During a visit to Mauna Kea on Tuesday, Hawaii’s Gov. David Ige referred to the 1000 people blocking the road to the top of the dormant volcano as “protectors,” not “protesters,” a major shift in tone in the controversy over a giant telescope slated to be built on the mountain.
When he visited the kupuna (the Hawaiian term for elder) blocking the road, he was given a lei as he rubbed noses in the custom of Native Hawaiians.
The Japanese American governor says both he and Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim understand that the issues underlying the protests are deeper than the telescope and are about “righting the wrongs done to the Hawaiian people going back more than a century.”
Ige is asking Kim to lead efforts to find common ground with protesters blocking the construction of a 30-meter telescope at the summit of the state’s tallest mountain.
LATEST STORIES
“Today, I am asking Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim to coordinate both county and state efforts to peacefully attempt to reach common ground with the protectors of Maunakea and the broader community,” Ige said in a statement. “Mayor Kim is closest to the situation and the impacts are greatest on the island he leads.”
Native Hawaiians say Mauna Kea is a sacred mountain to them, despite the 13 observatories that are already on the mountain. The giant telescope would dwarf the other observatories. It would occupy a 5-acre site and be 18 stories high.
Mauna Kea, scientists say, is one of the prime locations on the planet for observing space.
Protectors of Mauna Kea have been blocking the road since July 15 to prevent trucks carrying building material for the observatory.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
RE: Hawaiian Governor David Ige meets with Mauna Kea Protectors: Your title is misleading. The Govenor is not of Hawaiian descent but Okinawan. Hawaiian in Hawaii refers the native Hawaiian inhabitants. Ige is Hawaii’s Govenor. Please fix the title.
RE: Hawaiian Governor David Ige meets with Mauna Kea Protectors: Yes, he is Okinawan. Ige was also born and raised in Pearl City, Hawaii. Does that not also make him Hawaiian?
RE: Hawaiian Governor David Ige meets with Mauna Kea Protectors: It does not. It makes him born and raised in Hawaii. It makes him local. Local does not equal Hawaiian.
RE: Hawaii’s Governor David Ige meet with Mauna Kea protectors: It should be Hawaii Governor, similar to California Governor, or Texas Governor.