Astronomy in Hawaii under threat?

[TomK]

Changing fonts are a bigger threat.

Well, that's obviously your view and a vapid one if not completely vacuous.

[TomK]

The latest news is that the representatives for the new Mauna Kea authority have been chosen by the governor and submitted to the Senate for confirmation. I am sure the pot will be stirred but that was inevitable - from the Washington Post link below:


"Two of the eight appointees — Lanakila Mangauil and Noe Noe Wong-Wilson — were leaders of 2019 protests that brought a halt to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, the latest observatory proposed for the mountain on Hawaii’s Big Island.".


You can see the news via several links, three of them here:


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/...story.html


https://bigislandnow.com/2022/09/12/who-...authority/


https://www.khon2.com/local-news/list-of...ewardship/


PS. Apologies for any formatting issues, I'm having a fight with the PW software editor.

[kalakoa]

Already appealed to the state supreme court.

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/202...eme-court/

Guessing the appeal will delay things just enough that it becomes the next governor's problem.

Nominees to be confirmed by the Legislature, so by definition, it's the next governor's problem.

[randomq]

I guess being able to tell the truth wasn't a requirement. I pity the board members that have to deal with those two.

[TomK]

Just to be clear, the following is my own opinion and has nothing to do with any of the observatories or my employer, but I think this signals the end for the TMT in Hawaii because I just can't see a path forward. The question now is what is the future of astronomy on the Big Island? That is not at all clear. I know some are optimistic but I also know others are not. The potential renewal or end of the UH lease in 2033 is now a big issue.

[TomK]

Tomorrow (Monday 19th Sept 2022) is the last chance to comment on the proposed funding of the TMT o Mauna Kea by the National Science Foundation (NSF). You can use the link below to find out how and where to comment. My understanding is that comments submitted online are given equal weight as those provided in live testimony, so every comment matters.

https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/environment...-telescope

[TomK]

I'll probably start a new thread soon because we now have a new organization taking over the management of Mauna Kea. It'll take five years for it to finally take over, but the process has started. If you have a couple of hours to spare, this is the first public meeting:

https://youtu.be/EQSuAqmaKI4

[kalakoa]

The organization "managing" Mauna Kea doesn't matter so long as the "protectors" are exempt from the rule of law.

A sad day for science, and for the careers of those who dedicated their lives to astronomy.

[AaronM]

Hey look - another circle jerk paid for by the people which will provide exactly nothing for the people.

Never change Hawai'i, never change

[kalakoa]

That "circle jerk" is a job creator.