KŪKĀKŪKĀ / COMMUNITY FORUM

Rendering of ATST and Mees, interior cutaway. - Courtesy of Tom Kekona, K.C. Environmental Inc.

Telescope won't benefit all Hawaiians

By Kiope Raymond

A consortium of 22 U.S. universities and institutions hopes to build the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope – the biggest, best telescope in the world to study the sun – on the summit of Haleakalā on Maui. Astronomy development has always been a controversial issue for Native Hawaiians, both on Haleakalā and Mauna Kea on Hawai'i Island. Here, two Kanaka Maoli offer their perspectives for and against building the proposed observatory atop the Haleakalā. For information on public meeings and how to submit comment on a supplemental draft EIS, see Nūhou.

He welina aloha. The construction of a 143-foot (14-story) solar observatory on the sacred summit of Haleakalā cannot be mitigated by implying that since our ancestors were farmers, fishermen, healers, artists and yes, astronomers, then building the observatory is consistent with Native Hawaiian tradition and spirituality.  

The argument that because Hawaiians revered astronomy, then anything done in the 21st century with respect to astronomy is automatically consistent with Hawaiian spirituality is fallacious. There is a fundamental difference between how ancient Hawaiians used Haleakalā's summit for spiritual guidance and other purposes and how the University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy and scientists from other universities and nations use it. It's like saying because Hawaiians revere kalo and because a company wants to genetically modify kalo they're actually not at cross purposes – they both have proper respect for kalo – they're just looking at it differently. That logic is unacceptable!

The summit area of Haleakalā does not have a comprehensive, scientifically based and culturally appropriate management plan. A partial list of Haleakalā summit users would include: 1.7 million annual visitors to the Haleakalā National Park; National Park Service employees; staff of Coast Guard communication towers, TV and phone towers; the UH Institute for Astronomy, its lessees and partners; commercial activity businesses and Native Hawaiian practitioners. As a result, individual entities, like the Institute for Astronomy, have their own long-range plans for development. Without a comprehensive plan for the summit area, inappropriate projects like the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope can be developed on separate parcels that have adverse impact on the whole.

The current supplemental draft environmental impact statement for the ATST states: "Construction and operation of the proposed ATST project at either the Mees or Reber Circle sites would likely result in major, adverse and long-term impacts on the cultural resources." (The Mees and Reber sites are existing sites on Haleakalā.)

I agree! The proximity – less than 100 feet – of the 14-story structure (during six or more years construction phase and then at least 50 more years of existence) to the east-facing altar is painful for myself and other Hawaiians who want to offer respectful prayer to ancestors. Even more painful to those who want to practice Hawaiian religious ceremonies with offerings to deities is the desecration of digging into the rock (a kino lau of Pele) and the possible loss, or "incidental take," of 'ua'u (the petrel is considered an 'aumakua). It is an inducement to anxiety, and will certainly cause spiritual stress in the future.

When I recall the mo'olelo of Māui snaring the sun, I remember that Māui's act had direct benefit for his own family and for all Hawaiians. I respectfully doubt and question the direct benefit to all Hawaiians that is derived from the construction of the ATST.

Kiope Raymond, a Native Hawaiian, is an associate professor of Hawaiian language and culture at Maui Community College and the president of the nonprofit Kilakila o Haleakalā, which works to protect the sanctity of the mountain.