Letters | 9-10-15

Misrepresenting the cost of Mauna Kea telescopes lease agreements

In the article by Tom Callis of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in the Sept. 6 West Hawaii Today about Office of Hawaiian Affairs funding, he continues to repeat the Thirty Meter Telescope protesters claim that the existing telescopes on Mauna Kea pay only $1 per year for the lease. In reality, these statements grossly misrepresent the actual costs the observatories pay to the State of Hawaii for the privilege of locating on Mauna Kea.

I pointed out in my letter to the editor on June 25 in West Hawaii Today that the observatories contribute more than $10 million per year in the cost of observing time provided to the University of Hawaii as required by supplemental agreements to the lease.

Mr. Callis does not mention these additional requirements of the lease supplemental agreements. This failure to be more complete in the cost an observatory pays to locate on Mauna Kea lends credibility to the protester’s claims that telescopes are getting a free ride from the state. The observatories also pay their fair share of the cost of Mauna Kea Management, including infrastructure and environmental protection.

As the lead reporter for the Hawaii Tribune on the Mauna Kea protests, Mr. Callis has the responsibility to understand and correctly represent the actual costs of locating a telescope on Mauna Kea, rather than adopting protester slogans.

Jerry Smith

North Kohala

County road crews deserve our appreciation

The steady onslaught of afternoon and evening flooding has produced a lot of damage and danger along our Kona roads, both mauka and mid-slope.

Every day that I was caught on the road, windshield wipers slapping madly, I have been truly amazed to see county road workers working, and safety flasher signs where they needed to be, day and night, no matter which route I took.

I feel extremely grateful for the availability and willingness of these folks to jump up and respond so quickly and effectively, raking debris and doing whatever. Obviously for our widespread rural situation, some messes and damages have to remain for drier days when catch-up can begin. But I also really want to express appreciation for whoever is the luna, or chief, of these Kona road crews, because clearly he or she knows exactly who needs to be where, when, why and how long before the next place has to be serviced along the way.

Great job, chief, and mahalo nui loa to the workers who left fun, family and plain ol’ rest, to do such an important job for the rest of us. Lucky we stay Kona, no?

Keola Childs

Holualoa