Land board considers rule to limit Mauna Kea access

The rule is in response to protests and non-stop gatherings at the summit of Mauna Kea by people attempting to halt construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. There also were reports of children running across the road, feces found smeared on bathroom walls, and protesters taking souvenirs from the gift shop. This is likely due to logs kept by the University of Hawaii, the college responsible for the stewardship of Mauna Kea. He said he hasn’t witnessed any of those incidents.

“Everything has been pono,” he said, using the Hawaiian term for proper or respectful behavior.

Construction had stalled as protesters maintained an around-the-clock presence on the mountain.

On Friday, more than 100 people have signed up to testify with regard to the state’s proposed rule to limit access and having rules against illegal encampments atop Mauna Kea.

On April 21, the woman who yelled “kill the haoles, kill the tourists”, according to the logs, calmed down when visitor center staff asked four other protesters for help: “They offered aid willingly and apologized for the woman’s behavior and language”. They were removed after the state threatened to fine the porta-potty company hefty fines for unauthorized toilets. Those most opposed to the telescope were Native Hawaiians, as Mauna Kea is considered a sacred mountain.

The leader added that the restricting rules from the officials would not stop them from being vigilant on the construction of telescope.

Chin said that protestors had out boulders in the road and created unsafe conditions. More than 40 protesters were arrested during the two days that crews unsuccessfully attempted to restart construction. The rule restricts being within a mile of the mountain’s access road during certain nighttime hours, unless in a moving vehicle, and prohibits camping gear. Some believe that the rule steps on Native Hawaiians’ rights to coming to the mountain for religious purposes, which could spark future discussions.

Protest leader Kahookahi Kanuha, foreground, testifies before a Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting in Honolulu on Friday, July 10, 2015, against a state proposal to limit the ability of protesters to access Mauna Kea.