High atop Maunakea, employees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo are part of the dedicated team keeping observatory operations running smoothly, from clearing roads to public safety and supporting scientists at 14,000 feet.

Their behind-the-scenes efforts make it possible to advance world-class astronomy all while caring for the mountain鈥檚 cultural and natural resources.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CMS) is advancing environmental stewardship on the mauna by replacing underground fuel storage tanks (USTs) at Halep艒haku, the mid-level facilities, with a modern system. A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared under the oversight of the Maunakea Joint Management Committee, a partnership between CMS and the Mauna Kea Stewardship Oversight Authority (MKSOA).

糖心Vlog官方 is removing the USTs to meet a 2028 state regulatory deadline (Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Chapter 11-280.1-21). Under the state rule, any tanks built before August 9, 2013, must be upgraded with extra safety protection by July 15, 2028. If they are not upgraded by then, they must be permanently shut down.

The project would replace three underground fuel tanks and buried fuel lines with two smaller, above-ground double-wall tanks. The new tanks would sit on a concrete pad with built-in pumps and a containment berm. This reduces the facility footprint from about 1,945 square feet to 322 square feet and lowers fuel storage capacity from 18,000 gallons to 6,000 gallons.

Fuel stored at Halep艒haku is vital for snow plows and heavy machinery that keep Maunakea鈥檚 roads clear and safe. Reliable access supports public safety, cultural practitioners and observatory staff. Storing fuel on the mauna also reduces emissions by limiting the number of trips needed to haul fuel up the mountain.

“Fuel storage is critical for keeping Maunakea鈥檚 roads safe and accessible during weather events and natural disasters,” said Greg Chun, executive director of CMS. “Following publication of the draft EA, we look forward to gathering public input so this project reflects both essential needs and our shared commitment to stewardship.”

Initial outreach efforts

CMS has hired Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc. to prepare the draft EA. The environmental consulting firm is assessing the project site, studying potential impacts, and conducting a Ka Paʻakai analysis. As part of this work, it is reaching out to stakeholder agencies and individuals with knowledge of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices connected to the area.

The project area is in a previously disturbed utilities yard and is not known to be used by cultural practitioners or visitors. One m膩mane tree will be removed, though 40 new trees have already been planted nearby as part of restoration efforts. No historic sites will be directly affected. An archaeological monitor will be present during ground work.

“True stewardship of Maunakea requires laulima, working together with the community,” said John De Fries, executive director of MKSOA. “As this process advances, there will be opportunities for manaʻo from the public to help guide this project with respect and responsibility.”

When the draft EA is published in the Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development鈥檚 Environmental Notice, the public will have 30 days to provide comments. Community members, cultural practitioners, and other stakeholders are invited to share their perspectives to help shape the final decisions. All feedback will be reviewed by the project team, and adjustments to the Proposed Action may be made based on the input received.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees announced on June 26 () that it is withdrawing its two lawsuits concerning Maunakea, calling the decision “a pivotal shift towards collaborative stewardship and cultural preservation of the sacred mountain.”

The first lawsuit, filed in 2017, sought to hold the State of Hawaiʻi, the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the University of Hawaiʻi accountable for what it described as decades of mismanagement, an allegation 糖心Vlog官方 repeatedly challenged.

“We look forward to this new chapter of unity and shared responsibility with OHA and Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA), and we affirm our longstanding commitment to responsibly stewarding Maunakea鈥檚 natural and cultural resources,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship Director Greg Chun. “We deeply appreciate the dedication of the many people who have cared for the mauna over the decades, including rangers, biologists, visitor center staff, volunteer board members, and many others who have been implicated in the lawsuit鈥檚 claims. Your service is not unnoticed.”

The second lawsuit, filed in January 2024, challenged the constitutionality of Act 255, which established the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA). Governor Josh Green commended the decision by OHA, saying it opened a new chapter of unity and shared responsibility.

The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is officially initiating the decommissioning process for the 糖心Vlog官方-owned UKIRT telescope on Maunakea, formerly known as the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope. This marks another important milestone in 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 long-term commitment to responsible stewardship of the mauna.

UKIRT will be the third Maunakea observatory to be decommissioned under 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan, following Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo 贬艒办奴 Keʻa Observatory, both completed in 2024.

“I am glad to see us making progress on our commitment to decommission another facility on the mauna,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “Just as importantly, we do this work with the full awareness of the cultural and environmental significance of this place.”

The UKIRT decommissioning will be done in close coordination with 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo (CMS). As with the CSO and 贬艒办奴 Keʻa projects, CMS will consult with the and engage the Hawaiʻi Island community throughout the process.

“This is a deeply meaningful process for 糖心Vlog官方 and the broader community,” said Greg Chun, executive director of CMS. “Decommissioning is more than physical removal, it鈥檚 about honoring our commitments, restoring the ʻ膩ina (land), and engaging with cultural and community voices every step of the way.”

The process will begin with the submission of a Notice of Intent to decommission followed by a request for proposals. The selected company will be required to coordinate closely with CMS and follow the . On-site work to remove the telescope will begin once the planning, permitting and consultation processes are complete.

The CSO and 贬艒办奴 Keʻa decommissionings set a precedent for enhancing the cultural sensitivity of those working on large construction projects on the mauna. Crews underwent cultural training, and Native Hawaiian protocol was carefully integrated into each stage of the process, from deconstruction to restoration.

“Earlier this year, I had the privilege of visiting the mauna and witnessing the outstanding work CMS has done to successfully oversee the decommissioning of the first two observatories,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel. “What strikes me most is the CMS team鈥檚 deep sense of responsibility to carrying out 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 commitments and ensuring this process is conducted responsibly, with great care and respect for this special place.”

UKIRT鈥檚 storied history

The UKIRT Observatory began operations in 1979 and was originally built and operated by the United Kingdom鈥檚 science agencies. Over the decades, it has contributed to significant scientific advancements and helped establish Hawaiʻi as a global center for astronomical research. UKIRT is especially known for extending infrared survey imaging to unprecedented depths and coverage.

In 2014, ownership of the observatory was transferred to IfA after the UK ended its funding for the facility. In recent years, the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) became the principal sponsor of UKIRT operations, enabling an all-sky infrared survey that has supported a wide range of astrophysical research and enhanced the Celestial Reference Frame, a critical system used for global positional measurements, including GPS.

“It was decided that the decommissioning process would begin once the all-sky survey is complete,” said Doug Simons, director at IfA. “I am deeply grateful for the USNO鈥檚 support in recent years. Right up to the end, UKIRT remained highly productive and will leave a lasting scientific legacy.”

UKIRT will continue its scientific work during the initial stages of the decommissioning process, including the required environment studies, permits, and community consultations needed before site work can begin.

University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel visited 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo on February 18, her first visit to the campus since taking office on January 1. This was part of her systemwide tour of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 10 campuses and five education centers, during which she is meeting with students, faculty and staff across the state in her first 90 days.

Hensel met with key campus governance groups, including the Hanakahi Council—a caucus of Native Hawaiian faculty and staff—along with the staff council, faculty congress and the campus executive leadership team. Discussions covered key issues such as technology adoption, staff development, transparency, student fees and expanding interdisciplinary collaboration.

“I felt that having that personal connection in a meeting and being able to ask her the essential questions for our campus is important,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Professor Celia Bardwell-Jones after Hensel鈥檚 meeting with the faculty congress. “That demonstrates good shared governance practices for the system. I felt her answers were thoughtful—I was pleasantly surprised.”

糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Student Body President Chelbi Espiritu shared a similar sentiment, stating, “I think she was very open to listening and hearing us out.”

Campus open forum

More than 80 people attended a campus open forum, where Hensel addressed questions on issues including the impact of recent Executive Orders, the role of the 糖心Vlog官方 System in supporting individual campuses and what it means to be a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning.

“I think it has been incredibly engaging and thoughtful,” Hensel said. “The questions were challenging and important, and we had a really good conversation about what matters to the people on this campus. That鈥檚 important. We don鈥檛 have all the answers, but we should be able to discuss the questions and how we come together as a community. I was really impressed with the level of engagement.”

Traditional welcome, Maunakea visit

The visit began in the morning with a at Hawaiʻi Community College to welcome Hensel to Hilo. The welcoming ceremony, conducted primarily in ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi, included an ʻawa ceremony, hula and an underlying message of unity.

During her time on Hawaiʻi Island, Hensel visited the summit of Maunakea on February 17, where she met with representatives from the 糖心Vlog官方 Institute for Astronomy and the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship (CMS), including the Maunakea Rangers.

“The staff was very appreciative that she took the time to visit and understand how the Center for Maunakea Stewardship and the Institute for Astronomy work together,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo CMS Executive Director Greg Chun. “This is a very unique research enterprise that takes extensive collaboration for the groundbreaking science and commitment to stewardship to work together.”

On February 19, she visited Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, the largest Hawaiian immersion school on Hawaiʻi Island serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. That evening, she attended a reception for donors and alumni at the Hilo Yacht Club.

Hensel鈥檚 visit concluded on February 20, when she attended the monthly 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents meeting at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Daniel K. Inouye School of Pharmacy.

President Hensel鈥檚 campus/education centers remaining schedule:

President Hensel campus visit recaps

• Monday, February 24 –
• Tuesday February 25 – and
• Monday, March 3 – and
• TBD –
• Wednesday, March 5 – and
• Monday, March 24 –

For more information about President Hensel, visit the Meet President Hensel webpage. She is also active on social media and encourages the 糖心Vlog官方 community to connect with her on , (formerly Twitter) and .

This week鈥檚 糖心Vlog官方 News Image of the Week is from the 糖心Vlog官方 . From the post: “We got about 2 inches of snow today. Working to get the roads clear.”

Previous Images
Showing pride
Jack the horse
‘Hawaiian Soul’
Comet
Aloha Festival
All Images of the Week

Send us your image!

Want to get in on the action? The next 糖心Vlog官方 News Image of the Week could be yours! Submit a photo, drawing, painting, digital illustration of a project you are working on, a moment from a field research outing or a beautiful and/or interesting shot of a scene on your campus. It could be a class visit during which you see an eye-catching object or scene.

• .

Please include a brief description of the image and its connection to your campus, class assignment or other 糖心Vlog官方 connection. By submitting your image, you are giving 糖心Vlog官方 News permission to publish your photo on the 糖心Vlog官方 News website and 糖心Vlog官方 social media accounts. The image must be your original work, and anyone featured in your image needs to give consent to its publication.

• Editor’s note: Maunakea Access Road reopened on Tuesday, August 27.

Hurricane Hone hit Hawaiʻi Island on August 24 and caused significant damage to the roads and terrain on the summit of Maunakea on lands currently managed by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CMS).

The Maunakea Access Road will be closed at least until Wednesday, August 28, as CMS crews and Maunakea rangers make repairs.

Winds reached nearly 100 mph on the summit and heavy rain opened up several large cracks on Maunakea Access Road. Landslides were also reported near the Maunakea Observatories. CMS crews equipped with road repair equipment are filling and repairing the area to address the damage.

The 糖心Vlog官方or Information Station (VIS) located in the mountain鈥檚 mid-level elevation is open to visitors.

“We commend our dedicated rangers and staff, who are committed to overseeing Maunakea and safeguarding visitors,” said Nahua Guilloz, director of stewardship at CMS. “Our teams are working diligently to reopen the roads safely and as quickly as possible.”

Rangers assist stranded visitors

Maunakea rangers assisted 17 visitors stranded about 4 miles below the 糖心Vlog官方or Information Station after a large tree blocked their departure on August 24. The rangers transported the group to the VIS, where they were provided with shelter and refreshments while Department of Transportation crews cleared the road.

Updates on repairs and the road closure will be provided as more information becomes available.

The 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship jointly manages Maunakea with the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. The Authority assumes full management of the summit lands by July 1, 2028.

Two observatories have now been completely removed from the summit of Maunakea, fulfilling a commitment made by the University of Hawaiʻi. All site work for the decommissioning of the (CSO)was completed in June 2024 following the removal and site restoration of the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo 贬艒办奴 Keʻa Observatory in May 2024.

“The completion of the two decommissioning projects demonstrates our commitment to responsible stewardship of Maunakea,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin “We remain devoted to our role as stewards of the Mauna, respecting its profound cultural and environmental significance.”

The 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo (CMS) oversaw both decommissioning projects. Both sites will be monitored over the next three years to assess species population and diversity.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of astronomy on Maunakea and shows that we have come a long way in our stewardship of the Mauna,” said Greg Chun, Executive Director of the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship. “This project required close, daily coordination between CSO, the contractors, and CMS. I want to commend the team for their commitment to problem solving and completing this project in a way that was pono.”

The deconstruction phase of CSO began in August 2022 and included the removal and transport of the telescope, physical deconstruction of the building housing the telescope and site restoration. As with the 贬艒办奴 Keʻa Observatory, the project was completed in accordance with the decommissioning process required by the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan.

“The physical decommissioning was undertaken with great care by our prime deconstruction contractor, with constant oversight by local cultural, archeological, environmental, and construction monitors as well as the CMS,” said Caltech physics professor and CSO Director Sunil Golwala.

The Hawaiʻi State Legislature established the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA) in 2022. After a five-year transition period MKSOA will assume oversight and management of Maunakea in 2028, and as part of our shared management responsibilities during this transition period, the MKSOA has been briefed by CMS regarding the decommissioning project.

More information on the CSO decommissioning can be found in the announcing the completion of the project.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will begin the removal of the Hōkū Keʻa Observatory on the summit of Maunakea the week of April 15. The decommissioning process that includes the restoration of the site is expected to be completed by August. The public is advised to check the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo before traveling up the mauna as the Maunakea Access Road will be closed occasionally during the project.

The decommissioning includes the removal of the observatory building, generator building and telecommunications and electrical infrastructure. The project is following the required under the (CMP).

“We are one step closer to fulfilling 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 promise to remove observatories from the summit of Maunakea,” said Greg Chun, 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo CMS executive director. “The very detailed process laid out in the CMP requires everyone working on this project to complete cultural training and understand the history and cultural significance of the area. The decommissioning process requires archaeological, cultural, invasive species, and construction monitoring throughout the project to ensure best management practices are being followed. The process also requires three-years of site monitoring post-decommissioning to assess species population and diversity.”

Hōkū Keʻa is the second telescope on Maunakea that is in the final phase of decommissioning. The deconstruction and site restoration of the California Institute of Technology Submillimeter Observatory is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2024.

The 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo observatory is located on the southeastern side of the 528-acre astronomy precinct on the summit and was built by the U.S. Air Force in 1968. It was one of the first observatories on Maunakea before it was given to 糖心Vlog官方 in 1970 and transferred to 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo in 2003.

More information on the Hōkū Keʻa decommissioning process.

The decommissioning of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 贬艒办奴 Keʻa Observatory on the summit of Maunakea is set to begin in March and take about five months to complete. The decommissioning includes the removal of the observatory building, generator building and telecommunications and electrical infrastructure and the restoration of the site that is consistent with the area.

贬艒办奴 Keʻa is the second telescope on Maunakea in the final phase of the required under the (CMP). The deconstruction and site restoration of the California Institute of Technology Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2024.

“We are diligently following the steps outlined in the CMP and the very detailed decommissioning subplan and are very pleased to be in the final stages,” said Greg Chun, director of 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship (CMS). “We are approaching this process with the utmost respect for this precious wahi pana and remain committed to transparency, environmental responsibility and the preservation of our revered mauna.”

The construction crews working on the project will go through cultural training, mandated by the CMP, that covers Maunakea’s history and cultural significance. Daily prayers and Native Hawaiian protocol will precede all work during the deconstruction and site restoration phases.

贬艒办奴 Keʻa observatory

Located on the southeastern side of the 528-acre astronomy precinct on the summit, the 贬艒办奴 Keʻa site was built by the U.S. Air Force in 1968 and was one of the first observatories on Maunakea before it was given to 糖心Vlog官方 in 1970. The observatory was transferred to 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo in 2003 and became an important educational facility for astronomy students. In April 2023, the Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the Conservation District Use Application submitted by CMS for the decommissioning of 贬艒办奴 Keʻa.

A final environmental assessment in June 2022 found that the project will have no significant adverse environmental impacts. Preparation of the assessment included extensive consultation and outreach with the Native Hawaiian community through the preparation of a cultural impact assessment; meetings with Kahu K奴 Mauna; and an invitation to participate in the process published in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs鈥� Ka Wai Ola newsletter and direct outreach to native Hawaiian organizations and stakeholders.

The 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents reaffirmed 糖心Vlog官方‘s commitment in August 2023 to complete the decommissioning of two telescopes before the new Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA) assumes management responsibilities of Maunakea from the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources on or before July 1, 2028. 糖心Vlog官方 is working with MKSOA, created in 2022 by the state legislature, to transfer its leases, conservation district use permits, and an easement for lands on Maunakea to the new authority.

About 60 Hawaiʻi Island Girl Scouts learned about careers in astronomy and conservation on Maunakea. On November 10, members of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CMS) participated in the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi STEM Fest at Aunty Sally鈥檚 Lūʻau Hale in Hilo to encourage young women to pursue college degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related fields.

CMS employee Krystal Schlechter, who coordinates stargazing on Maunakea, combined forces with Maunakea Ranger Blair Southworth to coordinate a hands-on activity for the Girl Scouts on the life cycle of a star. Anuhea Robins is on CMS鈥� conservation and resource management team and shared her expertise on native species on the mauna and the work she does to protect the rare w膿kiu bug found there.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: More than seven-fold increase in w膿kiu bug survey on Maunakea, October 31, 2021

“Maunakea is a very special place and there are many opportunities to get involved,” said Ian Kaleoʻokalani Pilago, an education and outreach coordinator at CMS. “There are different college degrees and careers available for individuals who are interested and motivated to help in the protection and stewardship of the valuable cultural and natural resources that exist on the mauna.”

Event organizers were impressed with the excitement the scouts shared about CMS鈥� activities and invited the staff to come back to present in 2024.

The (RC糖心Vlog官方) has recognized 20 exemplary employees for their contributions and impact to research at 糖心Vlog官方 conducted on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

The awards were based on the following categories:

• Initiative, leadership and resourcefulness in carrying out their achievements
• Impact of their achievements on the project, professional field and/or larger community
• Other variables such as the significance or quality of their achievements
• Each individual received a certificate and cash award. First-place awardees received $1,000 (shared equally by team members), while second-place awardees received $500 (shared equally by team members).

Team Category

• First place (tie): , 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo (Mark Ellis, Robert Madrigal, Oscar Poua, Tommy Waltjen)
  , 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) (Corinne Amir, Jonny Charendoff, Mia Lamirand, Frances Lichowski
• Second Place: , 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 (Grace Matsuura, Kimberley Spencer-Tolentino, JoAnn Tsark)
• Honorable Mention: , 糖心Vlog官方 Maui (Yvette Gurule, Gerry Smith, Kelly Suzuki Payba, Lynette Yamamoto)

Project Support Staff category

• First place: , 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College (Jennifer Benitez)

Researcher/Project Manager category

• First place: , 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 (Derek Risch)
• Second place: , 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 SOEST (Matthew Widlansky)
• Honorable Mention: , (Russell Kackley)
  , 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 SOEST (Natalie Wallsgrove)

The awards were presented at a luncheon event on October 24. A selection committee comprised of Peter Adler, Sarah Guay and Taryn Salmon selected the awardees. For more information, .

More than 9,000 feet up majestic Maunakea is where you鈥檒l find Alika Toledo and his crew on weekdays. The longtime employee of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CMS) oversees access to the summit through road grading and snow clearing operations, as well as facilities maintenance of the visitor information center and Halep艒haku, a facility at the mid-level elevation on the mauna.

“It鈥檚 a privilege for me to work up here. It鈥檚 unique, it鈥檚 special, and there鈥檚 no other place like it,” said Toledo, who refers to Maunakea as God鈥檚 country.

When Toledo, a 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo alumnus, is not working, his love for a game that jetted him into the spotlight as a young teenager isn鈥檛 very far. For the past 11 years, he鈥檚 coached the boys golf team at his alma mater, Wai膩kea High School. In his senior year in 1984, he won the individual state title leading Wai膩kea to the team title. This year, the Wai膩kea Warriors won the state high school championship and came in fifth at the PGA High School Golf National Invitational in Frisco, Texas.

“My players Dysen Park, Mike Lopez, Noah Otani, Ryder Ng, Jake Otani and Laʻa Kaawaloa-Okita all come with very supportive families, which makes coaching so much easier,” Toledo explained. “This team has been successful for a bunch of reasons this year. Their school, their parents and loved ones, their community and their competitiveness and positivity for each other, which is so hard to find nowadays, was key to their success.”

Two of Toledo鈥檚 award-winning players are attending 糖心Vlog官方 campuses this year. This fall, Lopez began his very first semester at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补. Park is studying at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo on a golf scholarship.

Thankful for opportunities

Toledo鈥檚 push hard approach he ingrains into his players is the same recipe applied to his very own career. The Hawaiʻi Island native has worked for CMS鈥� department for nine years.

Born and raised on the Hilo side of the state鈥檚 largest island, Toledo recalls job opportunities that came and eventually faded when sugar plantations closed on Hawaiʻi Island. Alika and his wife Lacey share six boys and a daughter together. He is thankful that the arrival of the state鈥檚 astronomy sector in the 1960s provided employment opportunities on his island, everything from food services and engineering to native plant restoration.

Astronomy is responsible for more than 600 jobs on Hawaiʻi Island and generates $102 million annually for the island economy, according to a 2019 糖心Vlog官方 Economic Research Organization report.

Toledo expresses his fascination with mysteries astronomers on Maunakea unlock far beyond the Milky Way.

“We have the best platform in the world to put a telescope, and to have the clearance of the galaxies and of everything else that is out there. Besides bringing in jobs to the island, it’s that special,” said Toledo.

Disassembly of the (CSO) 34-foot diameter telescope on Maunakea began the week of August 28. The entire decommissioning process is expected to be completed by summer 2024 and cost more than $4 million. CSO is the first observatory to be removed under the Decommissioning Plan of the University of Hawaiʻi Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan.

“Our team has started working inside the observatory to take apart the telescope and get it ready for removal,” Caltech physics professor and Caltech Submillimeter Telescope Director Sunil Golwala said. “The aluminum panels that make up the reflecting surface of the telescope have been removed and packed. The secondary mirror and its support structure were removed last week.”

CSO said that there are monitors for all phases of the project, including decommissioning, cultural, construction and archeological monitors, in accordance with the permits guiding the telescope鈥檚 removal.

Workers will use a crane and a manlift to disassemble the telescope and its mirror and then transport it down the mountain in shipping containers. A cultural practitioner conducted a blessing at the site and also an orientation for the staff before the work began.

This phase of the decommissioning process is expected to be completed by the end of September. The next phase will be the removal of the remaining buildings and infrastructure.

“Removal of above-ground structures and below-ground infrastructure will be deferred to next spring because of inclement winter weather,” said Golwala. “Restoration to the level approved under our permit will occur next summer after all structures are removed.”

Regular updates will be provided by .

The decommissioning of the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Hōkū Keʻa Telescope is scheduled to begin by the end of 2023 and completed in the first half of 2024.

The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved a resolution at its Thursday, August 17, meeting to clarify the university鈥檚 role regarding the transfer of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 management responsibilities on Maunakea to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA).

The MKSOA was established by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2022 with the passage of Act 255. Among other things, Act 255 sets a five-year transition period, starting July 1, 2023 and ending on July 1, 2028. At that time, Act 255 expects that all general leases, easement, and permits issued by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to 糖心Vlog官方 are transferred and assigned to MKSOA. The transfer may occur sooner than July 1, 2028, if BLNR and MKSOA allow.

The proposed resolution lists seven actions to be completed by 糖心Vlog官方 during the transition period, while 糖心Vlog官方 still holds general leases, easement, and permits issued by the BLNR to 糖心Vlog官方:

• Progress reports to the BOR every six months.
• Completion of the decommissioning of two Maunakea telescopes (Caltech Submillimeter Observatory and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo H艒ku Ke驶a Observatory) no later than August 31, 2024, barring unforeseen setbacks.
• Establish and fund a new 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo teaching telescope on already developed land at Hale P艒haku, in coordination with MKSOA and Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
• The continued development and implementation of educational programs regarding Maunkaea by the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo 驶Imiloa Astronomy Center.
• Determining by December 30, 2025—in coordination with MKSOA, the Maunakea Observatories and DLNR—if three additional Maunakea observatory sites will be decommissioned. If the decision is to proceed with decommissioning, the three sites must be identified and reported to the BOR by January 2026.
• The university will continue to make final decisions regarding stewardship obligations, with MKSOA鈥檚 input, until the general leases, easement, and permits issued by BLNR to 糖心Vlog官方 related to astronomy facilities are officially transferred and assigned to MKSOA.
• Enter into an agreement with MKSOA that outlines how 糖心Vlog官方 and the MKSOA will jointly manage, as that term is used but not defined in Act 255, during the transition period.

The proposed resolution also restates BOR鈥檚 commitment to its stewardship responsibilities and to honoring the terms and conditions imposed on 糖心Vlog官方 under the general leases, easement, and permits issued by BLNR to 糖心Vlog官方. This includes the management plans required by BLNR, which include implementing actions to better manage the impacts of astronomy and ensure benefits from astronomy flow to the community.

For 10 weeks this summer, undergraduates at the participated in a slew of hands-on, place-based mentorships through the campus鈥� (PIPES). 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo incoming junior Elai Porter鈥檚 internship took him more than 13,000 feet above sea level to Maunakea to work at the (CMS).

Porter assisted CMS with natural resource initiatives focused on alien invertebrate early detection and wēkiu bug monitoring. Both are part of critical surveys CMS land stewards conduct on Maunakea each year.

“Participation in restoration initiatives like wēkiu bug monitoring fosters a sense of connection to not only the ʻāina (land) here but the ʻāina from my own homeland back in Pohnpei and Samoa,” said Porter. “In a broader sense, it allows people to contribute to the preservation of ecosystems, the protection of endangered species, and the overall health of the environment.”

Wēkiu bugs are endemic to Hawaiʻi and the rare insect鈥檚 nysius wekiuicola species can only be found on puʻu (cinder cones) on the summit of Maunakea. Every year, CMS places a variety of traps at more than 100 sites on the mauna to assess native species population levels and detect possible threats.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: More than seven-fold increase in wēkiu bug survey on Maunakea, October 31, 2021

Mālama Maunakea

Porter is considering a career in conservation. This summer鈥檚 internship paired him alongside CMS Resource Manager Justin Yeh who also focused on native habitat restoration through the expansion of community volunteer and outreach events.

“Maunakea can serve as a living classroom for students to gain fundamental knowledge in various fields connected to conservation, culture and world-class science,” said Yeh. “Working directly on the mauna can also provide students with core elements of hard work and discipline.”

One of Porter鈥檚 many highlights on the mountain was the outplanting of silverswords. To assist CMS鈥� ongoing effort to restore the highly endangered native species, the natural resource intern worked together with a group of volunteers to plant more than 92 silverswords that he helped raise in the greenhouse. The plants were placed inside an enclosure on the mauna, to create more robust silverswords that can adapt to the different types of microclimates found on Maunakea.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: CMS raises baby silverswords in Maunakea greenhouse, February 21, 2023

“To be blessed to have that privilege of growing a plant that so many other people haven’t even got to see in person and be able to come back in the future and tell people I grew it, is truly my favorite part,” Porter said.

In August, PIPES hosted a symposium spotlighting student experiences during their summer internships in conservation research, natural resource management, environmental education and more. Porter boiled down his more than two-month internship on Maunakea into the presentation, No ka mālama ana i ka mauna (Embracing values and connections through the stewardship of Maunakea), detailing the importance of collaboration when managing and stewarding public lands.

PIPES is a paid undergraduate summer internship housed within the Office of Research and Community Partnerships at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo rangers recently participated in rope rescue training exercises for technical rescue conducted inside the W.M. Keck Observatory and NASA Infrared Telescope Facility in the Maunakea Science Reserve on Maunakea.

Seven rangers spent the day alongside observatory personnel to learn rappelling and technical rescue training, which involves using ropes and rappelling in high environments within the three-story observatory structures.

Safety training also included ascending and descending a fixed-rope system and understanding and operating a rope-rescue system in the event a rescue mission is ever needed.

The Rope Rescue Training Certification will be an annual event for the rangers and other Maunakea Observatories personnel.

For more information check out .

The 34-foot diameter telescope mirror from the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) on Maunakea will be removed in sections this summer, according to a June 2 CSO news release. CSO said the original plan to move the mirror in one piece proved to be unworkable. The updated plan will be less disruptive to the Hawaiʻi Island community because it will not require extensive road closures.

The telescope parts will be transported in standard shipping containers and sent to Chile where it will be reassembled and used. Once the telescope removal is complete, the CSO buildings will be removed and the site restored. The total cost, which will be paid for by Caltech, is expected to be more than $4 million. It is one of two Maunakea observatories expected to be fully decommissioned by the end of 2023. The physical removal of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 贬艒办奴 Keʻa observatory is expected to begin in the fall.

CSO and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo are following the (PDF) of the (PDF) for the observatory removal and site restoration. The process is being overseen in part by the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo .