“We are here to Protect Maunakea”

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) has faced unwavering opposition from Kanaka Maoli and supporters of Maunakea’s protection. While the TMT and the National Science Foundation (NSF) suggest that new community engagement efforts in 2025 could change the tide of public opinion, that approach misses the heart of the matter. The stand to protect Maunakea never hinged on the level or nature of TMT’s community engagement—it was, and remains, about protecting ʻāina. The kia‘i are adamant: the TMT is not welcome in Hawai‘i. The idea of it being built on Maunakea must be permanently abandoned, considering the cultural, environmental, legal, ethical, and logistical realities that have shaped this issue.

Kuleana and Aloha ‘Āina

The kuleana to protect Maunakea stems from a fundamental principle of ‘ōiwi and those with an allegiance to Hawai‘i: aloha ʻāina, a deeply rooted connection and commitment to the physical and spiritual health of Hawaiʻi’s lands, seas, and skies; a devotion to protect and support Hawaiian cultural practices that take place within the embrace of ʻāina and through the lens and voice of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi; and an unwavering dedication to the well-being of ʻŌiwi Hawaiʻi, including matters of social and political justice.

Maunakea is a sacred place, home to countless historic and cultural sites and ecological significance. TMT’s proposed construction site lies within a conservation district where it should receive the highest level of environmental and cultural protection under Hawaiʻi State and U.S. federal law. TMT’s plans would bring irreparable harm to Maunakea’s inherent character. TMT would gouge into the mountains two stories of underground space above which another 18-stories would tower and stretch over a 5-acre final footprint. In the construction process even more ʻāina would be leveled and forever altered.

This project is not just large in scope and lacking pono in regards to ʻāina; it’s a form of colonial imposition of power and disregard for our kuleana as ‘ōiwi to mālama ʻāina that sustains us, from crucial watersheds that feed the entire island to fragile ecosystems housing numerous endemic species and sacred places embodying our akua.

A Legacy of Mismanagement on Maunakea

TMT is the latest chapter in a long history of mismanagement by the so-called State of Hawai‘i and the astronomy community on Maunakea. The summit has hosted 13 observatories, many of which were built without adequate safeguards or restoration efforts or even proper permitting. Previous construction projects failed to protect cultural sites, address erosion concerns, or honor commitments to conservation.

The University of Hawaiʻi, which oversees Maunakea’s leases, has been criticized in State audits for its role in these failures. The expiration of UH’s master lease in 2033 casts further doubt on the long-term viability of any projects on the summit, including TMT.

Legal and Logistical Barriers Blocking the TMT

The Permit Problem

TMT’s construction permit has expired, and efforts to reinstate it are stalled. Legal scholars and community leaders have pointed out that any new permit would face significant hurdles, particularly given the conservation status of the land and the unresolved issues regarding ownership and jurisdiction related to the Maunakea Access Road that would be required for construction. The Maunakea Access Road is owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). The Supreme Court of Hawaiʻi recently ruled that the state violated the law by taking control of the road without proper authorization or consultation with DHHL beneficiaries.

Financial Challenges

Even if the NSF provides funding, TMT faces a $300 million shortfall, as acknowledged by the NSF’s own review panel. Meanwhile, key funding partners have withdrawn their support. China is no longer a partner, leaving the project short of its projected funding, technical expertise, and other resources. And the Canadian Astronomical Society has stated it will oppose the project if Native Hawaiians do not support it.

No Amount of Money or Public Relations Will Change the Core Issues

The TMT and its supporters suggest that a new approach to community engagement will resolve opposition. However, the issue is not about “engagement” or “sweet talk.” Nor is it more dollars for lease rent or community donations, which were miniscule in the larger picture. TMT opposition is about the project itself. The TMT cannot be redesigned to meet the demands of conservation law, cultural protection, or the principles of aloha ʻāina.

Maunakea kia‘i have demonstrated unwavering conviction, exemplified by their sustained peaceful resistance in 2019. The kūpuna and kiaʻi have repeatedly stated that no amount of money or public relations will change their position. Maunakea is sacred, and its desecration is unacceptable.

“There will never be a TMT on our sacred mountain.”

The TMT’s supporters seek to misrepresent the essence of the opposition they face. The conflict is not about better public relations, just as it was never a debate about science versus culture. The stand to protect Maunakea is about ensuring that the ʻāina—its sacredness, its integrity, and its place and role in the larger ecological wellbeing of Hawai‘i Island—is respected and preserved. TMT is incompatible with these principles, and its time in Hawaiʻi must end.

The path forward requires recognizing the failure of past approaches to Maunakea’s management and committing to true stewardship that centers Native Hawaiian kuana‘ike, voices and practices. TMT should abandon its efforts to build on Maunakea, and Hawaiʻi must refocus on preserving this wahi pana for future generations.