Access to Mauna Kea

[BillyB]

The irony of last years lava flow; it spared Puna Geothermal and wiped out the protesters subdivision. Pele speaks, but no one listens.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Harry Kim blames Ige for changing tactics the first day of the protest.
Ige blames Hawaii police, & unified command (if it was unified, why were officers so confused when interviewed soon afterward?)

“And the governor obviously had a very difficult decision and said no we should not use force, physical force because the question was of tasers and the question was of mustard gas,” Kim added. (Kim mistakenly referred to the military chemical weapon mustard gas but meant pepper spray.) When Insights host and Hawaii News Now Managing Editor Daryl Huff pressed Kim for clarification, the mayor said that Ige ultimately made the decision to call off the operation to clear the road that day.

Kim’s response is in contradiction to a statement by the Governor’s Office, which said the “ultimate decision” to call off the arrests “was made by Hawaii County Police Department with the support of unified command.”

”Ferreira, of Hawaii County police, also responded to questions about that day in a letter. “The protesters are considered as acting illegally by blocking the road,”
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/08/17...ernor-ige/

[ironyak]

(wrong thread, or not?) Joni Mitchell didn't play Woodstock (manager said it would be better to appear on The Dick Cavett Show), but she was at the Waikiki Shell a few years later. Hard to imagine that she didn't play this while here in Hawaii:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaMw4-jjdSM
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

[TomK]

HOTPE,

"Would it be possible for scientists and students to request a police escort through the blockade? Those with legitimate business on the mountain could show their ID to actual officers of the law, who then would tell protestors the people they’re escorting are legally allowed to pass without interference."

Observatory staff did originally ask and got police escorts when we first got limited access, but as things became a little smoother the protesters got used to the traffic, the need for an escort didn't appear to be necessary. However, if things start becoming difficult again (not that they're particularly easy right now), requests might start happening again. But it's clearly not right that you have to ask for a police escort simply to go to work.

In addition, I'm sure the sheriffs would be more than happy to provide an escort but they are stationed farther up the mountain near the VIS. DOCARE officers are closer (by the cattleguard just behind the protester encampment) and I'm not convinced they would be willing to provide an escort given their behavior so far.

[ironyak]

Care to elaborate? DOCARE has a bad rep for many given their treatment of lower Puna residents during the lava flow so wondering what more can they get wrong.

[TomK]

I don't want to say too much, but basically, it's their lack of action that's the problem - they seem to have no problem witnessing illegal behavior right in front of them by protesters. Obviously, I can't say too much more about this, but they have also interfered with the sheriffs when they tried to carry out the law and arrest some protesters who were being stupid and aggressive.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

DOCARE officers are closer... and I'm not convinced they would be willing to provide an escort given their behavior so far.

Sounds more like they’ve posted DON’TCARE officers at the cattle guard.

[ironyak]

Ba dum tsh. That's the show folks, he'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitress and try the veal (grass-fed on the slopes of Maunakea of course)

[TomK]

"Harry Kim blames Ige for changing tactics the first day of the protest. Ige blames Hawaii police, & unified command (if it was unified, why were officers so confused when interviewed soon afterward?)"

There is no unified command center. Well, in theory, there is, but "unified" is not the right adjective. What's so depressing about this is the state and county have had four years to prepare and even that doesn't seem long enough for them to have got their act together.

[TomK]

Jimbo2017 - if you are reading on Saturday, please drop me a line. You can do so via

https://www.blogger.com/profile/07917420597770463210

where there is a link to my email. Alternatively, you can go here:

http://www.ukirt.hawaii.edu/contact.html

and figure out my work email address.

The observatories are tracking MK access incidents and are in touch with the AG plus others, so would like to get more details of the UH ecology research incident. Thanks.