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Mauna Kea is a majestic natural monument. It already has several massive telescopes on its peak that stand out like tin cans. Does it really need another colossal eyesore built on top of it?
Aside from forcing the residents (and tourists) to accept having yet another obstruction permanently stamped into the otherwise untainted skyline, the construction of TMT won't make or break the island's economy. We certainly aren't desperate for jobs or tourism or government funding. What makes The Big Island so special, so unique, and so appealing to locals and visitors alike is its raw, unspoiled, nostalgic natural beauty--void of smoke stacks, skyscrapers, superhighways and gaudy billboards. People come to the Big Island to "get away from it all" because they're sick of the post-industrial fallout that inevitably comes with "modernization". And perhaps there is no better symbol of modernity than a massive edifice infused with state of the art technology that promises to reveal the true origins of life and answer the greatest existential mysteries of all of humankind and blah blah blah...
Look, thats really great and all, but its very--forgive the pun--tunnel visioned thinking. Just because some scientists want to do something because, well you know, science, that does not give them free reign to conduct their experiments and test their hypotheses wherever and whenever they want--other people's wants and needs be damned! Sometimes ambition needs to be tempered with humility. America has a long history of shady dealings when it comes to native peoples and their land. And in virtually all cases, the native people get the short end of the stick and end up worse off for acquiescing and allowing their land to be usurped by, and to suit the agendas of, nameless faceless entities with no ties to the land save for whatever purpose can be exploited from it for a profit. Do i really need to bring up the American Indians and a the whole Western Expansion bit? The transcontinental railroad was also touted as being an iconic symbol of modernity and mankind's achievement. But for every one person who's quality of life was improved as a direct result of it--how many more lives were negatively impacted? Perhaps this comparison is a bit of a stretch, but the point is is that the lifestyle of the people living here--the people who live and work and play at the foot of this mountain--needs to be respected for what it is, not what scientists or experts or inquisitive minds-with-a-need-to-know think it should be or could be. Perhaps someday sentiment on the island will change and a giant telescope to disprove God will be welcomed with open arms. But as is evident by the crowds of people on the mountain (peacefully) opposing TMT, that day is not today.
Some interesting points are made in this video. However, I would not have ended it with, "...we will stand as mountains, unshakeable." because we all know that mountains, are very shakeable. They even crumble and erode.
Fifty years of mismanagement. Dismantle and remove scopes no longer in use. Lots of jobs? not after construction is over, a scant few to run the scope and the majority won’t be local kids. Hard to truly get a gauge on how many people support the scope when so many don’t vote and don’t for varies reasons. This has now become about more than the scope, it’s now about the diminishing Hawaiian culture and it’s scared places being gobbled up by projects that don’t truly serve the greater Hawai’i people.
^ I agree 100%, Hothulamaui... Hawaii is full of these "projects". Multi-million, even mult-BILLION dollar projects, are plainly visible all over the islands. From the 5 star resorts, to the time-shares, to the vacation rentals, and gated residential communities, this idea that Hawaii is this exclusive posh paradise that belongs to the elite class and is therefore at the mercy of the American elitist agenda is a falsity that we've been force fed ever since the Annexation. And for the most part, we've internalized that idea so effectively that it seems silly--even barbaric--to challenge the status quo by saying hey wait a minute, what about us? Us: the side of Hawaii that isn't seen--and by design. The marginalized population living in the shadows; who's traditional livelihoods are no longer feasible because the land has been bought up, closed off, and/or paved over; or because the coastlines have become so impacted by the pollutants from landscape runoff and industry waste that it no longer provides the bounty that it once did...
THIS. The blatant disregard that has been shown towards the people of Hawaii, and to Hawaii herself, by these "Project leaders" in their gluttonous quest for vanity and profit--- this is what is being protested against. The people of Hawaii know Aloha. We rejoice in our hospitality, in being good hosts, in sharing--no matter how much or how little we have. We do this because it comes natural to us, and because we believe that respect begets respect. But as the saying goes: "Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile". It's not that Hawaiians or the local community is against "Progress" or "Modernity" or even the telescope itself. It's the arrogance, the selfishness, the negligence, the duplicitous nature of these "Project leaders" that the people on the mountain are in opposition against. I think the YT video of Lanakila back in 2015 best captures the sense of disgust that locals have towards these "Snakes!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ4Gt35hs-s
Last edited by Isle_B_Bock; 09-15-2019 at 03:07 AM..
Reason: Typos and add video
Isle, You hit the nail on the head. I am a twenty year full time resident before that I was part time for the twenty years prior. Yes progress and more people come, that’s natural. Things change and get rebuilt, not a problem. Makena is a perfect example of the rich and powerful are literally making parts of our island basically private. Makena over the last decade has become a place a local or long time resident just don’t go anymore. The developers have developed every possible square inch of ground. Now when you are on the grass you have a 4 story building 4 feet from you with people surveying the grass from their newly built, overpriced hotel. A hotel they couldn’t even be bothered to make at all Hawaiian. The kicker.....the golf course is now private. Not one local can play there, tourist can’t even play there unless they are a member. Take the private golf, add in big expensive hotels taking up all open spaces and you essentially have a private little peninsula. The aloha our islands are famous for is manufactured by the hotel and luau industries. For the local here on Maui. Most true feelings of aloha are no longer found in the look or feel of these islands, but it’s found when we get together for the babies first birthday or other celebration. If we continue to ignore our scared cultural practices all we have left is pretty beaches. Once Hawaiians couldn’t dance hula., that changed. Once Hawai’i allowed people to take her resources without serving the people. TMT has ignited a movement to make sure this kind of “progress” doesn’t take over and true Hawaii is lost forever. They do plan on closing road once TMT finished that’s a clue right there.
The Hawaiian Culture, like all cultures have, or will, has run its course and will, and should be, nothing but a few paragraphs in Human history. It is done - time to move on.
The Hawaiian Culture, like all cultures have, or will, has run its course and will, and should be, nothing but a few paragraphs in Human history. It is done - time to move on.
Take your opposition to the I’m in favor thread. Culture wont disappear here plenty Hawaiians are now awake to make sure it won’t happen.
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