Two months ago I posted on:
I reported on a Star-Advertiser poll taken on 12 July 2019:
Comparing YES and NO votes, 95% of local people are for TMT. And native Hawaiians were part of the poll.
Since then, there have been two more surveys:
- 25 August 2019: What do you think of police issuing traffic citations around the Mauna Kea protest area?
- 93%
- 35% Good--necessary/practical/effective
- 58% OK, but want stronger action
- 7% Bad--oppressive
- 5 September 2019: What do you think of the structure built on a lava field near the Mauna Kea protest camp?
- 92% Negative; tear down immediately
- 4% Positive; let it stand
- 4% Neutral; don't care either way
The structure was torn down and two activists were arrested.
It's pretty obvious that the people of Hawaii overwhelmingly support the immediate construction and operation of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. That is his basic nature, which is a good quality, but Governor David Ige has been too understanding and, therefore, tentative in his decision-making. Mayor Harry Kim actually has his heart with the Hawaiian protestors, but appreciates the importance of completing this project.
I personally know both individuals, for Governor Ige (left) was a student in electrical engineering when I taught in the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii, and Mayor Kim is a Hilo High School classmate of my wife Pearl. They are in office to make decisions, and hopefully have developed a comprehensive strategy to overcome this current impasse, as is becoming obvious.
The University of Hawaii is a key player in this issue, and the front-page title in the Star Advertiser yesterday read:
Providing most of the University's viewpoint was Vassilis Syrmos, vice president for research and innovation. I recall him joining our Electrical Engineering Department in 1991, and not soon thereafter, like me, took an administrative track.
Syrmos indicated that the developers of TMT spent a decade gaining the legal approvals to build the $1.4 billion telescope on Mauna Kea. He pointed out that the termination of TMT would cripple the Institute for Astronomy and forever taint our reputation with funding agencies and damage the ability of Hawaii to recruit future researchers and technological luminaries. To quote Rich Wacker, president and CEO of American Savings Bank:
We can’t damage the future as the only price to solve these (protest) grievances,” he said. “There’s got to be another way. There has to be a middle ground that can help address the real grievances but protecting this project that is so important to Hawaii’s future and so potentially damaging if it fails.
When do you ever see the University of Hawaii ranked as #1 in anything.? According to College Ranking, we are at the top, with #35 being the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University.
National Geographic says that the top star-gazing site in the northern hemisphere is the combination of Mauna Kea (13,800 feet) and Haleakala (10,000 ft). Next is La Palma (7,870 ft) in the Canaries. The best in the southern hemisphere is the Atacama Desert in Chile. At Cerro Macon, the Extremely Large Telescope (diameter of 128 ft 11 in) at 9,993 ft, is planning for first light in 2025. TMT will be the second largest, with a diameter of 98 feet, and hopeful first light in 2027 if the project is soon allowed to proceed.
So back to my posting of 12 July 2019, I quote:
In any case, appreciating the reality of the TMT situation, this is a golden opportunity for Hawaiian activists. They need a modern-day King Kamehameha to unite them all, but in a progressive manner. The time is now to have the right leader to magnanimously allow construction to proceed for the good of Hawaii and Humanity.
Then find others to promote instead of prevent, advance as opposed to deflate. Particularly, this too is important: work in partnership with others. Civil rights seem all too focused on oneself.
The rather startling majority of Hawaii residents supporting the TMT on Mauna Kea means that the telescope will eventually be built, soon, and in Hawaii, for La Palma is at around half the elevation of Mauna Kea. The timing is now for local Hawaiian activists to appreciate the will of the people and with good will work closely with the University of Hawaii and partners to smartly manage the facility for the sake of progress. There is every reason to believe that worship and watching can proceed in concert on this sacred mountain.
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