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TMT construction begins Monday 15 July
Now I'm really confused.

"In a recent letter to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DDHL), Senate Minority Leader Kurt Fevella and Representative Stacelynn Eli called upon Chairperson William Ailā, Jr. to cease and desist any and all plans to forcefully remove the kūpuna and kiaʻi who remain on Maunakea. Due to the recent court ruling in the Canary Islands to revoke a land agreement with the international consortium behind the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project, the legislators believe that the department is stepping up efforts to remove peaceful demonstrators who have remained on Mauna Kea."

First off, I didn't know anyone was still staying up there. It looks quite deserted. Second, does this mean that the State is telling DHHL not to evict the protestors? When did DHHL say they would evict protestors? They certainly didn't while the protests were goin on. Que pasa?

https://bigislandgazette.com/legislators...-maunakea/
Certainty will be the death of us.
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I drove past there last week and made a point to take a look at the area. The squalid little settlement appeared completely abandoned, but some shacks and junk/rubbish remain. Oddly, there were mail boxes. Are those shams, or do squatters get mail delivery while many in Puna don't?
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Kalianna,

There was a rumor about a month ago that the DHHL was going to remove Kia'i from the protester site - it was posted on Kealoha Pisciotta's FB page. It turned out to be untrue but I can't help thinking this is related in some way. Other than that I have no further information. I suspect this is being driven by rumormongering.

PS. Make of this what you want:

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/202...cceptable/

I can't add anything more as I know nothing about it.
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I still see one or two vehicles and people up there around the central tents when I drive over every few weeks. I don't really care what they do on DHHL land, as long as they don't block the road. Also a nice precedent they've set for the rest of us re: not enforcing building codes or permanent camping.

Also, how does Covid prevent anyone from visiting Mauna Kea? It's outside, and you can drive up there with windows open and masks on...
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I wouldn't recommend driving on the dirt road with the windows open, you just end up with a lot of Mauna Kea dust inside your vehicle. However, they could just go up in two or three vehicles to increase social distancing - just like the observatories do. I have to agree that having people in this working group that is deciding the future of Mauna Kea who have never been up there is farcical.
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Also, instead of just visiting with the astronomers or the protesters, they should visit with local hunters. I know many locals that have no opinion on TMT, think the kingdom folks are nutjobs, but are concerned about access to the mountain for hunting.
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Two Oahu legislators have asked the state Department of Hawaiian Homelands to halt any plans to forcefully remove protesters who remain on Maunakea.

DHHL Chairman William Aila Jr., however, says plans for any immediate removals have been “paused.”

In a statement provided to the Tribune-Herald on Tuesday, Aila said the DHHL regularly addresses unauthorized campers and unpermitted structures on Hawaiian homestead lands.

“The department recently began to assess several campsites surrounding Pu‘uhuluhulu to determine if any social services were needed prior to the issuance of any trespass notices,”
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The gods must be angry at TMT losing their backup site, as the volcano on La Palma is now erupting...

Let that be a lesson: if TMT is not built here Mauna Kea may roar back to life!

ETA: wow, the eruption is streaming on YouTube, an it looks massive, with multiple vents, huge flow, and fire everywhere. All joking aside I hope astronomers and locals alike are safe!
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Thanks, randomq. The eruption is on the south side of the island on a different volcano than the observatories, so they are not at risk. The Spanish government took precautions starting a week ago as they had been told to expect an eruption by geologists, so much of the affected population had already been alerted and evacuated. From what I've read, it was a pretty efficient operation.
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OK everyone, now's your chance to express your thoughts & opinions about the Mauna Kea Master Plan beyond the confines of Punaweb.  Don't miss this opportunity, all the info is available at the link at the end of this post:

The University of Hawaiʻi will host a virtual forum next month, during which the public will be able to ask questions via email about the draft of a new Maunakea Master Plan

The digital meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 pm. The 122-page draft of the new plan, Master Plan for the University of Hawaiʻi Maunakea Lands; E Ō I Ka Leo (Listen to the Voice), is posted for public review and comment.


https://bigislandnow.com/2021/09/27/uh-h...e-removal/
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