan.  Act Now to Help Defend Mauna Kea from UH's Power Grab: In February 2009, the University of Hawaii launched a multiple-pronged effort to take over control of the sacred summit of Mauna Kea. The University has introduced four bills in the legislation and released its version of a management plan all pressuring the state's proper resource manager -- the Department of Land and Natural Resources -- to give up oversight and enforcement of the current laws protecting Mauna Kea. This is an unprecedented attack on the current protections for Mauna Kea. You can help tell Hawaii's policymakers to stand strong: Protect Mauna Kea for the People, Not the Profiteers. UPDATE: Board adds conditions to clarify the University has limited authority over the summit and to ensure the University does more to make the plan actually "comprehensive," as required by law. To learn more, click here. Take action to prevent a University take over of the sacred summit of Mauna Kea by clicking here. Latest Informational Brochure Fall 2008 Get up-to-date and help spread the word, download the latest informational brochure about the effort to protect the sacred summit of Mauna Kea: click here (580 KB PDF) IFA Hires Consultant to Draft New Telescope Plan, Negotiates to Build World's Largest Telescope on the sacred summit of Mauna Kea  In the face of 30 years of community opposition to new development on Mauna Kea, a massive new telescope is again being proposed. This time it is for last pristine plateau on Mauna Kea. The University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy (IFA) is currently negotiating with the University of California to construct a Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in 2009. This telescope is the largest ever proposed for Mauna Kea, and once constructed, would be the largest telescope on the planet. Nearly all the telescopes now on the summit could fit inside the TMT's dome.We already know that this massive construction project will have significant, adverse impacts on the extremely sacred and fragile north slope of Mauna Kea. The Summit, including the north slope, is a sacred landscape and burial ground, a vast conservation area, public trust resource, and Hawai'i Island's primary aquifer. The EIS completed by NASA in 2003 concluded the cummulative impact of astronomy development over the last thirty years has resulted in substantial, significant, and adverse impact to the summit's natural and cultural resources. The TMT therefore, will have a single impact equal to thirty years of astronomy development, there is no rational way to "mitigate" or offset such an impact to an already damaged fragile ecosystem and Wahi Kapu. To facilitate construction of this new telescope, the IFA has hired Ku'iwalu Consulting to draft the "comprehensive master plan" for all of Mauna Kea. Dawn Ching, on behalf of the consulting firm, is contacting community groups and individuals to help her draft the IFA's plan. The IFA hopes to submit their plan to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) by December 2008. IFA should not be directing the development of the plan for Mauna Kea, even through a consultant. What you can do to help: First, talk the talk! Tell a friend! Let others know what's going on around the summit, spread the word! - Read the message to supporters from Mauna Kea Anaina Hou. - Read the Plaintiffs letter to the BLNR regarding the IFA/Ku'iwalu plan. Then, walk the walk! In the next few months, will come the call to action. It will be up to all of us to show our uncompromising support for protecting the sacred summit of Mauna Kea! The 3rd Circuit Court Rules in Favor of Protecting Mauna Kea, Again! The University of Hawai‘i's Institute for Astronomy pleaded with Judge Hara to reconsider his decision to require a management plan for the sacred summit of Mauna Kea before any further development. The judge remained firm in his decision, thus obligating UH to halt all plans to develop additional telescopes on Mauna Kea until a management plan has been properly drafted and approved. |
KAHEA is an alliance of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) cultural practitioners, environmental activists and others concerned with protecting customary and traditional rights and our fragile environment.
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