Maunakea and the Protests by Justice Martin-Williams

The protests for Maunakea are against the Thirty Meter Telescope that started last summer in 2019. “Thousands of Native Hawai’ians blocked the sole access road to Hawai’i’s largest mountain, Maunakea, the proposed site of the Thirty Meter Telescope,” said Nick Bowlin of High Country News. Astronomers say the billion-dollar project would offer unparalleled views of the cosmos. It is said to be a new class of extremely large telescopes that will allow us to see deeper into space and observe cosmic objects with unprecedented sensitivity.

Wahi kapu means sacred place which is what Maunakea is; a shield volcano rising 13,796 feet, it’s one of the most profound landforms in Hawai’i. The sacredness of Maunakea in Hawai’ian culture goes far deeper than its physical features. In Hawai’ian traditions of creation, the earth mother, Papahānaumoku, and the sky father, Wākea created the islands. Hawai’i island being the first.

Maunakea is considered to be ‘kupuna,’ the firstborn, and it is held in high esteem. In Native traditions, Maunakea is identified as ‘ka Mauna a wākea,’ the mountain of Wākea. This is because Maunakea was the firstborn child of Papahānaumoku and Wākea, it’s considered the ‘piko,’ the navel or center of beginning or ending, of Hawai’i island. The reference of Maunakea is also seen in things like ‘mele hānau’ which are birth chants.

On Maunakea sits Lake Waiau; the water of Waiau is associated with the god Kāne. It’s been documented that its water is used in ongoing practices by native healers. Its water is collected and used for things like healing as well as ceremonies.

In the upper zones of Maunakea a ‘pu’u’, or cinder cone, have confirmed burials within it. Pu’u Mākanaka literally means ‘hill crowded with people’. There are four more cinder cones that could possibly have more burials inside.

The Maunakea Science Reserve, which is roughly 11,215 acres of land, has 263 historic properties, including 141 ancient shrines. This adds to the historical value of Maunakea.

The protests raised concerns regarding the development and use of public lands that are important to Native Hawai’ians. Protesters and other people have said that the legacy of colonialism on public lands is what created the Maunakea conflict.

In December 2019, Hawai’i’s Governor David Ige said that state law enforcement would leave the mountain. As of now the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory, LLC, which is behind the project of the Thirty Meter Telescope, currently isn’t proceeding with construction. Although Maunakea still remains the company’s preferred location, Governor David Ige said the state would support the company if they decide to continue their work on Maunakea, Protestors left the area, and the road has opened back up for now.