Native Hawaiian panel rescinds support for telescope project
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028842
Science : The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), an advocacy group for native Hawaiians, has retracted its support for the construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea. The vote followed weeks of protests by native Hawaiians, who say the telescope would desecrate one of their most holy places and could greatly impact the fragile ecosystem there. If built, the TMT would be the world’s largest optical telescope. Mauna Kea is an ideal location for many reasons, including its low humidity and lack of cloud cover and atmospheric pollution. Its summit is already home to 13 other observatories. Although the OHA cannot prevent the telescope’s construction, its decision lands a symbolic blow against the project.
