Astronomy in Hawaii under threat?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Iʻll ask again

2018 Star Advertiser poll reported 1/4 of Native Hawaiians were opposed to the TMT:
https://www.scribd.com/document/37471109...h-2018-TMT

In the months following this poll support among Native Hawaiians for the TMT dropped while protests continued.

2019 Star Advertiser poll showing roughly 3/4 of Native Hawaiians opposed to the TMT:
https://www.scribd.com/document/42730768...s-Sept2019

Then, more recently:
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/2...poll-says/

And at the end of 2021 when the TMT was listed as a top priority for federal science funding:
https://www.staradvertiser.com/staradver...6-billion/

[TomK]

It's interesting seeing some of the comments in this thread. One or two people seem to have taken the position that Bill 2024 is about astronomy whereas it's actually about the management of Mauna Kea. Of course, the consequences of the bill have a direct effect on the observatories and their staff including local staff and all the local vendors that are involved in supporting observatory operations. However, the observatories and astronomers aren't responsible for the management of Mauna Kea, that's currently the job of the Office of Mauna Kea Management.

One post is a self-claimed factless diatribe against astronomy on the island and another seems to think it's the job of the observatories to make songs while seemingly making the claim that Carl Sagan produced a song called "A Glorious Dawn" which he didn't, even if it is on vinyl.

Bill 2024 was originally about changing how Mauna Kea was managed and the consequences were clearly not thought out and/or perhaps the bill was an attempt to end astronomy in Hawaii. Fortunately, all those who opposed the bill, fearing the end of one of the things Hawaii is good at, created enough public pressure that the politicians changed their minds. What's not clear yet is what this hodge-podge of a bill, if finally passed, will actually end up doing for anyone.

[kalianna]

HOTPE, the 2019 poll indicates that only 27% percent of Hawaiians support building TMT. I canʻt get through the paywall to see how the 2020 article came to the opposite conclusion and the huge support on the 2021 poll answers a different question, but thanks for taking the time to post those sources.

[MyManao]

blathering diatribe..

No wonder you're having such a hard time.. this thread alone.. at first you post about the possibility that you could lose control of the mountain, and you embellish that with your fears that could mean the demise of astronomy, and when it's pointed out you have a PR problem you respond with bugger off..

Damn, it's a shame you all never learned humility.

[randomq]

100% judge the protesters on their actions and lies, not their race. They are the ones that need to learn humility.

[TomK]

blathering diatribe..

No wonder you're having such a hard time.. this thread alone.. at first you post about the possibility that you could lose control of the mountain, and you embellish that with your fears that could mean the demise of astronomy, and when it's pointed out you have a PR problem you respond with bugger off..

Damn, it's a shame you all never learned humility.

I posted nothing about losing control of the mountain nor did I tell anyone to bugger off. I posted about a bill that had the potential to end astronomy on Mauna Kea. What I did point out was 1) the bill has been modified in an attempt to avoid an end to astronomy on the mountain after public feedback and 2) there were a couple of very odd responses in this thread that seemed to have got things a bit mixed up; one attacked astronomy on the mountain per se, rather than concentrating on the bill itself and ignoring the fact that the observatories don't manage the mountain, OMKM does, and the other wanted a song contest.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I canʻt get through the paywall to see how the 2020 article came to the opposite conclusion 

kalianna,
I added the Star Advertiser 2018 poll to my list above, which shows 72% Native Hawaiian support for the TMT.  That number dropped by 2019.

Most of the support or opposition to the TMT has been relatively consistent over time, except amoung Native Hawaiians which shifted dramatically.  There are many opinions as to why this occurred, but it's doubtful there's a simple answer.

It seems the legistlature's solution to dividing Mauna Kea management between two agencies, UH and the new group is an attempt at compromise, something for everyone that will leave neither side entirely satisfied.  Personally I think it's the best solution we could hope for.

[HawaiiEV]

More locals and Hawaiians supported astronomy on the mountain before the terrible terrible PR campaign waged by TMT and the Haole “occupiers” in general. As can be witnessed here most still haven’t learned anything even though there’s been a huge change “on the ground”.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

most still haven’t learned anything 
a huge change “on the ground”.

Yes.
But we did learn there was no table pollution on Mauna Kea from the observatories.  Just the drip, drip, drip of engine oil leaking “on the ground” from 20 year old beater pickups parked across MK Access Road.  

[HawaiiEV]

There it is, just a little casual bigotry in the name of Science! You know how I know your Haole?