#aoletmt

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court issued an opinion today vacating the circuit court’s May 5, 2014 decision that had affirmed the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ Conservation District Use Permit that was granted on April 12, 2013, for the Thirty Meter Telescope at Mauna Kea.

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order that effectively halts construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea while the court’s final decision on an appeal is under review.

The group Kākoʻo Haleakalā is mobilizing for the third time in protection of Haleakalā with demonstrations planned on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 at two locations: the Central Maui Base Yard on Mokulele Highway AND at the junction of Haleakalā Highway (Crater Road) and Kekaulike Avenue.

The Northrop Grumman Corporation today announced that the large mirror crafted for the Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakalā has been formally accepted for use on Maui. The announcement comes as demonstrators plan to block a convoy from delivering telescope parts and equipment to the summit tonight.

The announcement comes on the heels of a cancelled convoy in June amid ongoing issues surrounding development atop the summit areas of some of Hawaiʻi’s highest mountains.

Governor Ige said, “The rule is in effect for 120 days only and gives the state an additional tool to keep the road safe for all.” The rule limits the use of the Mauna Kea road between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. and prohibits camping equipment in restricted areas.

After performing remedial work and grading, the University of Hawaiʻi issued an announcement today saying the Mauna Kea Summit Access Road was reopened at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 13.

The Mauna Kea summit road beginning at the Halepōhaku mid-level facilities will remain closed to all but authorized personnel until further notice, according to an announcement issued today by the University of Hawaiʻi.

The boulders and rock structures that were found on the gravel road leading to the summit of Mauna Kea yesterday have since been removed, but the road remains closed until further notice.

A slow moving convoy that was scheduled to depart from the area to deliver equipment to the Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope currently under construction at Haleakala, did not leave at 10 p.m. as planned. As of 2:30 a.m. demonstrators on site continued to hold their ground.

Eleven individuals were arrested today during an ongoing demonstration against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope or TMT atop Mauna Kea on Hawaiʻi Island. The demonstrators are part of an ongoing effort by cultural groups and concerned citizens seeking protection of the site from development. Among those arrested were longtime cultural advocates Kaleikoa Kaeo of Maui and Andre Perez of Oʻahu. A complete list is expected to be forthcoming from the Hawaiʻi County Police Department. As part of the demonstration, which has since entered its ninetieth day, two stone ahu or altars were constructed at the site. ***Check back for updates as further details surface.

The vigil comes amid ongoing demonstrations and new arrests at the Mauna Kea site where the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope was scheduled to resume construction. The vigil also comes as a wide-load convoy makes it way from the Central Maui Baseyard to the summit of Haleakalā to deliver equipment for the Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui.

Governor David Ige today said the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project took the appropriate steps necessary to proceed, but he also announced the formation of a Mauna Kea Cultural Council to ensure cultural sensitivity going forward.

Trustees voted 6-1 in favor of rescinding their support of the project, but removed language that would have publicly voiced opposition to the project as well. The motion for language to include both “rescind” and “oppose” was proposed by Trustee Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey of Maui.

More than 100 students, faculty and staff at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College staged a Walk Out for Mauna Kea this afternoon in which they delivered a letter stating opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope or “TMT” project to Vice Chancellor Dr. John McKee.