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U.S. NEWS Saturday 27 July 2019

Supporters say Hawaii telescope will bring jobs, knowledge

By AUDREY McAVOY opportunity, McLaren said.
Associated Press "People need to think re-
HONOLULU (AP) — A giant ally hard about exactly
telescope planned for Ha- why they would want to
waii's tallest mountain will pass that up. What is it that
enhance humanity's knowl- makes it worth passing that
edge of the universe and up?" McLaren said.
bring quality, high-paying Storms and Kilauea's vol-
jobs, supporters said as pro- canic eruption made last
testers blocked construc- year challenging for the Big
tion for a second week. Island, said Miles Yoshioka,
An international consortium executive director of the
plans to build the $1.4 bil- Hawaii Island Chamber of
lion Thirty Meter Telescope Commerce. He wants as-
at the top of Mauna Kea, tronomy to diversify the is-
which some Native Hawai- land's economy.
ians believe is sacred. Pro- "We're hoping it continues
testers blocked the road to to be a big part of this is-
the top of the mountain for land. We cannot rely on
the 12th day Friday after tourism alone," he said.
more than 100 telescope Retired Navy researcher
supporters rallied Thursday Tom Strickland attended
in front of the state Capitol. Thursday's rally in Honolulu.
They held signs with mes- Supporters of the Thirty Meter Telescope, gather for a rally outside the Hawaii State Capitol in "I'm a strong supporter of
sages like "Support Culture Honolulu on Thursday, July 25, 2019. the advancement of sci-
and Science" and "Move Associated Press ence and technology. I
Forward Not Backward" The telescope is expected tain and there was more omy if the telescope isn't think it brings a lot of good
and waved at passing to allow astronomers to than enough space for ev- built, said Bob McLaren, the to humankind," Strickland
cars. Some drivers honked peer back some 13 billion erybody. Baybayan said he director of the University of said, holding a sign saying,
in support. years in time to shortly after views the summit as a spiri- Hawaii's Institute for Astron- "In Search of Knowledge"
Opponents of the tele- the Big Bang. It's expected tual place but not a sacred omy. Existing telescopes with a drawing of Mauna
scope have gotten more to help astronomers deter- one. may not want to upgrade Kea. About an equal num-
attention than supporters mine whether life exists on The economic benefits are facilities and make further ber of people opposing
as their protest has pre- planets outside the solar substantial, particularly in a investments, and it could the telescope stood on
vented crews from starting system and better under- state heavily reliant on low- lead to a downward spiral the other side of the street,
construction. The Hawaii stand fundamental con- paying service industry jobs for the field, he said. waving upside down Ha-
Supreme Court last year cepts like gravity. in the tourism business. Hawaii would lose employ- waiian flags and signs say-
ruled that the project had Chad Kalepa Baybayan, The Thirty Meter Telescope ment in science, math, en- ing, "Protect Mauna Kea."
a valid permit, clearing the a Native Hawaiian expert is projected to create 300 gineering and technology Drivers supporting the op-
way for work to begin after in the traditional art of us- union construction jobs fields, forcing residents with ponents honked, too.
a decadelong battle. ing the stars, weather and during its eight- to 10-year such interests and careers Last weekend, 2,000 peo-
Protesters say building an- birds to navigate the seas, construction phase. It's ex- to leave home for work, ple joined the protest
other telescope on a peak said astronomy advances pected to employ 140 em- supporters say. camp. Actor Dwayne "The
that already has 13 obser- human knowledge. ployees when operational. Having one of the most sig- Rock" Johnson visited the
vatories will further dese- "I've heard the comment Hawaii will lose its status as nificant scientific facilities in protesters this week to de-
crate the mountain on the that the protesters want to a world leader in astron- the world is an incredible clare he stood with them.q
Big Island. be on the right side of histo-
But supporters also are im- ry. I want to be on the right
passioned about why they side of humanity. I want to
believe the telescope be- be on the right side of en-
longs on Mauna Kea, which lightenment," Baybayan
has the best conditions for said.
viewing the night sky in the He said people have to
Northern Hemisphere. learn to share the moun-