I’m not an astronomer, nor do I work for an observatory, but I’ve been to the summit of Maunakea many times to view her glorious skies. However, what I am is a concerned resident and voter on the Big Island, who by chance read the Maunakea Working Group (MKWG) draft report and was so dismayed by its unconstitutional tenets, I decided to respond.
Hawaii is a melting pot.
While I deeply value the cultural heritage of Hawaiians who descended from the long-ago Polynesians who sailed to these amazing islands, I also treasure the enriching contributions of those who arrived here from Japan, China, Portugal, Africa, Mexico, the Americas, and points beyond. When you think about it, we are all immigrants here. Blended with the language, dances, foods, and traditions of the early Hawaiians, the combination of all cultures makes Hawaii an aromatic melting pot.
That’s why I was stunned that race and religion would be included in a state legislative working group’s report, recommending that a proposed Maunakea Governing Entity be made up predominately of Native Hawaiians.
Just how might potential members prove their “Native Hawaiian-ism?” Will the state conduct DNA tests and provide SafeDNA QR codes? How much Native Hawaiian DNA qualifies? After all, many who boast of Hawaiian blood also have mixed ancestry, with DNA from Caucasian, European, Chinese, Japanese, Philippino, Portuguese, or Samoan ancestors. Are Samoans considered “Native Hawaiian”?
If not, Dwane Johnson, “The Rock,” is out of luck.
Let’s strive for the best and brightest, no matter the race.
According to the 2020 census, Asians comprise the largest racial group in our state, while Whites are the second-largest group. In Hawaii County, where the proposed Governing Entity would preside, Whites make up 34% of the population, while Native Hawaiians make up 12.8%. If race should be the determining factor, as the MKWG report states, then the Governing Entity should be 34% White, according to the Census, and Native Hawaiians should be 12%. But that’s as horribly prejudicial as the MKWG recommendation that the group be predominately Native Hawaiian.
In fact, such an important governing entity should be composed of the best and brightest candidates from Hawaii’s diverse populations. Native Hawaiians certainly should be included, and there should be at least one expert from the world of astronomy to serve.
What happened to separation of church and state?
Although the MKWG report provides an extensive view of one brand of indigenous religion, other Hawaiians may not share those views. Regardless, no one religion should prevail in Hawaii’s government, nor be used as an excuse to destroy the state’s vigorous astronomy industry.
To all of us, Maunakea is a magnificent resource that should be cared for by all, including those who construct gigantic telescopes near her summit. Like many, I urge the environmental protection of Maunakea, but I also urge our state and county authorities to prevent shacks from being built on the treasured mountain’s flanks by protestors who claim that building the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will do Maunakea harm.
Astronomy benefits Hawaii, America, and the world. Most puzzling to me in the MKWG report is the apparent disdain for the value of Hawaii’s astronomical observatories. Without including any scientific or economic data, the authors who dominated this draft with religious and philosophical doctrine seem determined to remove all telescopes from Maunakea.
Then what? Will only Native Hawaiians be allowed above certain elevations? Will other races be permitted on certain dates if they present SafeDNA QR codes? Rather than have yesteryear thinking dominate a state governing body, University of Hawaii (UH) should remain the ongoing overseer of Maunakea. UH’s astronomy programs are known worldwide, and the education and eye-opening discoveries of the magnificent instruments atop Maunakea have answered key questions about our universe.
If those concepts are not of interest, then I emphasize the billions of dollars that astronomy has poured into Hawaii’s economy ever since UH’s 2.2-meter telescope saw first light atop Maunakea in 1968 and began operations in 1970 to help invigorate Hilo’s economy. That very forward-thinking worked. Removing astronomy from Maunakea will have a devastating impact on the Big Island’s economy, from Hilo to Waimea and beyond.
Share the mauna, for America’s sake.
In a footnote, the MKWG report said its recommendations did not address the TMT.
However, if a tunnel-visioned group is allowed to govern Maunakea, the next move will be to prevent TMT from being built, even though the Hawaii Supreme Court affirmed in 2018 that the $1.43 billion project can be constructed. Likewise, most of Hawaii’s citizens support building the TMT, according to statewide polls.
TMT must move forward to keep America competitive in the field of astronomy. As I write, Europe is building a 37-meter Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) on a peak in Chile. Locals there already benefit from the jobs and infusion of Euros that this multibillion-dollar undertaking provides. ELT will see first light in 2027, which means TMT is already behind, substantially due to delays caused by a small band of ill-informed protestors who illegally blocked access roads. Sadly, their protests were aided by feckless state and county enforcement, not to mention prejudicial media reports and visits from wannabe Hawaiian movie stars. As Carl Sagan said, “We are made of star stuff.”
We might disagree on the spiritual significance of Maunakea, but all humans are made of the very stuff that Polynesian explorers used to navigate their way here — the stars. Yes, our state’s Native Hawaiians should be honored for their rich cultural heritage, but no one religion or race should be used to determine the fate of such a valuable resource as Maunakea, nor Hawaii’s prestigious astronomical observatories.
Pat Dunlap Evans is a resident of Waikoloa.