Summit of Life
By Leimana Hassett and Spencer Shiraishi
Mauna a Wākea stands tall as the sun sets on the horizon, marking another day in its ancient life. Its frosted peak touches the Hawaiian heavens. To many Hawaiian people, this mountain is their piko or origin of life. According to legend, Wākea, sky father, and Papa, earth mother, came together and birthed the Hawaiian islands. Mauna a Wākea literally means mountain of Wākea. According to Hawaiian studies teacher, Kēhaunani Kaʻauwai, Mauna a Wākea is classified as a “mauna wahi kapu”, or sacred mountain place. This massive mountain has protected the people of these islands from hurricanes for years, it is also the largest and most sacred temple in Hawaiʻi. It is supposedly where earth and heaven meet. A perfect place for stargazing…
Mauna Kea, as it is commonly known, is located on the island of Hawaiʻi and stands over 13,000 feet above sea level. It is the highest point in the state. More impressive, when measured from its tectonic plate it is 33,000 feet — the tallest mountain on Earth. Its prominence and location — it is also among the least-light polluted places on earth — make it one of the most sought after locations on earth for astronomers to perform their research. India, China, and the U.S. have come together in the hopes of creating an observatory at the summit with a telescope to blow away all other telescopes. They predict that this new Thirty-Meter Telescope will allow astronomers to see the earliest stars and galaxies.
Being the highest peak in the Pacific ocean and being engulfed by clear, star lit skies, has made Mauna Kea a known commodity for scientists seeking the the ideal location for telescopes that can pierce the heavens. That lack of light pollution and increasingly powerful telescopes means scientist are able to see deeper into space. Thirteen are located on Mauna Kea and have been capturing stunning images of deep space; inspiring a group of astronomers to build the most sophisticated and complex telescope for that location. Known as the Thirty Meter Telescope or TMT, this device will enable scientists and astronomers to see deeper into our galaxy and learn the origins of our universe.
TMT — its name refers to the telescope’s diameter — will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will provide what is hoped to be the clearest images yet of our universe.
Not everybody is tickled with the prospect of Mauna a Wākea hosting this new super scope. Over the passed year or so, celebrities such as Iain Somerhalder, Shakira, Jason Momoa, Jai Courtney, Nicole Scherzinger, and Lisa Bonet have all posted on media with “We are Mauna Kea” written on their bodies to bring awareness of the proposed construction site on the mountain’s summit. Locals have protested TMT due to the cultural and environmental impact that the telescope would make not only on Mauna Kea, but to the Hawaiian culture as a whole. To many, this isnʻt only about saving a sacred heiau (temple), itʻs preserving what is left of Hawaiian culture.
Opponents argue that the project violates Conservation District rules that sate, “It is the mission of the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) to Protect and conserve Conservation District lands and beaches within the State of Hawaii for the benefit of present and future generations.” This includes any and all lands, including Mauna Kea, that are considered to be a conservation district. a judge ruled that The Board of Land and Natural Resources, which approved the project, obstructed the rights of the people when they overlooked opposition. Some took action by blockading the road to the observatory sites, marching near state buildings, and creating organizations to resist further development on the mountain.
Opponents of TMT argue that Mauna Kea is already home to 13 telescopes at or around the summit and this new telescope would reach 18 stories high and take up over eight acres of remaining undeveloped summit lands. The Thirty-Meter Telescope construction fact sheet states, “Construction will impact fragile habitats of native plants and animals found only on Mauna Kea, with no guarantee of restoration when the lease term ends, in a mere 21 years.” Mauna Kea is home to many unique plants and animals that have adapted to live in the freezing weather on top of the mountain. The habitat that these creatures live in is a very delicate one and any distruption could cause their species to go extinct.
TMT carries a hefty price tag of 1.4 billion dollars and would be a huge project anywhere in the world. Construction on the remote island of Hawaiʻi is going to be a monumental achievement if TMT is built. TMT business manager David Goodman estimates that 20 to 30 percent of the 1.4 billion dollars in the budget will stay in the state. Meaning that 300 to 400 million dollars will go towards temporary construction jobs from the start of the construction until its completion. This could help with the recession that hit the islands hard in 2008 and still lingers.
Many astronomers are excited for what TMT will bring to the world of science. This project could alter what we as humans know about our universe. It is said to be the most powerful telescope in the history of the world. There were other possible locations for the TMT project including several sites in remote Chilean locations as well as one in Baja California, Mexico, but Muana Kea was the most ideal.
On June 24, 2015, activists against the TMT project gathered at the base of Mauna Kea to protest the construction of the new telescope. Many of these protesters were Native Hawaiian and believe the sacredness of the mountain is important enough to fight for. Thirty one protesters were arested for blocking the road leading to the observatory site. Local authorities, many of Native Hawaiian themselves, were ordered to remove the protestors.
Currently, the Hawaiʻi Supreme court reviewed the case due to public concerns and has put the construction on hold after hearing a lawsuit filed by many appellants inlcluding Mauna Kea Hui members, Kealoha Pisciotta of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, Deborah J. Ward, Clarence Kū Ching, the Flores-Case ʻOhana (E. Kalani Flores and Pua Case), Paul Neves, and KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance. This case helped to void the pervious permits for the TMT project.The next step for TMT would be to try and go through the process again. Even if the projet is provided a new permit from the Board of Land and Natural Resources for Conservation District lands, the process of re-permitting construction could take years.
Meanwhile, many Hawaiians are celebrating what they see as a victory for their sacred mountain.
