Lawmakers move bill to
study Mauna Kea summit

House lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that calls for a study of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate, asks for

a closer look at regulations

for the development of new projects atop the Big Island volcano, an ecologically and culturally significant natural landmark.

The study would also explore the possibility of creating a new management authority to oversee the reserve.

While the astronomy industry is environmentally clean and creates well-paying local jobs, Hawaii still needs to be sensitive to the cultural value of the site to native Hawaiians, said Rep. Pono Chong (D, Maunawili-Kaneohe).

"The mountain is a very sacred place, and it is something I think that needs to continue as a sacred place for Hawaii," Chong said.

The bill was referred to the House Higher Education Committee for consideration.

Mauna Kea currently has 13 major telescopes that represent 12 nations and bring in nearly $62 million in annual revenues to the state.

The summit is on ceded lands - the crown or public lands successively ceded to the Territory of Hawaii and then to the state in 1959. They make up about 95 percent of state-owned lands.