Introduction
Mauna Kea is the tallest peak in Hawaii, with an altitude of 4,207 meters above sea level. The mountain has considerable cultural and historical significance and is revered by the Hawaiians. A projected astronomical observatory called the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will be constructed on Mauna Kea’s summit. Astronomers will be able to study the universe in greater detail than ever thanks to the TMT, which is intended to be among the most powerful telescopes in the world. However, with numerous parties opposing its installation atop the mountain, the TMT’s intended construction has turned into a divisive subject. This essay will examine the arguments against constructing the TMT on Mauna Kea.
Mauna Kea’s History and Cultural Importance
For the Hawaiian people, Mauna Kea is more than just a mountain; it is a holy location with rich cultural and historical importance. The mountain has long been a significant location for storytelling, rituals, and religious observances. Mauna Kea is one of Hawaii’s most revered locations because, according to Hawaiian myth, it is the home of the gods. Mauna Kea holds a special spiritual significance for the Hawaiian people, who see the mountain as a living being with a distinct personality and energy (Sanders and Jerry Nelson 4). Mana, the mountain’s life power, is thought to be transmitted from generation to generation. It is believed that the mana from Mauna Kea is so potent that it can heal disease, provide luck, and even manipulate the weather. The Hawaiian people place a great deal of cultural and historical importance on the numerous sacred sites and relics that may be found on Mauna Kea. Petroglyphs, shrines, and burial grounds are among the places that are thought to be the final resting places of Hawaiian ancestors. These holy places and artifacts would be disturbed during the TMT’s construction on Mauna Kea, which would be against the cultural and spiritual beliefs of the Hawaiian people.
The Hawaiian people have fought to preserve Mauna Kea from construction for many years. The University of Hawaii started leasing land from the state of Hawaii to build astronomical observatories in the 1960s (Sanders and Jerry Nelson 5). The installation of multiple observatories atop the mountain over time has had a tremendous impact on the surrounding landscape and the Hawaiian people’s cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Environmental Issues
Environmental effects from the TMT’s construction on Mauna Kea would also be considerable. Many endangered endemic plant and animal species can be found on the mountain. The mountain’s ecosystem would be significantly impacted by the need to remove much vegetation to build the TMT (Hamacher et al., p2). Also, the TMT’s construction would increase the traffic and pollution on the mountain, harming the ecosystem even more.
Legal and ethical issues
Also, moral and legal questions are raised by the TMT’s development of Mauna Kea. A projected astronomical observatory called the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will be constructed atop Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii. The Hawaiian people have voiced concerns and objections about the TMT’s proposed construction, claiming it violates their sacred lands by building the observatory atop Mauna Kea. Significant legal and moral issues exist with the TMT’s development on Mauna Kea. The area on which the proposed site is situated is first and foremost regarded as public land. Many Hawaiians, however, consider it stolen property that should be returned to them (Hamacher et al., p3). Indigenous Hawaiians dispute the state of Hawaii’s assertion that it has legal control over the land, claiming that the US government wrongfully took it from them. As a result, it has been argued that the TMT’s construction on public property violates the rights of the indigenous Hawaiian people to their ancient grounds.
The construction of the TMT on Mauna Kea also raises concerns with the notion of free, prior, and informed consent. International law upholds the idea that indigenous peoples must be consulted and get their permission before any development can place on their land (Hamacher et al., p3). This principle has been condemned as being broken during the construction of the TMT on Mauna Kea, as indigenous Hawaiians needed to be sufficiently contacted or given a chance to offer their approval before construction.
Mauna Kea is also a sacred location for many Hawaiians, who see it embodying their spiritual and ancestral ties to the land. As a result, they consider the TMT’s construction on Mauna Kea to be an insult to their traditions and faith. Since 2014, numerous Hawaiians have been protesting the TMT’s construction on Mauna Kea, with the protests becoming more intense in recent years. The TMT’s development on Mauna Kea has also drawn criticism for its potential effects on the environment (Herhold 3). The TMT might severely affect the environment and fauna in the vicinity because Mauna Kea is home to several endangered species and a fragile ecosystem.
Alternate Locations for TMT
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), slated to be built on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, has sparked debate and protests from the Hawaiian community, who claim that the observatory’s construction infringes on their sacred lands. Other TMT locations are available, though, so construction on Mauna Kea is unnecessary. The Canary Islands in Spain, which have been suggested as a location for the observatory, are one of these alternate sites.
As a location for the TMT, the Canary Islands have some benefits. First, they are ideally situated for astronomical observations because they have atmospheric conditions comparable to those of Mauna Kea. The islands’ location in the Atlantic Ocean, distance from any significant sources of pollution, and high altitude, which reduces atmospheric interference, make them less susceptible to atmospheric interference (Kahanamoku et al., 2). The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, a reputable astronomical facility, is located on the island of La Palma, where the observatory would be situated.
The Canary Islands would experience a different cultural and environmental effect of the TMT construction than Mauna Kea. The Canary Islands, unlike Mauna Kea, are not regarded as a sacred land by any indigenous peoples, so there would not be any conflict over the use of the land with local communities (Kahanamoku et al. 3). Furthermore, since the Canary Islands do not have a fragile ecosystem like Mauna Kea, the construction of the TMT, there would not have the same potential adverse effects on the environment. Additionally, the local economy would benefit from the construction of the TMT on the Canary Islands. The observatory’s construction would support the local economy by generating jobs and capital. The Canary Islands already have a thriving tourism industry, and the TMT would add yet another draw for tourists with an interest in science and astronomy.
Building the TMT on the Canary Islands could have some disadvantages, however. First off, the island’s current astronomical facilities may pose a threat to the project. There may be doubts about whether the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory has enough room and resources to accommodate the TMT given that it already houses a number of telescopes and observatories. Second, because there is less atmospheric interference in the Canary Islands, the TMT may not be as effective as it could be at detecting cosmic signatures (Kahanamoku et al. 3). A significant investment is needed to build the TMT on the islands. The project may need help to secure funding or realize its full potential.
Counterarguments
The Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea is being pushed for by those who claim it will benefit the local economy. They assert that the TMT would bring in money for the state of Hawaii and create jobs. They also assert that the TMT would draw scientists and researchers worldwide, boosting spending and spurring regional economic development. The economic advantages of the TMT must be weighed against its development’s environmental and cultural effects. Environmental harm from the TMT’s construction would be severe, potentially harming culturally essential sites on the mountain (Witze 3). There may be long-term detrimental effects on the Hawaiian people’s cultural heritage, which are intangible regarding economic gains.
Furthermore, not everyone in the neighborhood will equally benefit financially from the TMT. Although the TMT’s construction could result in short-term employment opportunities, these positions might need to be more stable and well-paying (Witze 3). Additionally, rather than the local community, the TMT may have a more significant economic impact on the construction companies and the scientists who will work at the observatory.
In addition, the economic argument needs to consider that Hawaii’s economy is mainly dependent on tourism, which depends on the state’s scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage. The TMT’s construction could damage the state’s reputation as a tourist destination and have a detrimental long-term effect on the economy. Therefore, even though the TMT’s economic advantages may be cited as justification for its construction on Mauna Kea, those advantages must be compared to the impacts of construction on the local community and the environment (Witze 3). Although there is a chance that only some in the neighborhood will benefit economically from the TMT, it is only possible to ignore the long-term detrimental effects on Hawaii’s tourism sector and cultural heritage. Therefore, looking into alternate solutions that would respect Mauna Kea’s cultural and environmental importance while enabling scientific research and development is essential.
Conclusion
Many organizations are against the proposed construction of the TMT on Mauna Kea, so it has turned into a divisive topic. The TMT should be built on something other than Mauna Kea in light of the mountain’s cultural and historical significance, the construction’s potential environmental effects, and the moral and legal issues raised. Alternative locations for the observatory exist, which should be investigated since they avoid erecting a structure on a place of worship. Respecting Hawaiian culture and spirituality is crucial, as is safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Works Cited
Hamacher, Duane W., and Tui Britton. “Mauna a Wakea: Hawai’i’s sacred mountain and the Contentious Thirty Meter Telescope.” The Conversation 21 (2015): 6-09.https://research.monash.edu/files/130722353/58638732_oa.pdf
Herhold, Abby Starr. Hawai’i’s Thirty Meter Telescope: Construction of the World’s Largest Telescope on a Sacred Temple. MS thesis. 2015. https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/49032
Kahanamoku, Sara, et al. “A Native Hawaiian-led summary of the current impact of constructing the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea.” arXiv preprint arXiv:2001.00970 2020. https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.00970
Sanders, Gary, and Jerry Nelson. “The status of the Thirty Meter Telescope project.” Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes, L. Stepp and R. Gilmozzi ed., SPIE 7012 2008: 2008. https://scholar.archive.org/work/7x75pdjc25czxpppcmiz7auhky/access/wayback/http://ctmt.bao.ac.cn/chinese/sites/default/files/The%20Status%20of%20the%20Thirty%20Meter%20Telescope%20Project%207733-69%20%20SPIE%20San%20Diego%20June%202010%20REL01%20small%20pdf%20format.pdf
Witze, Alexandra. “Controversial Thirty Meter Telescope gets go-ahead to build in Hawaii.” Nature 550.7674 2017.https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA508106634&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00280836&p=HRCA&sw=w
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