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Hawaiian group wants
By Rod Thompson
to halt development
on Mauna Kea
Star-BulletinHILO -- A Hawaiian group opposed to astronomy development on Mauna Kea is urging Hawaiians to speak out peacefully against new observatories.
"Our view is that we want new construction to stop," said Ed Stevens, spokesman for Ahahui Ku Mauna. Stevens said the group made the appeal yesterday in the belief that the University of Hawaii Board of Regents would consider a controversial proposed Mauna Kea Master Plan at its meeting Thursday.
University spokesman Jim Manke said the master plan is not on the agenda.
Spokeswoman Joanne Clark said a write-up of public comments on draft 4 of the plan was given to regents last week. A new draft 5 is being prepared for public review and hoped-for presentation to the regents in April. "The university honestly wants to listen," Clark said.
The proposal calls for tearing down some observatories and replacing them with larger ones, and creating some new facilities.
Compromise on the issue is not "applicable" because that means give and take, he said. Since astronomy started on Mauna Kea, "it was all take and no give," he said. Some students plan a protest at the Manoa campus to support the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and to oppose Mauna Kea development.
