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A Supreme Court ruling is resulting in a second contested case hearing for the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope.

The state Supreme Court decision halting — for now — the $1.4 billion telescope offers an opportunity to untangle cultural arguments about Mauna Kea.

The legal fight over the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea is not unusual as big telescope projects go.

UPDATED: In order to proceed, project officials must return to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to seek re-approval.

The high court heard oral arguments in August on claims that there were procedural problems with the state’s approval of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

UPDATED: The Department of Land and Natural Resources says it wants to keep everyone safe, but some First Amendment advocates worry the guidelines go too far.

Support for the telescope on Mauna Kea remains high among other ethnic groups, but a long work stoppage hasn’t cooled Native Hawaiian opposition.

The University of Hawaii has announced a plan to decommission the UKIRT Observatory, previously known as the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope.

The state had adopted the rules after Thirty Meter Telescope protesters had placed boulders in the road to the summit to block construction vehicles.

A tent was removed under an agreement with people protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope construction, but no arrests were made.