This is an urgent call to action for our Hawaii Island community.
Residents of Hawaii Island, beware of a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. Are you aware that the Thirty Meter Telescope project proposes to build the tallest building on Hawaii Island, 18 stories of concrete and steel, with a dome more than 216 feet in diameter, which is equal to two-thirds the length of a football field, on our beautiful Mauna Kea? That it will excavate 8 acres of pristine natural landscape?
Mauna Kea is one of the most sacred mountains in all of the Pacific, a fragile, rare alpine ecosystem, and a vast landscape of vibrant histories and cultural practices. Mauna Kea holds many shrines, burial grounds and other cultural sites still venerated by our Hawaiian community.
Mauna Kea in every respect represents the zenith of our Native Hawaiian people’s ancestral ties to Creation itself. Mauna Kea is a temple of the highest order. If you have ever made the journey to our sacred Mauna you know its mana, its beauty, its serenity.
As a resident of Hawaii island for more than 20 years, I have made many spiritual journeys to sacred Mauna a Wakea, and feel ill to know of its proposed further desecration. Is this what we want for our island? TMT is not good for our indigenous Hawaiians who want only to protect what is sacred to them, and all of us who go to this beautiful Mauna for peace, contemplation and connection with our spiritual source.
TMT is not good for Hawaii Island, its impact will be felt for years to come, on our island’s beauty, on the serenity of our spirits, on our spiritual souls. To learn more, see the beautiful, moving and potent short film by entering youtube.com/embed/cUSVUQK9Bq4 into your search engine. I believe it truly speaks to the heart of the matter and moves the soul to act for what is right, for what is pono. Please watch and I am sure you will agree.
I and many other Hawaii Island residents are strongly opposed to this desecration. In the words of our revered and beloved kumu Pua Case, “This is a time when we must be sure, we must be clear, we must be brave. Let’s not be swayed by money or promises. Let’s do what is right for our mountain, our people, our children.”
The time has come for all Hawaii to stand firm, to stand together and oppose the desecration of our precious aina. We stand for the mountain, we speak for the mountain, and the mountain says no. Please join us, stand with us, stand for our mountain, and in our endeavor to ignite our right to fight to protect our sacred Mauna, this special place. Kukiaimauna, Standing with Mauna Kea.
Christopher McCullough is a resident of Holualoa.
Viewpoint articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of West Hawaii Today.