TMT construction begins Monday 15 July

[Obie]

"DLNR Releases Names of Arrested Protesters"

A who's who !

Jim Albertini was one of the Kupuna !

https://bigislandnow.com/2019/07/24/262141/

[birdmove]

The protesters have about taken over some of the local Facebook pages. Of course some of them are telling anyone who is pro TMT, to pack it up and leave Hawaii. My comment was, very trump-like of you.
The rule of law in Hawaii is very weak at best. Just got our property taxes. I don't really want to pay them. What should I do?

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[kalakoa]

Just got our property taxes. I don't really want to pay them.

Stage a protest at the County building. File for a TRO until you can get an injunction. Taxes are totally fair, but they should levy them somewhere else, your pocketbook is sacred, and not giving them more money is a cultural practice.

[ironyak]

Judges decide Governor’s emergency proclamation stands; exception made for plaintiff
https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/la...na-kea-is/

Interestingly, this one plaintiff is the only member of the public legally allowed to ascend Mauna Kea currently and has to be given advance notice of any convoys going up or coming down Mauna Kea Access Rd (info which someone(s) may find useful...)
https://www.khon2.com/wp-content/uploads...N-PART.pdf

[TomK]

A news release from the Maunakea Observatories. I don't have a link for it at the moment.

"Observatory technician car denied access to telescopes for critical maintenance

HILO, HI - At approximately 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, a car containing technicians from Gemini Observatory was stopped by activists from entering the Maunakea Access Road. The observatory had been assured access the previous day in conversation with law enforcement and the Office of Maunakea Management. Despite prior public statements indicating observatory technicians would not be denied access to the telescopes, activists today contradicted their earlier position. Activists told observatory personnel that without a formal, public letter from the observatories - supporting activists' demands of the state - access for critical technical maintenance is no longer supported.

Upon approach, the car of technicians was initially waived through the bamboo gate; the driver stopped to speak with an official from the Office of Maunakea Management, at which point a kupuna approached the car, stating that access was not to be allowed. Five additional activists then moved to stand in front of the car. This denial of access was contrary to the understanding of access approval by the Gemini crew members and the individual who had initially opened the gate.

The car of technicians respectfully pulled to the side of the road at the request of the activists and waited for approximately 45 minutes. During that time, activist leaders indicated that they were working to determine whether the technicians should be allowed access. Eventually, the Gemini crew members elected to turn back, given the uncertainty of access. The crew was flagged down on their way away from the access point with an appeal from activists to continue to wait. The crew stopped to speak with the activists briefly before continuing to the Gemini base facility in Hilo.

The Maunakea Observatories continue to support the efforts of state and county law enforcement to restore safe and reliable access to the access road.

About the planned technical work at Gemini Observatory today:

Gemini Observatory uses gaseous helium in a cooling circuit to maintain stable low temperatures for two highly-delicate instruments used in astronomical observations. The cooling system has become unstable, which requires specialized technicians to shut down in order to prevent damage to the instruments and the cooling circuit itself.

The observatory personnel planned to shut off the compressors, move one instrument at risk to a separate cooling circuit, shut down the second, disconnect specific joints in the cooling system, and perform a standard facility inspection that is usually conducted on a daily basis during normal operations. The planned technical work would have taken approximately three hours; the crew would have then come directly back to their Hilo base facility."

[kalakoa]

The cooling system has become unstable, which requires specialized technicians to shut down in order to prevent damage to the instruments and the cooling circuit itself.

Who will be liable for the damage? The roadblock is "illegal" under the "rule of law", right?

[KeaauRich]

If the Gemini Observatory threatened to sue the county for any damages resulting from failure to maintain access for their staff, I wonder if the powers that be would grow a spine or just shrug their shoulders and impose a new tax on tourists.

[rainyjim]

This Jim Albertini? Same as the one arrested kupuna?

http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesM...group.aspx

[knieft]

@TomK

Unbelievable.

Kirt

[birdmove]

Looks to me like, unless Ige or Kim go all Clint Eastwood on the protesters, the TMT may be doomed in Hawaii. They are acting like the old Keystone Cops, and the protesters can sense a weakness. I don't have a horse in this race, as I'm an old retired geezer. If the protesters kill the TMT will it then, after the big celebrations, inspire them on to get back to what the really want? A new kingdom of Hawaii. Secede from the US?
I'd rather see the TMT be built for the science and discovery aspect, and then remove the telescopes not being used.

Jon in Keaau/HPP