Student protest against developments on Mauna Kea and for free speech

Around 80 people gathered Tuesday in front of HauMNAs mural by the Art Building to protest their right for free speech to express their politics and cultural values, according to Andre Perez.

Were here to take a stand and say that the university cannot be a place of Hawaiian education and Hawaiian learning, while also participating in the desecration of Mauna a Wkea, Haley Kailiehu, a Ph.D. student at UH Mnoa said.

HauMNA, a student movement for aloha no ka ina, or love for the land, had painted a mural to be exhibited at the Ka Leo Arts Festival, protesting the developments of telescopes on Mauna Kea on the Big Island. Words that were painted on the mural were covered because they did not match the design that was approved to be painted.

Were on a university, Perez said. Were talking about free speech to express our politics and our cultural values. And that includes protecting our sacred mountain.

DEVELOPMENT ON MAUNA KEA

According to the UH Institute for Astronomy website, Mauna Kea hosts the world's largest astronomical observatory, with telescopes operated by astronomers from eleven countries. There are currently thirteen working telescopes near the summit of Mauna Kea, including the largest optical/infrared, dedicated infrared and submillimeter telescopes in the world.

The university has a lease from the State of Hawaii for all the land within a 2.5-mile radius of the site of the UH 2.2-meter telescope, which is essentially all the land above 3,700 meters elevation except for the portions that lie within the Mauna Kea Ice Natural Area Reserve. The leased land is known as the Mauna Kea Science Reserve.

In June 2000, the Board of Regents formulated the Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan, which establishes management guidelines for the next 20 years.

Management of the summit area is now the responsibility of the Office of Mauna Kea Management in Hilo.

THE MURAL

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Student protest against developments on Mauna Kea and for free speech