The Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the State of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii in First Circuit Court, alleging mismanagement of Mauna Kea.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the State of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii in First Circuit Court, alleging mismanagement of Mauna Kea.
OHA requested in its complaint that the court terminate UH’s general lease on the mountain for breach of terms, according to an OHA press release Wednesday.
In the release, OHA contends that the state and UH have failed to “budget and fund proper managment of Mauna Kea,” failed to “create and environment respectful of Mauna Kea’s cultural landscape,” and failed to “prudently negotiate sublease terms — for example, by allowing 11 of 13 telescopes not to pay rent.”
OHA also contends management failures were responsible for personal injuries, deaths and hazardous material spills.