Good Environmental News
Native Hawaiian groups and their supporters, along with the Sierra Club's Hawaii Chapter, have won an important battle for the preservation of their sacred volcano, Mauna Kea. On the reversal of the permit to build 6 more telescopes on the peak,
Paul K. Neves of the The Royal Order of Kamehameha I...[said,] "We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Poe Hawai`i (the people of Hawai'i). From the beginning we affirmed that the jurisdiction in Hawai`i rests with the right-holders not stakeholders, meaning Hawaiian Kingdom and its peoples, not the University of Hawai`i. We will continue to be involved in working with the people of Hawai`i towards lasting protection and oversight of Mauna Kea that the people can be proud of. We thank the people from all islands and the world for their prayers and support. We say deeply, Mahaho Ke Akua, Na Akua, Na Aumakua." [From the press release from appellants, received via email from a Native Hawaiian friend]
From the
Environmental News Service:
Some 100 archaeological sites and many traditional cultural properties eligible for listing in National Register of Historic Places are found at the summit of Mauna Kea. The Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division is planning to propose the entire summit for listing in the National Register as a historic district and cultural landscape
[...]
The outrigger telescope project has run into trouble in the past. In 2003, a federal district court judge held that NASA's environmental assessment for the project was inadequate
[...]
NASA then completed a more detailed environmental impact statement, which concluded that the cumulative impact of 30 years of astronomy development has had a significant, adverse, and substantial impact on the natural and cultural resources of Mauna Kea.
Native Hawaiian Apellant Clarence Ching said:
I'm ecstatic, Mahalo Ke Akua...This is a precedent setting case; it will help not only Mauna Kea but Haleakala [on Maui] as well, since Haleakala isalso slated for more astronomy development. [Press release.]
The ruling compels a comprehensive plan for Mauna Kea to be developed that would take into account all environmental and cultural issues surrounding the use of natural resources on the volcano's peak.
I contributed only a small amount of listening and cash to this fight, but it was a years-long effort from which everyone can take encouragement! Our sacred sites can and must be preserved.