This morning’s article Aug. 30, “Amano denies protective order for Ige” on page 7A is a follow up article to Aug. 11 “Ige pressed on TMT” — relegated to page 8A.
In my 40 years of reading WHT, the TMT controversy is the most important issue facing the future of the Big Island that I have witnessed. Weird that both these articles are buried on the back pages. Our DLNR (powerful land board) approved the land use permit for the $1.4 billion TMT about five years ago. A small group of activists successfully contested this DLNR decision on the grounds that the approval was given prior to the original contested case hearing.
If there was no opposition, TMT would now be nearing completion. This small group of activists grew and has been able to stall the TMT project — mostly on the pretext of the sacredness of Mauna Kea, and the Hawaiian Kingdom movement has joined forces. The vast majority of the island favors TMT, including recent Native Hawaiian supporters (PUEO et.al).
TMT is a “soft target.” The scientific/astronomical community does not want to fight and has been open to dialogue. The opposing activists so far have been non-negotiable in their opposition. TMT is a multi-national project. Most of the $1.4 million is not funded by our tax dollars — free money. Japan and others are now holding funds; waiting to see if approval is imminent. Mauna Kea is the world’s preferred spot for TMT, but if our hostility and stalling continue, Chile becomes more desirable.
Now let’s talk about a “hard target.” I am sure that if the activists protested the military presence on Mauna Kea that groups of my fellow Vietnam era veterans would forcibly have the protesters off the mountain in a week. PTA army base occupies over 100,000 acres on the slopes of Mauna Kea; even the US Army has finally admitted that nuclear waste is present as an aftermath of their war games. As we know, 40 percent of our tax dollars are spent on defense.
Gov. David Ige commented on TMT in the Aug. 11 article that he felt like he had come into the middle of a movie. Not a comedy, I am sure. Hopefully he has the guts to support TMT and put the project on a fast track priority. My hope is that opponents of TMT can see that they are in the minority and support the project. No one denies that the US government annexed the Hawaiian Kingdom by force 100 years ago. Make it a win-win situation — demand that TMT up the ante on scholarship money for our public high school graduates. Better than getting nothing and explaining to our grandchildren why there are no high-tech job opportunities on the Big Island.
Ron Roberts is a resident of Kapaau