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House-appointed working group to explore future of Mauna Kea management Astronomy technicians describe complicated process to get access to Mauna Kea s summit. (Source: Hawaii News Now) By HNN Staff | May 10, 2021 at 5:33 PM HST - Updated May 10 at 5:33 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The future of Mauna Kea is the focus of a new working group recently formed by the state House.
During debate over the Thirty Meter Telescope, the University of Hawaii was heavily criticized for its management of the summit.
House Speaker Scott Saiki said public outrage over UH management could make ongoing astronomy impractical.
“I have made it clear that the university should not pursue the master lease extension. If the university for some reason is awarded the master lease extension, I believe it will lead to the end of the astronomy program on the Big Island,” Saiki said.
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House Resolution 33 created the working group, as a result of an independent report s findings criticizing the University of Hawaiʻi, the leaseholder of the mountain. The report was critical of UH for not adequately reaching out to the Native Hawaiian community for its oversight of Mauna Kea. It also acknowledged Mauna Kea is one of the best managed and protected lands in the state.
The university responded to the report, saying it recognizes the report s criticisms and it is reviewing and taking steps to improve its engagement with the Native Hawaiian community.
The working group is comprised of state lawmakers, representatives from the public and private sector, and those nominated by Native Hawaiian groups and organizations. Saiki says 58 people were nominated for seven spots to represent the interests of Native Hawaiians.
The Associated Press
HONOLULU House Speaker Scott Saiki on Monday announced the members of a working group that’s been asked in a House resolution to develop recommendations for how to manage Mauna Kea the Big Island mountain that’s seen conflict over the construction and operation of some of the world’s most advanced telescopes.
Three of the 15 group members were leaders of 2019 protests that blocked construction crews from reaching the mountain’s summit to build the Thirty Meter Telescope. Four members are lawmakers, including the chairperson, Rep. Mark Nakashima, a Democrat whose Hilo district includes Mauna Kea.
“My community is depending on this working group to fulfill our mission. The residents of Hawaii Island have been engaged in this discussion for several years now, and the feeling is that they would like to see the issue resolved and hopefully we can move past this,” Nakashima said at a news conference.
Saiki Finalizes Mauna Kea Working Group Membership - Honolulu Civil Beat
Protest leaders, UH officials and astronomers will all have seats on the panel. Reading time: 3 minutes.
Membership of a working group tasked with developing a plan to restructure the management of Mauna Kea has been finalized, House Speaker Scott Saiki announced Monday at a press conference.
Among the group’s members are representatives of several state agencies, observatory workers, House lawmakers, University of Hawaii officials and opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope, a $2 billion project that stalled most recently in 2019 amid protests on Mauna Kea.
Saiki appointed Rep. Mark Nakashima, whose district includes Mauna Kea, as chairman of the panel. Work is expected to wrap up by December and in time for the 2022 legislative session.