TMT Awareness Demonstration and Teach-in at UHMC

Photo courtesy Kahele Dukelow from a separate sign-waving demonstration held at UHMC on Thursday, April 2, 2015.

By Wendy Osher

Students and faculty with the Hawaiian Studies Department at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will hold a sign waving demonstration and teach-in this afternoon in support of the protection of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

The event comes following the arrest of demonstrators who blocked access to construction workers who were in route to the summit to begin work on the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope or TMT last week.

Photo courtesy Kahele Dukelow from a separate sign-waving demonstration held at UHMC on Thursday, April 2, 2015.

Today’s Maui event begins with a sign waving rally fronting UHMC along Kaʻahumanu Avenue at 4:30 p.m. That will be followed by a teach-in in which organizers hope to spread awareness about Mauna Kea and Maui’s own Haleakalā.

A separate sign waving rally was held at UHMC on Thursday last week.

Those in opposition to the project have expressed concern over continued development at the sacred site. Supporters say they believe that science and culture can coexist on the mountain and maintain that permits were secured to build at the location after a seven-year public process.

Photo courtesy Kahele Dukelow from a separate sign-waving demonstration held at UHMC on Thursday, April 2, 2015.