Another Mauna Kea Telescope Will Soon Be Removed
The work of decommissioning Hoku Kea Observatory is expected to take four months.
The Hoku Kea Observatory atop Mauna Kea on Hawaii island will be decommissioned starting next week.
The University of Hawaii Hilo will remove the observatory and generator buildings, telecommunications and electrical infrastructure beginning on Monday, a process that should be done by August, according to a university press release.
鈥淲e are one step closer to fulfilling UH鈥檚 promise to remove observatories from the summit of Maunakea,鈥 said Greg Chun, executive director of UH Hilo’s .
Many Native Hawaiians and have pressed for the astronomy program on Mauna Kea to end. According to the Mauna Kea management plan, everyone working on the decommissioning must undergo cultural training and understand the history and cultural importance of the 13,803-foot mountain, Hawaii鈥檚 tallest.
鈥淭he decommissioning process requires archaeological, cultural, invasive species, and construction monitoring throughout the project to ensure best management practices are being followed. The process also requires three years of site monitoring post-decommissioning to assess species population and diversity,鈥 Chun said in a news release Monday.
Hoku Kea is the second telescope on Maunakea in the final phase of decommissioning. The California Institute of Technology Submillimeter Observatory is scheduled to be removed and the site restored by fall 2024. The observatory allowed hundreds of scientists and students from around the world to observe light emitted from celestial objects, make discoveries about star formation and understand more about the evolution of the universe.
The Hoku Kea is located on the southeastern side of Mauna Kea鈥檚 528-acre astronomy precinct on the summit and was built by the U.S. Air Force in 1968. It was one of the first observatories on the mountain before it was given to UH in 1970 and transferred to UH Hilo in 2003, according to the release.
Once the work of decommissioning the telescope begins next week, the Maunakea Access Road will be closed occasionally during the project so the public is advised to check the UH Hilo before traveling up the mauna.
