Clashing Cosmologies

10/19/2020

Mauna Kea is the highest summit in Hawai’i standing at 4,205 meters above sea level. This dormant volcano, located on the Hawai’i island, has a rich geological history with eruptions beginning on the pacific seafloor about 800,000 years ago, with its most recent eruption occurring approximately 3,500 years ago (Volcano World 1). Due to the last ice age, Mauna Kea has developed glacial features and experiences snowfall around the peak of the mountain because of its high altitude. Biologically, Mauna Kea is home to many species of plants and animals that can only be found within the Hawaiian islands, such as native Koa, Naio, and sandalwood trees and the Nene goose and the Palila (the last of the honeycreeper birds in all the Hawaiian islands) (Forest Restoration 1). After the introduction of Western sheep and cattle ranching methods in the late 1700s, overgrazing and deforestation of land drove many species to become endangered or even extinct (History 1). Fortunately, there have been many recent efforts to restore Mauna Kea’s ecosystems by increasing the planting and protection of native flora and fauna on the island.

The importance of Mauna Kea extends beyond the natural world and takes root in Hawaiian religion and culture. According to Hawaiian mythology, “Mauna Kea is the home of Na Akua (the divine deities), Na’Aumakua (the divine ancestors), and the meeting place of Papa (Earth Mother) and Wakea (Sky Father) who are considered the progenitors of the Hawaiian people” (Corbin 1). Hawaiian mythology even explains that Mauna Kea’s geologic features formed when Poliahu (a snow goddess) managed to cool Pele’s (the goddess of fire) hot lava in a battle thus making Mauna Kea a dormant volcano. Mauna Kea is believed to be the burial site of supreme beings and confirmed to contain at least 263 historic properties, including 141 ancient shrines, 29 of which are burial sites (McCoy 72). The water from Lake Waiau also holds religious importance because it is used for ceremonies and healing to this day. However, with controversial construction on Mauna Kea, many fear that Hawai’i’s water supply, plant and animal populations, and sacred culture are in great danger. This decades-old problem is rooted in choosing whether the progression of astronomy or the protection of indigenous Hawaiian land and culture is first on the agenda.

The majority of astronomers regard Mauna Kea as “the finest astronomical site in the world” because “the air above the summit is stable, dry, and clear [and] . . . urban development and light pollution on the island are minimal” (Waldrop 1010). Gerald Kuiper, the Dutch astronomer who discovered the Kuiper belt, introduced the field of astronomy to Mauna Kea’s potential when looking for the perfect location for an infrared observatory. Upon discovering Mauna Kea’s latent potential, Kuiper immediately met with Hawai’i’s governor, John Burns, to build a road up Mauna Kea’s summit in 1964. “Burns, quick to see astronomy's economic potential for the chronically depressed Big Island,” allocated $50,000 for Kuiper’s road almost instantaneously. It is known that construction began before the release of environmental impact statements and that “Kuiper, seated beside the driver, gave directions, and they planned the road as they went” (Waldrop 1010). Eventually, a partnership between the University of Hawai’i and Kuiper resulted in the first 2.2-meter telescope on top of Mauna Kea which opened in 1970. However, the development of telescopes and observatories only increased in number and complexity as time went on. Argentina, China, Canada, France, Chile, South Korea, Japan, NASA, and universities all over the world are among various donors that have helped build a total of 13 telescopes on Mauna Kea alone. The most recent telescope proposal for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), projected to be completed during mid-2020, has sparked outrage within Hawai’i and increased tensions towards supporters of the TMT.

“The Thirty Meter Telescope, supported by the University of California, Caltech, and a number of [countries and] international astronomy groups, is a $1.4 billion telescope that would be the most advanced optical telescope in the world” (Corbin 1). However, the construction is continuously being delayed due to lawsuits and the protests that take place at the only access road to the mountain. Protests against the TMT started in early 2014 and gained national attention when 31 people were arrested in 2015, with the majority of them being elders. After the Hawaiian Supreme Court decided that TMT can continue with construction in 2018, native Hawaiians and their allies have been determined and continue to block the access road every day since, even amid a global pandemic (Sign 1). Due to the continued pressure and protests, there has finally been an agreement “to dismantle older telescopes at the request of activists'' and Japan has suspended its funding because of the on-going standstill. However tensions have continued to rise when, for instance, the “University of Hawai[‘]i removed two ahu stone altars” and the inability to make the entire Mauna Kea summit a cultural landscape and historical district in the National Register (Murray 1). The fate of TMT and Mauna Kea is uncertain with unexpected changes occurring every month, but it remains clear that native Hawaiians are persistent and will go to great lengths to protect their sacred land.

History has shown time and time again that priorities lay with large corporations, improving the economy, and the continued cycle of exploitation of the Hawaiian islands. Those who stand with native Hawaiians and their goal of stopping construction and further exploitation of Mauna Kea are encouraged to sign petitions and donate to

organizations such as Mauna Medic Healers Hui, KAHEA – The Aloha ‘Āina Support Fund and Hawai’i Community Bail Fund (Protect 1). Activism has also taken many digital forms from the creation of Instagram account @protectmaunakea and the documentary Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege. Overall, there is a dire need to continue educating yourself about the significance and threats facing Mauna Kea and then spread the word in person and online.

• Sara Gleason, ALA 210 Blog Contributor

Sara Gleason is a current Sophomore majoring in International Studies and Spanish with a minor in Portuguese. She enjoys travelling and cannot wait to study abroad in Spain and Brazil when it is safe!

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