Governor needs to protect Maunakea

The main issues underlying the TMT situation get clearer every day. The fundamental lack of higher-minded stewardship of one of Hawaii’s most precious resources, Maunakea, has come home to roost. The lack of moral, strategic and values-driven management and leadership on this issue and heretofore pitiful long-term planning is mindboggling. Maunakea is not able to protect itself and if not for the efforts of native Hawaiians, there would be no protection at all.

How is it that this once pristine, environmentally sensitive, culturally significant and magnificent majestic mountain came to be governed by an anemic, poorly accountable conservation district, turned over to a special interest university and then contracted out to private enterprise with even narrower special business interests in the name of science and discovery. Ideally, government should worry about broader public interests like environmental protection, respect for Hawaiian culture and people and protecting this natural beauty of a mountain for the coming generations. It’s called stewardship of the land and the public trust, not indulgence in political motivations under the transparent veil of science and discovery, economic development and the rule of law. These rationalizations are dwarfed by the magnitude of this incredible mountain, literally and figuratively.

If the adherence to the rule of law is the core argument now, where was the importance of the rule of law when Hawaiian leadership was handed the bayonet constitution under threat of military action? Where was it when a provisional government was formed by outside business interests and forced the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian nation? Where was it when the queen asked the president and the Congress of the United States to not proceed with an illegal annexation of an independent nation? No fair evoking the rule of law only when it’s convenient and at the same time, disregard Hawaii’s history of being victimized by the lack of the rule of law. One set of rules for those in power and another set of rules for Hawaii’s best interests? No fair. Gross double standard.

Science and discovery, economic development and the rule of law are not unimportant. That’s not the point. The point is that there are competing priorities here: protection of a pristine mountain with cultural, spiritual and environmental value that by far in my opinion, trumps the pro TMT arguments handsdown. An even bigger point is the lack of effective state and local leadership in the preservation and protection of this resource in tandem with lack of respect for the wishes of Hawaii’s native population. This project would not have seen the light of day with better planning, management and leadership.

Step up to the plate governor. Delegating responsibility for resolution of this issue to our hardworking mayor makes you look cowardly. Sometimes hard choices have to be made with huge consequences either way — not ducking for cover and kicking the ultimate responsibility to someone else. Protect this mountain governor, respect the wishes of the Hawaiian people even if they are a minority — they are entitled to be afforded that respect. Don’t become yet another government official to take the easy way out or be influenced by outside political interests at the expense of Maunakea and the Hawaiian people. There is still time to revive the idea of effective management of this mountain but it will not happen without effective leadership.

David Maertens is a resident of Waimea.