Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 7, 1 July 1999 — Mauna Kea: Moratorium on further development [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mauna Kea: Moratorium on further development

By Manu Boyd Standing 13,796 feet above sea levei, Mauna Kea is at the pinnaele of controversy. At issue is the continued development of the summit area for astronomy research in an environment that is ecologically fragile and culturally priceless. AT ITS June 17 meeting, the 12member Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i voted unanimously for a moratorium on further development on Mauna Kea, the highest mountain in Hawai'i and all of the Pacific. The University, whieh holds a dollar-per-year lease with the state on 1 1,270 acres of ceded land at the top of Mauna Kea, manages the area and program called the "Mauna Kea Science Reserve." "Mounting cultural and environmental concerns expressed by the community influenced the board's decision to put any deveIopment on hold," commented UH Regent Wayne Kaho'onei Panoke. In 1968, the University of Hawai'i signed its 66-year lease with the state for the Mauna Kea lands extending from the 1 2,000-foot elevation to the "wēkiu" or summit, nearly 1,800 feet higher. Since then, Mauna Kea has catapulted UH to international aeelaim in the scientific eommunity. A dozen telescopes and observa-

tories have been constructed at the summit, making Mauna Kea the world's largest and most powerful astronomical research hub. Of the massive Mauna Kea Science Reserve, 600 acres constitute the "astronomy precinct." Currently, observatories occupy 60 acres. According to the UH

Instimte for Astronomy's Interim Director, Robert McLaren, plans are to expand the area to about 100 acres. Cutting-edge research has lured more than $600 million in technology and eonstruction, with state-of-the-art telescopes erected by the United States, France, Cana-

da, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil, Argentina and Taiwan. Unlike the users of telescopes in other observatories around the world, Mauna Kea's are not charged rent. However, an "infrastructure fee" is assessed when the observatory bid is accepted, and is paid to the University of Hawai'i. "Resources from that fund are available to the Institute for Astronomy for Mauna Kea roadwork, communications and planning," McLaren said. A year and a half ago, State Auditor Marion M. Higa, in her audit of the management of Mauna Kea and the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, cited insufficiencies. "We found the University of Hawai'i's management of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve is inadequate to ensure the protection of natural resources. The university neglected historic preservation, and the cultural value of Mauna Kea was largely unrecognized," Higa reported. According to Hawaiian lore. Hawai'i island, with Mauna Kea most prominent, is the eldest child of Wākea (sky father) and Papa (Earth mother). For Hawaiians, land is sacred, and is kin to man. Powerful deities, including Poli'ahu and Lilinoe, make their home on

Mauna Kea. Additionally, the adze quarry at Keanakāko'i provided the finest dense basalt stone for tool-making. Mauna Kea is also home to endemic and rare flora and fauna, as well as important cultural sites from burials to geophysical features. An endangered bird, the palila,nests in the māmane forests on the lower slopes. Higher elevations support flora, including the Mauna Kea Silversword and various lichens, mosses and ferns. A recently discovered life form, the wēkiu bug (Nysius wekiuieola), is only found above the 12,800 foot. elevation at Mauna Kea. Last year, Group 70 International, a HonSee MAUNA KEA on page 11

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phoīo: ifa/richard wainscoat The Gemini Observatory, before its outer "skin" was attached, perches height on Mauna Kea, the domain of Poli'ahu, while her rival, Pele, dances in a fiery glow at Pu'u 'O'o in Puna. Below, an inconspicuous 'ahu or shrine faces Mauna Loa to south in the morning sun.

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mauna kea MAUNA KEA from Page 5

olulu consulting firm, was contracted to re-write the Mauna Kea development plan of 1983, taking into account the recommendations of the legislative audit. "Infrastructure fees" from the W. M. Keek Observatory helped fund

the plan. A 23-member Mauna Kea Advisory Committee, comprised of Hawai'i island residents and co-chaired by UH Hilo's Larry Kimura and Dr. William "Pila" Wilson, was named by the university, to solicit community input. During the last week of May, Hawai'i island community hearings were held in Waimea, Kona and Hilo, and collectively drew more than 450 who testified both in support and against the draft master plan. "The community opposition was overwhelming against the report, because it allows for eontinued construction of research facilities." said Regent Panoke, who attended all three meetings. "This prompted Regent Stan Roehrig and myself to recommend the moratorium to the board, as well as the establishment of a permanent Mauna Kea Advi-

sory Committee and an Office of Mauna Kea Management." The Board of Regents will again review recommendations of the Mauna Kea Advisory Committee, Sept. 16 and 17. ■

PHOTO" IFA/RtCHARD WAlNSCOAT Gemini Obervatory on Mauna Kea at dawn.