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MAUNA KEA Dominique Flaksberg , Alex Gerald , Shanley Mitchell
S P R I N G
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Hawaiians view cultural and natural landscapes as intertwined and in separate. It is the nature of a natural landscape that shapes their cultural and spiritual values and beliefs. In Hawaiian tradition every single element of the natural environment is believed to be a physical embodiment (kinolau) of Hawaiian gods and deities. Another inherited hawaiian narrative explains that various gods and creative forces of nature, gave birth to the islands. Some of these Gods are: The male: Wakea, the expanse of the sky and The female: Papa-hanau-moku Papa, who gave birth to the islands, and Great Haumea who is born over and over again. The narrative says that the first-born of these island children was Hawai'i, the largest of the islands. This birth of the islands is honored in many mele ko'ihonua, chants describing the forming of the earth. These same gods and forces of nature who gave birth to the islands, were also the parents of Haloa, the first man. It is believed that all Hawaiians are descendants N O M A DHaloa, I C | it2 4is of Haloa. Mauna Kea is likened to the first-born called Ka Mauna a Kea or Wakea's Mountain, which means that the mountain itself is seen as a big part in the creation of all humanity. Because of this lineage ancient Hawaiians saw themselves as one with Mauna Kea.
As we can see in the birth chants, natural resources surrounding Mauna Kea are valued as
BIRTH
sacred cultural properties by the Hawaiian people. It is this "cultural attachment" to the natural world
CHANTS
and heavens above that defines and shapes the beliefs, traditional cultural properties, and cultural practices of Hawaiians. It is these resources that sustain Hawaiian life, culture, and spirituality.
By Hauna.
The cloud was born, it rose and appeared. The cloud thrived, it rose and appeared. The cloud came at dawn, it rose and appeared. The cloud flushed with a reddish tinge, it rose and appeared. The cloud rose and appeared in clearest configuration, Turned yellow and menacing. The horizon cloud hung yellow over a calm sea. A swelling cloud, a dark cloud, A cloud whose deepening darkness Turned to black, a sky already black In with feathery clouds of dusk, A sky heavy with blackness, rough, lowering, A sky speaking in threat. A vast cloud foretelling the approach of rain. The sky writhed in labor to give birth. He is the Cloud. Thus the cloud was born. A cloud shall be up there. Who shall be below? Who, it shall be the Mountain there indeed.
As we can see in the birth chants, natural resources surrounding Mauna Kea are valued as sacred cultural properties by the Hawaiian people. It is this "cultural attachment" to the natural world and heavens above that defines and shapes the beliefs, traditional cultural properties, and cultural practices of Hawaiians. It is these resources that sustain Hawaiian life, culture, and spirituality.
By Piopio
Born of Kea was the mountain (mauna). The mauna of Kea budded forth. Wakea was the husband, Papa Walinuu was the wife. Born was Hoohoku, a daughter, Born was Haloa, a chief, Born was the mountain, a mountain-son of Kea. Jealous was Wakea, he revealed his fault, Told of his smiting Kane with a club, In battle, fought at Kahikiku. Wakea was routed, fled in confusion with his family. None spoke to Wakea save in whispers, but Kane shouted. Wakea returned to the sky seeking a wife. Moe Wakea moe ia Papa, Wakea mated with Papa, The sun was born to Wakea, A sacred off-shoot of Wakea, The growth of Wakea was Wakea's own. The mountain was born, the sacred first-born of Kea. So it is, the mountain. The mountain was born. The mountain shall be down here. Who shall be above? Who? The sun, that is who it is.
Hawaiians have an intimate knowledge of the environment and they see all aspects of natural and cultural resources as interrelated. The complete health and well being of Mauna Kea signifies the integrity of their Gods and cultural lineage. If Mauna Kea is not kept sacred, the first born child of Hawai'i and the dwelling of the Gods is completely diminished.
LOOKING THROUGH A WESTERN VISION:
All information on this page can be found at: http://www.malamamaunakea.org
Mauna Kea is of scientific interest for researchers to build the telescope for being one of the highest mountains of the world. From being considered vacant, unimproved and with a lack of infra structure by the TMT, the land became extremely valuable monetarily. The summit is home to the world’s largest astronomical observatory, with 13 working telescopes operated by astronomers from 11 different countries. The combined lightgathering power of the instruments at Mauna Kea Observatories is 60 times greater than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. Mauna kea’s altitude and isolation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean make it an ideal location for astronomical observation. Currently there are 13 independent multi-national astronomical research facilities located on the summit. While the summit is open to the public, the summit telescope facilities are closed to visitors. Visitors will frequently ascend the summit during the day or to watch the sunset, then return to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station for free nightly star gazing with public. On the third Saturday of every month MKVIS hosts community speakers who speak about Mauna O Wakea from a cultural perspective. The Office of Mauna Kea Management's mission is OMADIC | 24 "to achieve harmony, balance and trust in theNsustainable management and stewardship of Mauna Kea Science Reserve through community involvement and programs that protect, preserve and enhance the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Mauna Kea while providing a world-class center dedicated to education, research and astronomy.
TIMELINE fdp.yrotsihKM/snarTcreM/segamI/olih/ude.iiawah.afi.www//:ptth :ta dnuof eb nac enilemit eht no noitamrofni llA
1956: road build in the big island in 1948 to provide weather station helped on research on altospheric quality and ozone contact. 1975: The United Kingdom submits a proposal to build a 15June 1963: Akiyama writes a letter to all large universities in the
meter sub-millimeter antenna, but looks at sites in the Canary
US and Tokyo, asking if they might be interested in Mauna Kea
Islands in Spain, and avoids Mauna Kea because of opposition to
as a potential observatory site. One shows interest.
further development of Mauna Kea at this time, principally from the Audobon Society. However no agreement with Spain is
1965: Jefferies of UH asks NASA for $3 million for the design
signed.
and construction of an 84-inch telescope on EITHER Haleakala or Mauna. The State of Hawai`i commits to paying $2.5 million.
1982: Opposition to further development on Mauna Kea
This proposal is in competition with a telescope from Kuiper of
subsides. The UK cuts funds to the project, but the Netherlands
UA, and another proposal for a telescope from Harvard
joins and together they sign an agreement with UH to build the
University. Competition between two universities, and
15-meter Telescope
competition of states between interests on Maui and on the Big Island for the eventual site. NASA selects the proposal for an
1984: The Keck Foundation donates $70 million to the
84-inch (which became an 88-inch or 2.2-meter) telescope on
University of California (UC) and Caltech to build a new, large
Mauna Kea.
telescope. By this time Mauna Kea has established itself as the world's best site for ground based astronomy
1968: With road access and construction starting, other groups
1986: The 10.4-meter Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO)
become interested in Mauna Kea. The Air Force builds a 24-
is dedicated on Mauna Kea. It is a marvel of compact and
inch telescope primarily for satellite tracking. Later they give the
futuristic design for such a large antenna.
telescope to UH. Lowell Observatory also builds a 24-inch telescope mainly for planetary observations.
1989: A proposal is delivered to NSF for the funding of two large US National telescopes, one in the Northern Hemisphere,
1970: The UH 88-inch telescope is dedicated as the seventh
and one in the South. The total cost is estimated at $176 million,
largest optical/infrared telescope in the world. It is the first
of which NSF agrees to fund half. International partners are
major construction on Mauna Kea, and is delayed by storms,
found to contribute the other half: the UK, Canada, Argentina,
ice and difficulties of working at altitude with lowered Oxygen
Chile, Brazil and later Australia. The Gemini North 8-meter
levels. This telescope and the site development associated with it
Telescope is built on the site of the Lowell Observatory 24-inch
eventually establish Mauna Kea as the pre-eminent site for
telescope on Mauna Kea and dedicated in 1999.
ground based astronomy. Science results from this telescope remain much better than expected for comparably sized
1991: For the first time Astronomers can make reliable
telescopes around the world, because of its site advantage.
measurements of the density of the Universe, and cosmology
About 100 UH students have obtained their PhDs in astronomy
moves from guesswork to measurement.
with this telescope. 1992: Site work begins for the 8.3-meter Japanese National 1973: An agreement between Canada, France and UH is signed
Large
to build a 3.6 meter CFH telescope on Mauna Kea, at a cost of
Telescope (JNLT)
$30 million. CFHT is the best optical telescope on Mauna Kea, and remains one of its most powerful with its newly refurbished
2000: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee
prime focus megacam.
recommends, asits highest priority ground-based initiative for this decade, construction of a 30-meter aperture Giant
1974: NASA awards a contract to UH to build and operate a 3
Segmented Aperture Telescope (GSMT). Such telescopes are
meter Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, in
necessary to detect the faintest infrared objects, and resolve
competition against the UA and their preferred site on Mount
planetary environments around other stars.
Lemmon in Arizona.
FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION
The $1.4 billion project has received funding from a number of private and public organizations, including the University of California system, the California Institute of Technology and the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy. The United States, Japan, India, Canada and China have all contributed as well. UHIFA’s telescope would also benefit The University of Hawaii both scientifically through research and economically, since this institution is involved in the constrution. Other institutions involved are in United States, Canada, China, India and Japan, as well as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in San Francisco. Benefits brought by the project would be: jobs, tourism, a $1 million-per-year lease, better views of the universe’s outer reaches and distant path than any we’ve seen before
— outweigh
the potential costs to their cultural heritage, allow astronomers to gaze deep into the universe’s past and out toward its most distant reaches.
All information on this page can be found at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14/thirty-meter-telescope-approved-hawaii-land-board_n_3080228.html
MASTER PLAN:
All information on this page can be found at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14 /thirty-meter-telescope-approved-hawaii-landboard_n_3080228.html
The Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) provides a management framework for the University of Hawai‘i (UH) to address measures to protect the cultural, natural, and scientific resources on UH Managed areas on Mauna Kea. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved the CMP in April 2009. In 2010 the BLNR approved the four sub-plans addressing: public access, cultural resources management, natural resources management, and decommissioning. The CMP and supplemental plans and framework and implementation for project development are the State’s plans for lands on Mauna Kea under the University’s management. The Master Plan addresses the community’s deeply rooted concerns over how the University was managing the mountain and did not incorporate community concerns over impacts to cultural sites, cultural beliefs, and natural resources. It also provides policy for how the University is to manage its lands on Mauna Kea. There are four major aspects of the plan: 1) On-island dedicated management under the auspices of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo NOMADIC | 24 2) New management structure including the Office of Mauna Kea Management, the Mauna Kea Management Board, and a native Hawaiian Kahu Ku Mauna Council 3) Restrictions on development within the astronomy precinct 4) A project review process.
KAHU
Kahu Kū Mauna (which means Guardians of the Mountain) is a volunteer community-based council whose members are from the native Hawaiian community who advises the Mauna
KŪ
Kea Management Board, OMKM. They review proposed projects and give their input to the Mauna Kea Management Board. A member of Kahu Kū Mauna participates in the
MAUNA
discussions of the Mauna Kea Management Board during their public meetings. In order to legally build anything in a protected Conservation District in Hawaiʻi, the project must meet eight criteria, which are:
1) The proposed land use is consistent with the purpose of the conservation district; 2) The proposed land use is consistent with the objectives of the subzone of the land on which the use will occur; 3) The proposed land use complies with provisions and guidelines contained in Chapter 205A, HRS, entitled
“Coastal Zone
Management” where applicable 4) The proposed land use will not cause substantial adverse impact to existing natural resources within the surrounding area, community or region; 5) The proposed land use, including buildings, structures and facilities, shall be compatible with the locality and surrounding areas, appropriate to the physical conditions and capabilities of the specific parcel or parcels; 6) The existing physical and environmental aspects of the land, such as natural beauty and open space characteristics, will be preserved or improved upon, whichever is applicable; 7) Subdivision of land will not be utilized to increase the intensity of land uses in the conservation district; and 8) The proposed land use will not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. The plan is to build the largest telescope yet existent, which the exception of one other that is being constructed in Chile. The construction would be made possible through a TMT’s pursuit to sublease the land, which could able the construction to start immediately. The board of Land and Natural Resources deferred and asked for additional information before approving the request.
All information on this page can be found at: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/hilo/Images/MercTrans/MKhistory.pdf
The debate about the new telescope is also about rituals and sacred places. I think as scientists we miss the importance of ritual, in part because we see ourselves as people who have gotten past such things. Of course that’s wrong. Like all people, we create patterns in what we do that reflect who we are. We have thesis defenses and colloquia and conferences. We have Darwin Day and Science Festivals. We preserve Newton’s Tree and Da Vinci’s notebooks and Galileo’s middle finger, as if it’s a relic from a saint. Like all rituals and sacred things, these are declarations to the world and to ourselves of who we are and what we value. That is what’s at stake here. Building on Mauna Kea is not just building on a historical site, it is changing the nature of what it means to be Hawaiian, a change imposed from the outside. Ben Lillie , former high-energy particle physicist and is now a writer, co-founder, and director of The Story Collider
TMT:
TMT: As mentioned, the most recent proposed development project atop Mauna Kea is the Thirty Meter Telescope - the TMT. The 18 story observatory would be the largest building on the island. The Courts: Shortly after construction of the TMT was approved, a group called Mauna Kea Hui filed a lawsuit claiming that the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) essentially “rubber stamped” the permit and that the construction of the TMT – along with the previous 12 telescopes – was illegal. A few weeks later the case was transferred to the Hawai’i Supreme Court.
DIRECT ACTION:
While the case was being debated in court, the TMT Corporation tried to move the project forward. On October 7, 2014, they invited key funders from the U.S., Canada, Japan, India and China to a groundbreaking ceremony at the summit. The event was thwarted by protectors who blocked the road and eventually ran up the mountain to stop the ceremony.
Some Hawaiian organizers argued against a blockade because of the sacred nature of the mountain. Others younger generation
– especially the
– had little faith in the
court system and saw no other choice. On April 2, 2015, over 300 protectors blocked the road to stop TMT construction crews from ascending. 31 people were arrested.
Five days after the April 2 blockade, arrests and subsequent roadblocks, Hawai’i state governor David Ige halted construction for a week. In the following months, the protectors camped out across from the Mauna Kea Visitor Center and blocked the TMT’s progress as much as possible.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MORE DIRECT ACTION:
Social Media: Inspired by the protests (and a protector himself), Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa started a
“We are Mauna Kea”
social media campaign. This, along with coverage from global news media gave the TMT, protectors and court officials alike
“the sense that the world
has it’s eyes on Mauna Kea.”
More Direct Action: On August 9, 2015 10,000 people gathered in Waikiki
– Hawaii’s
most notorious tourist destination
– for the Aloha ʻĀina Unity March in support of land-based struggles in Hawai’i including Mauna Kea.
COURT RULING:
On December 2, 2015, the court ruled to invalidate the TMT’s permit to build atop Mauna Kea and ordered the developers to remove all construction materials from the mountain. The TMT is currently in the middle of another contested case hearing, and is again trying to take advantage of the justice system: the justice that they picked to preside over the hearing is a member of the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, which is part of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the official applicant for TMT’s conservation district use permit.
It's a temple. You can't make war in a temple. You can stand for reighteousness. It demands aloha. For many Native Hawaiians and other Indigenous peoples, sacredness is not merely a concept or label. It is a lived experience of oneness and connectedness with the natural and spiritual worlds. It is as common sense as believing in gravity. This experience is very much at odds with the everyday secular-humanist approach of Western thinking that emerged out of the Enlightenment Organizer, Kealoha Pisciotta