TMT loss would be catastrophe

The protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea have reached the two-month milestone. This telescope project has caused a firestorm of anger from the Hawaiian community that I’ve never seen in my entire 43 years living in Hawaii. It has galvanized the Hawaiian community to resume the Hawaiian Renaissance movement.

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This deeply concerns me, as the underlying issues that caused this protest won’t disappear — even if the Thirty Meter Telescope relocates to the Canary Islands. I’m concerned these protesters will block other projects like new highways, shopping centers, or housing developments, if the TMT is forced to go.

The TMT’s possible departure will raise questions about the future of astronomy on Maunakea. The master lease is scheduled to expire in 2033. If the TMT isn’t constructed, there is strong possibility the other existing telescopes won’t upgrade their facilities, and will decide to decommission instead.

Why would these other operators want to invest money in their facilities, especially since the state and county can’t clear the road, and there is no guarantee the lease will be extended?

Investors will also think twice about investing money in Hawaii going forward. The TMT successfully underwent a 10-year permitting and judicial process to only be blocked by protesters illegally blocking Maunakea Access Road.

The state and county of Hawaii have shown they’re spineless as far as clearing the road. If the TMT relocates, anarchy will have won out over the rule of law. This will set a disastrous precedent that will have far-ranging implications.

Aaron Stene

Kailua-Kona

Does Hawaii want protesters’ vision as new ‘plantation’ path?

The protesters blocking the Maunakea Access Road offer no alternatives to replace the Thirty Meter Telescope’s $1 million Think Fund, or the unprecedented lease rent. Hawaii astronomy students are expected to somehow abruptly change their lives because protesters want to shut down the astronomy and physics departments at our universities, thereby limiting what we can study or pursue as a career.

The Big 5 limited our education up to the fourth grade during the plantation years; the only job available was manual labor. The protesters are on the same path of the plantation owners, a clear example of “path dependence.”

Self–appointed leaders force us to live under a theocracy, rooted in a faith they never really knew. They assumed the trappings of power, the colors, the flags, helmets as a visible reminder of past suffering. In their hands Hawaii’s culture has been subsumed by a New Age faith, complete with a hand sign as a manifestation of power. But their predilection for racial purity, a splitting of the communities along ethnic lines and a kingdom foreshadow greater turmoil.

The question the rest of us should be asking is, does Hawaii want to be subjected to their vision of how life should be?

Veronica Ohara

Honolulu

Kona Pacific woes can’t be alone

Regardless of the specific difficulties that the Kona Pacific Public Charter School (KPPCS) is having, all 36 public charter schools must also be having funding challenges due to the inequity of funding for our public schools in Hawaii.

Charter schools in Hawaii are public schools, but there is not “equity” of services. A major funding source for all schools is the per-pupil yearly amount that is used by all schools to run their systems and pay their teachers.

However, public per pupil funding stands currently at $14,322 (2017) and $8,000 for a public charter student. Also, the Hawaii Department of Education does not fund facilities maintenance and repair, nutrition services, or transportation for our charter schools. If there was parity between the two types of schools, the KPPCS would not be experiencing its current challenges. It is up to the Hawaii State Legislature to right this and for the Hawaii Department of Education to advocate for this needed change.

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Nancy Redfeather

Honalo