Kanuha Found Not Guilty Of Obstruction on Mauna Kea

Kanuha in court. Photo: BigIslandVideoNews

Big Island Video News, January 8, 2016

WAIMEA, Hawaii – Kaho’okahi Kanuha was found not guilty by Judge Barbare Takase at the Third-Circuit District Court in Waimea.

Kanuha was charged with obstructing Thirty Meter Telescope crews on the Mauna Kea Access Road on June 24, 2015. He was one of 12 arrested on the mountain that day. Kanuha was a leader in the effort to block construction of the TMT which was granted the right to proceed with the project by the state. The $1.4 billion observatory was set to be located on the northern plateau of the Mauna Kea summit, an area prized by astronomers for being one of the best spots in the world from which to observe the cosmos. The Hawaii Supreme Court later invalidated the telescope’s conservation district use permit, remanding the project back to the start of its permit process, effectively delaying construction for years. The high court ruled that the state did not follow proper procedure when it awarded the permit.

Thirty Meter Telescope project dealt legal setback in Hawaii

Artists rendition of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

Canadian industry, government heavily involved in project, which some Hawaiians have protested

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, The Associated Press, Dec 3, 2015

A long-awaited Hawaii Supreme Court ruling Wednesday invalidating a construction permit for what would be one of the world’s largest telescopes represents a major setback for the $1.4 billion project on a mountain astronomers tout for having perfect star-gazing conditions.

Hawaii: Eight protesters arrested on Mauna Kea

Some of those arrested on Sept 9, 2015 in Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Photo: SF Chronicle.

By Gregg Kakesako, Honololu Star Advisertiser, Sept 9, 2015

State conservation officers arrested eight protesters  on Mauna Kea early Wednesday morning for violating the state’s new emergency rules that prohibit camping on the mountain, a Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesman said.

DNLR officers arrested seven women and a man at a protest camp across the road from the Mauna Kea Visitors Center for being in the restricted area on the mountain.

A July Snowstorm in Hawaii? The Mountain Answers Protectors’ Prayers

“It’s summer in Hawaii and Poliʻahu, the snow goddess, came to grace us in mid-July, the hottest month of the year. This is the power of pule (prayer) and believing in your culture and where you come from,” wrote Ku’uipo Freitas on Facebook. (Ku’uipo Freitas/Facebook via Indian Country Today)

by Christina Rose, Indian Country Today, July 21, 2015

It seems Mauna Kea herself has joined in the resistance of the construction of the copy.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope. On Saturday, July 18 at about 3 a.m., there was a snowstorm on top of the mountain—in the midst of one of the hottest spells some can remember in their lifetime. The protectors, dressed in sweatshirts and warm jackets, shivered against the cold and rejoiced in the reawakening and reconnection of the people and the mountain.

Hawaii: Giant telescope work crews turn back; 11 arrested

One of eleven people arrested today blockading construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

West Hawaii Today, June 24, 2015

Workers trying to make their way up Mauna Kea to restart construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope were forced to turn back after protesters blocked the road to the summit with a trail of large rocks.

Starting early this morning, five trucks being escorted by police were stopped repeatedly by more than 300 protesters who set up about two dozen “lines of defense” across the Mauna Kea access road near the Visitor Information Station, which is located at the 9,200-feet elevation.

Hawaii: Governor announces 1 week halt of Mauna Kea telescope construction

Thirty Meter Telescope protesters chant after being arrested from the telescope building site on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hilo, Hawaii, Thursday, April 2, 2015.

Hawaii News Now, April 7, 2015

HONOLULU – In a Tuesday news conference, Gov. David Ige announced that TMT construction has agreed to a one week halt of work at the summit of Mauna Kea.

Ige said,”The president of the University (Hawaii) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have agreed to a timeout on the project and there will be no construction activities this week.”