More concrete on the top of the world… more concrete on top of Hawai’i, Earth ‘s RAREST natural water aquafier… a place that has been forbidden from construction since the first arrival of mankind to Hawai’i… a place since the first 7 original voyages to Hawai’i, in which has ALWAYS BEEN FORBIDDEN TO CONSTRUCTION OR HUMAN ALTERATION… the TOP OF EARTH in the law of nature and mankind’s balance centered within it… is the core of such an Indigenous “religon” to a specific location in which many cannot believe that this is not JUST a religon but an OBLIGATION… an OBLIGATION that has been past down for generations since the mankind’s first set foot… it’s not hard to understand that the top of the mountain is a natural temple as is… just because the top has concrete already, doesn’t make it right to add more.

MAHALO MAHALO MAHALO

why is it so hard to understand why Hawaiians have shown so much support for this protest? when have we as a people EVER, in recent memory, came together to support a cause in unity like this? All of us Hawaiians (and non-Hawaiians) have wrestled with all the issues that you bring up (GMO, military, hotels, etc..) but when have we ever come together with this kind of support?

Go and start a petition against GMOs on the B.I. Braddah I’ll be the first to sign it and I guarantee a lot more people will too. This protest on Mauna kea is just the beginning, it is the awakening of our people. The momentum we gain from this movement will hopefully result in protesting against the other issues you brought up. Also look what happened to Maui, the people voted and won and guess what the county is doing? Nothing.

Building a telescope the size of Aloha stadium is not the only way we can benefit from observing the heavens. Hawaiians built one of the most sustainable cultures in the world by studying celestial objects. Studying the heavens does not have to come at a price to our culture.

The only way the military would leave hawaii is if we get America out of here. And if you’ve been to any of the DOI hearings that were held state wide, you’d know that there was PLENTY of protest against the military here.

Trust that this Mauna kea issue is not the only problem stirring in all of our na’au. There are many issues that we all need to address, now that we’ve all come together in unity for something maybe we can tackle other things.

They come in, they take, they tell the people of the land what is best for them. It’s the American way. I stand with the Ohana even though I am not a native Hawaiian. Those who stand united to protect what is sacred….I stand with you!

I guess you haven’t noticed, but there ARE activists concerned and working against Pōhakuloa and military occupation on the islands. There ARE activists working against GMOs on the islands. The tired device of “but what about all these other problems” is just an attempt to distract and sway people who don’t have solid opinions on matters. There are people who criticize anti-GMO folks and anti-military folks for not focusing on “more important” issues. Yes, all of the injustices and atrocities you mention are important to take note of and work to correct…mahalo for naming them and all you are doing in your own life to address them. Oh and next time you talk to Kalākaua (since you and TMT supporters seem to have a direct line to him and other monarchs who’ve been deceased for over a century), ask him if an 18-story building on the top of Mauna Kea is what he had in mind rather than, say, a five-inch refractor built a few hundred feet above sea level on O‘ahu. Please report back and let us know what he says.

Kapuea – mahalo for your insight. You provide an explanation that is real, not perceived. I too agree that there are so many more problems, and real environmental and cultural impacts, occurring EVERYDAY with no public outcry. This TMT “issue” is important because famous people say it is so. Hawaiians need to recognize that this TMT “issue” is but a distraction from the real problems facing our State. While the protesters are all up on the mountain, there is a new home being built to close to the shoreline blocking fishing access, a new mall is being constructed covering needed Agricultural Lands, and Hawaii’s future (keiki) are getting a substandard education. Way to go.

Thank you Kapueo – I couldn’t have said it better myself. Imua TMT and the science and astronomy community and their families. I support you.

I also find it unsettling that so many people and kanaka maoli have boarded the bandwagon of protest, when there are a plethora of in my opinion major current issues that few have bothered to acknowledge or protest. i.e.: Pohakuloa!!! DU in the air, in the ground water, the millions it will cost to clean that up (and it won’t get cleaned at all or it will cost too much to do it sufficiently-look at Kaho’olawe) and daily people are driving through between Hilo and Kona with DU in the air. Where are the protestors? Too many ‘ohana are part of the military to say anything? Or how about the big resorts that keep popping up? How’s that impact on Hawaiian practices? But nice yeah fo’ stay hotel wit da kama’aina rate fo’ weekend vacation? Or how about the mall and Walmart and Home Depot etc. on Hawaiian homelands with how many kanaka maoli passing away on waiting lists? But what kanakas would give up all the cheap China crap, flat screen tv’s, entertainment systems and malls for what is pono, aloha ‘aina and actually stand out there and protest? Too much personal sacrifice to be pono in that situation. How many guys up there protesting would give up their big trucks for a small “egoless” nondescript environmentally conscious car or bike? I hope both those protesting and not protesting will actually reflect within themselves and take a look at how they are truly living. We all need to do that! When I see signs of “aloha ‘aina”, “for da keiki” in regards to the TMT I am stunned. How about “aloha ‘aina”, “for da keiki” in regards to GMO’s, the military takeover and their blatant abuse of land, giving up the American lifestyle of fast food, big trucks, large TV screens and convenience? Anyone willing to boycott buying GMO laden products to get chemical corporations off our lands? That would actually get the ball moving but “too hard! I like eat all my addictions! But I will protest on Mauna Kea because I don’t have to change my lifestyle down here in Hilo!”

To me as a kanaka maoli connected to the ‘aina, taking note of my own personal footprint, I do support the TMT. Of course there will be impact. There will be impact with everything we do in life and especially in this modern age, but what kind of impact/legacy do you want to leave? Creating more service jobs in hotels and chain stores like Walmart for the keiki? Auwe, that’s more pollution in our landfills and ocean, and taking away opportunities from our children. I support educating the keiki on their rich navigational heritage and giving them the advanced skills that will take them out of low paying service jobs. And I definitely support educating keiki on malama ‘aina and instilling them love and respect for where they come from and where they are living. But I also support the necessity of the human spirit to reach for more, to look into the sky and show us the magnificence of Akua’s universe. To look for answers to some of our very human questions regardless of ethnicity. I believe our navigators of old would be amazed at what we have seen through these telescopes in this day, and what we are going to be able to see through this next phase of telescopes. And I’m sure many of them would think of the telescopes as sacred instruments with a closer connection to Akua. And in keeping with the bold, exploratory Hawaiian spirit, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a kanaka maoli finding a way to navigate the galaxies.

Because you do not feel and are numb is exactly what makes you foreign to Hawaiian Culture. Hawaiians and many native cultures have a deep connection and spiritual connection to the land. It is tangible and palpable to those that feel. However they would never make you FEEL,because that it against their culture. Just because you do not FEEL does make it right or fair to push your lack of feeling. This is why many native Hawaiian keep their cultural practices secret and sacred so that they do not have to defend what you can not feel. Please just have aloha and respect for the culture. A proud alumni of ����Vlog�ٷ� MANOA.