Haleakala Telescope

Haleakala Observatory Process in Trouble

Ilima Loomis at Maui news wrote: A hearing officer who acknowledged receiving inappropriate outside pressure to reach a decision on a major new telescope proposed for Haleakala said Monday that he was “surprised” to have his report thrown out and felt it was rejected because it embarrassed people on both sides. Attorney Steven Jacobson said that it was “irritating” to see his work rejected after four years of hearings and review. But with both supporters … Read more

Haleakala Telescope Hearings Officer Fired

A controversial solar telescope atop Haleakala suffered a setback Thursday when the hearing officer was fired and his recommendation to approve the project was thrown out by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The board ruled that Steven Jacobson had inappropriate discussions with outside parties to the case — ostensibly, Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office and the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy, among others. The board ordered him immediately discharged from the case… Read … Read more

Haleakala Telescope

See Kilakila o Haleakala website Map of Proposed Telescope Sites The Issue One view is that, Maui (and Hawai’i as a whole) needs high tech jobs Another view is that Haleakala is a sacred place with deep meaning in the Hawaiian culture. The existing telescope buildings are an obvious eyesore and adding more will only intensify the problem.  

Panelists Discuss Haleakala Telescope

Panelists Discuss the Clash of Cultures and Land Ownership on Hawaii’s Sacred Peaks (from the Kilakila O Haleakala website) ‘The law of Aloha is in the land.’ Kealoha Pisciotta Respect for Kanaka Maoli Spiritual Practices Panelists explained that from a kanaka maoli perspective, the summit of Haleakala is considered ‘wao akua,’or the realm of the gods. The very lands of Haleakala are seen by many as the kinolau (physical manifestation) of the sacred goddess Pele, a … Read more

Hawaiian Opposition to Telescope

Panelists Discuss the Clash of Cultures and Land Ownership on Hawaii’s Sacred Peaks (from the Kilakila O Haleakala website) ‘The law of Aloha is in the land.’ Kealoha Pisciotta Respect for Kanaka Maoli Spiritual Practices Panelists explained that from a kanaka maoli perspective, the summit of Haleakala is considered ‘wao akua,’or the realm of the gods. The very lands of Haleakala are seen by many as the kinolau (physical manifestation) of the sacred goddess Pele, … Read more