As controversy over the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea continues to grab headlines, more and more people are realizing another telescope is being built on a mountain considered sacred on Maui. Late Wednesday, an estimated 200 protesters gathered at the Central Maui Baseyard in Pu‘un?n?. They are concerned about construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) in the University of Hawai'i's Haleakala Observatory, an 18 acre parcel of former crown lands the university owns and manages as a science preserve. An especially wide load of materials bound for the DKIST construction site had been scheduled for delivery overnight into Thursday morning. After consulting with DKIST personnel, protesters were told the delivery would be postponed and they departed. DKIST officials say they are currently in consultations as to when to proceed with the delivery, but construction is not expected to be affected at this point. TodayHPR’sNoeTanigawa begins a look at Haleakal?, Maui’s House of the Sun.
HPR’s mini-series on Haleakal? continues next week.
For more on the University of Hawai‘i’s astronomy program and plans for Haleakal?
Find out more about the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, DKIST,
Find out more about Kilakila o Haleakal?
Protesters this past week have been tweeting: #kakoohaleakala, #haleakala, #wearemaunakea, #kuikamauna
