 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.  Update: Defend the Sacred Summits of Mauna Kea and Haleakala  Just as we predicted, the University is using its new found control over Mauna Kea to usher in a new age of development on our sacred summits. Mere days after the University's substandard plan for managing Mauna Kea was conditionally approved by the state, proponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) released their draft Environmental Impact Statement. They propose to destroy unique habitat and cultural sites on Mauna Kea by building the largest telescope in the world... without assessing whether an alternate site in Chile would cause less cultural and environmental harm. At the same time, the University and the National Science Foundation are proposing to build a 14-story, 100-acre telescope on the sacred summit of Haleakala. This Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) proposes to destroy critical viewplanes and irreparably undermine cultural practice on the sacred summit of Haleakala, in order to collect data about weather in space... without even considering whether building the same telescope in California or Spain would have less environmental and cultural impacts. Science should not be used to justify cultural genocide. It is possible for astronomers to meet the needs of their scientific inquiries without destroying the pillars of the Native Hawaiian culture. We must unite to save our sacred summits and hold astronomy to the same high standards of humanity. Take Action Now! 1) Protect Haleakala -- the House of the Sun -- from another, unnecessary solar telescope Public comments due by June 22, 2009. 2) Defend the Sacred Summit of Mauna Kea from the World's Largest Telescope Public comments due by July 7, 2009. 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) |
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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