OHA Trustee Calls for Moratorium on Mauna Kea Telescope
Meanwhile, a longtime Hawaiian activist says his goal is to get “all of these observatories off the mountain.”
Our media partner KITV regarding the arrests of protesters on Mauna Kea. Excerpt:
A quieter day at Mauna Kea on Good Friday. There were no arrests on this holiday and no construction was underway on the Thirty Meter Telescope. …
On Friday, an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and a community activist were brought together and called for action.
Two Hawaiian community leaders with similar concerns but different messages.
“The goal now is not to stop the building of this observatory. The goal now is to get all of these observatories off this mountain,” said longtime community activist Walter Ritte. …
OHA trustee Peter Apo, speaking on behalf of himself, made it clear that, while he respects Ritte, getting rid of the telescopes is not his goal. Apo wants a stand down on construction of the telescope. He’s calling on the governor and University of Hawaii President David Lassner to make it happen. …
Peter Apo speaking to reporters Friday.
KITV
Mauna Kea is a sacred site to聽many Hawaiians, but it is also highly valued for its聽use in聽the study of the heavens.
Apo wants the state to work with 聽Native Hawaiians to revisit the management plans of Mauna Kea, which is on聽lands that formerly belonged to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Apo is a contributor to Civil Beat. Read his recent column, Mauna Kea Under Siege.
And here’s another view,聽Why Everyone Should Support the Telescope Construction Blockade.
