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According to various maps, the Mauna Kea Recreation Area is approximately five miles from the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station across State-owned land (440160030000, 440150010000).
In theory, a purely State-owned road on State-owned land would not be subject to (unconstitutional) challenges about "which minority is entitled to be on that land", and the State would be able to respond accordingly to blockages of such a road.
I believe the ongoing protest response will eventually exceed the cost of a new road.
Disclaimer: yes, I realize that "solving the problem" is not on the agenda.
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EIS, DNLR, CCH, E-I-E-I-O
Not sure TMT has another 5+ years for the state to go through the steps needed to build a new road in that area, just to have it blocked again (it's not like the road's odd legal status was checked before protests began). Either the state clears the road or TMT finds a way around (or over) IMO.
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Not sure TMT has another 5+ years
TMT doesn't have much of a choice.
Even a 5-year project will probably be faster than clearing the protestors or getting permission for the Canary Islands.
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Way too optimistic. The archaeological and environmental studies and associated contested case hearings will take another ten years. There will be iwi and ahus as far as the eye can see. New-age ancient cultural practitioners will claim they have always hiked that path since before the park or the road.
State owns all mineral rights: Someone call up Elon Musk and get one of those boring machines over here stat. The tunnel will start in Pohakuloa Training Area and end on an already developed area of the summit. The original access road and all jeep trails will be removed and replanted with endangered native flora. Enjoy your hike to the summit!
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I suspect building a new access road even if it could be built in a few months will not change anything. It will get blocked. Despite the state extending TMT's construction permit by two years to Sep 2021, I doubt TMT will stay here that long. If they can't get access via the current road in the next few months I think they will be gone.
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Interesting that there isn’t much talk (in the media at least) about what happens if he TMT does leave?
How will that impact future business?
How will the community heal after being torn apart?
How will the protestors treat the already existing telescopes?
What entity will next become the focus of protestors greed?
How many laws will they have to break before we have a prosecutor grow a spine.
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Sep 2021, I doubt TMT will stay here that long. If they can't get access via the current road in the next few months I think they will be gone
Perhaps the protestors will be so happy about their "win" that they won't notice they're still on the waiting list for homestead leases.
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rainyjim,
"How will the protestors treat the already existing telescopes?"
A core group of the protesters, led by Kahookahi Kanuha, have already made it clear their next target is the current observatories after the TMT. He told that directly to observatory staff. To his group, astronomy and astronomers are evil. Why do you think they announced observatory technicians could go to the summit but not astronomers?
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Is he really that dumb? Actually, who IS Kahookahi Kanuha? What's his education, where does he work?
