8 Arrested in Haleakalā Demonstration
By Wendy Osher
A total of eight people were arrested overnight during a demonstration against the ongoing construction of the Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakalā.
Maui police have since identified those arrested and released details of the incident.
The arrests included the following:
- HENDERSON, Joseph (26): No local address given. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400. Henderson was released on bail.
- LOURO, Shane (39): Maunaloa, HI. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400.
- PUAA-FREITAS, Hanoa (22): Waiheʻe, HI. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400. Puaa-Freitas was released on bail.
- KAUHANE, Keith (35): Lahaina, HI. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400.
- KAAIKALA, Kealii (21): Refused. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400.
- NOMURA, Chase (21): Makawao, HI. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400.
- KAEO, Hooleia (19): Kula, HI. Arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $400.
- MANGAUIL, Joshua (28): Honokaa, HI. Arrested for obstructing. Total bail set at $100. Released on bail.
The arrests took place along Haleakalā Crater road and included Maui and Big Island residents ranging in age from 19 to 39. Seven of the individuals were arrested for failure to disperse, obstructing and disorderly conduct and had bail set at $400. An eighth individual was arrested for obstructing and was released after posting $100 bail.
The complaint was initiated by a representative from the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. Police say officers responding to the Crater Road location encountered trees, rocks and glass on the roadway. Police say demonstrators were also seated on the roadway in attempts to block the convoy from passing.
A separate blockade at the Central Maui Baseyard drew and estimated 150 participants and dispersed without incident at around 12:30 a.m. This was the third time truckloads of equipment and telescope parts were met with protests since convoys were first announced in June.
During the last delivery attempt three weeks ago, 20 individuals were arrested for failure to disperse.
The group of demonstrators on Maui said the issue remains under deliberation at the state Supreme Court, and should not proceed without the blessing of the community. Telescope advocates say that once construction is complete, the DKIST will be the world’s largest ground-based solar telescope and will offer scientists unprecedented high-resolution images of the sun.
Police say the overnight convoy safely arrived at the summit of Haleakalā.