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In Hawaii, science is clashing with culture. Scientists from around the world have planned a $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope that scientists claim could help answer questions about how the universe began. Its proposed location? Mauna Kea: a sacred place known to Native Hawaiians as “the realm of the gods.” While the stars and their secrets have always held value for Native Hawaiians, protestors currently occupying Mauna Kea say desecrating the dormant volcano to build the world’s most advanced telescope would destroy a doorway to their culture. Can a balance be struck? What chance do protestors have against the international conglomerate working to build the observatory? And what chance does Western science have against Native religion?
Guests:
Mike Bolte – member of the T-M-T International Observatory board of directors
Ka’iu Kimura (Native Hawaiian) – executive director of Imiloa Astronomy Center
Kahookahi Kanuha (Native Hawaiian) – Aloha Aina
Break Music: Ua Ao Hawai_i (song) Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Public Charter School Students (artist) Mana Maoli Volume IV – This Is Maoli Music (album)
I am against th building of the telescope. Mauna Kea represents my Kupuna, my Makuakane who was born and raised near the Mauna. He is first generation American for my family, we are second. It’s importance to us as Native Hawaiians prompts us to say no. Our lands were already taken by the US govt, and in some cases desecrated the lands there. The majority of the Native Hawaiians are homeless. The government gave the people “homesteads” then attached such high taxes on these properties that it was impossible le to live there, now, we have our people homeless, we have almost gone instinct, our language near extinction, our culture bastardized and exploited for corporate gain. We have to stand now, we must rise and defend what we have left.
I agree with Andrew Kahananui, except my kupuna came from the Hilo side of the big island of Hawaii. Well said!
My Name is Eric Ana Jr., I am a native Hawaiian and am 100% against the thirty meter telescope. Not only will it desecrate our sacred land it will also pollute one of the few alpine Lakes / aquifer we have on this earth the provides our islands with life giving water for the native people, animals and plant life. It is also burial grounds of our ancestors and also a nature Conservancy. it was also named one of the most sacred places on earth by the National Geographic Society. Is that not enought to show everyone how sacred Mauna A Wakea is?? no matter how much they try to promote these land telescopes space telescopes are 100 times better and and have no land impact like the TMT. Land telescopes are just too outdated and have too much interference from the earths atmosphere to get clear pictures as to where their sending up a new space telescope called the James Webb space telescope in 2018 and it’s even 100 times better than the Hubble telescope, as to where the Hubble even tho 25 years old is still better than any land telescopes.. There is no compromise in this situation, this is sacred Hawaiian land and to build this is a huge slap in the face to our people ,for you do not respect our culture our land and our people. America when will you stop all this destruction and hate against our people. we are not money hungry people, we value water and life and have been in harmony with the land for thousands of years before you came to this land and stole it. We the people are tired of all your corrupt dealings with the state who illegally acquired the land through an illegal action called “joint resolution”. The State Of Hawaii, DLNR and The University of Hawaii have had no rights to leasing Crown lands two outside entities, this all stems from the illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Islands from the United States of America. “Show us the title ” you cannot, because you have none. Open you eyes and look all around the world to see all the indigenous people on this earth plane that are being disrespected and stripped of their natural rights of these lands that they grew up on so that large Organizations can come in and prostitute the land for everything it’s got and then leave not having to live with all the pollution in the water and earth in general that the the native people have to live with on a daily basis. Please stop all this disrespectful conduct you are promoting around the earth and protect it for a change. Do the right thing. Aloha.
We are not against science. Just those that put it before protection of the environment. Chile has started construction on a bigger telescope already making TMT obsolete. I have a problem with any entity that does not follow the conservation criteria already in place to protect the environment.This is our source of water and spirituality. The sacredness of Mauna a Wakea deserves the respect and care of any church, temple, or place of worship. Enforce the laws that are in place already to. protect what should be protected. The impact of the construction: https://youtu.be/TrqNyfXDs-U
“Aloha (Welcome)
national-coatofarmsWelcome to the weblog of the Hawaiian Kingdom presently operating within the occupied State of the Hawaiian Islands.
The Hawaiian Kingdom achieved the recognition of its independence as a sovereign State on November 28, 1843 by joint proclamation from Great Britain and France and by 1893, the Hawaiian Kingdom maintained over ninety (90) Legations and Consulates throughout the world. The Hawaiian Kingdom also has been a Member State of the Universal Postal Union since January 1, 1882, which is currently an agency of the United Nations.
Since the Spanish-American War, 1898, our country has been under an illegal and prolonged occupation by the United States of America disguised as if the Hawaiian Islands were annexed by a treaty. Justifying the seizure as a military necessity, the United States fortified the Islands as a military outpost which currently number 119 U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air force sites that take up 230,622 acres of land, which is 20% of Hawaiian territory.
Our web blog will provide up to date information on activities carried out by the acting government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The primary objective of the acting government of the Hawaiian Kingdom is to expose the occupation of our nation within the framework of the 1907 Hague Convention, IV, the 1949 Geneva Convention, IV, and our domestic statutes, and to provide a foundation for transition and the ultimate end of the occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Article 43 of the 1907 Hague Convention IV mandates that the occupying government, being the United States of America, must administer the laws of the occupied State, being the Hawaiian Kingdom, and any deviation of this mandate is a violation of international law. Presently, the Hawaiian Islands reluctantly serves as the headquarters for the largest of the nine unified military commands of the United States armed forces in the world, U.S. Pacific Command.”
This information is from hawaiiankingdom.org/blog
Comprehensive research by expert hydrologists confirms that TMT and the existing 13 telescopes pose no danger to the aquifer. There is also very little precipitation above 8,000 feet and the observatories are located well above that at the top of Maunakea at about 14,000 feet. Rather, the watershed recharge areas for Maunakea occur at lower elevations, where it rains. The Thirty Meter Telescope is being designed as a zero waste discharge facility, with all waste securely transported off the summit. This ensures it will not impact the quality of the island’s drinking water. It is a total closed waste water system. The Board and the court affirmed that TMT will not have an adverse impact on the water resources and hydrology of Maunakea.
get the facts: http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/