TMT Draft EIS Release

When I volunteered for the Thirty Meter Telescope committee of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board nearly three years ago, I said: “If the TMT is to come here, we need to do it right.”

There needed to be big changes:

We needed to make sure that the mountain was under the control of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Mauna Kea is the kuleana of Big Islanders. It happened. A rule making bill passed through the legislature, which gave the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo enforcement powers to protect the mountain.

We agreed with Judge Hara that a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) needed to be done. The CMP has been done. And, the last details are being worked on right now.

We’ve always agreed with others that $1/year rent was not acceptable. The draft EIS points out that there will be a community benefit package as well as a higher education package. In addition the TMT will sponsor a workforce development porgram, so todays 9th graders can be prepared to take jobs when the TMT is completed 9 years from now.

I know that a $1 million per year ($50 million over 50 years) education package for keiki from K-12 is doable as a start. The reason I know this --is because we have been talking about this very thing for many months.

The essential question is whether or not science and culture can coexist. Many, Many, of us believe that science and culture can indeed co exist–if it will benefit our keiki and future generations. This is a very traditional Hawaiian point of view.

Richard Ha