Will of the descendants is what’s significant
The truth is it doesn’t matter what registered voters think. Their opinion is that, an opinion.
What matters is what the descendants of the Hawaiian Kingdom think and feel about the sacred places of this land. Most registered voters are not culturally tied to the land, have no compassion for the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture, and quite frankly have zero regard for the intrinsic right for Hawaiian children to live in a sovereign land where they are not out-competed for ownership of premium lands by American real-estate economies.
The children of Hawaii simply cannot earn the money on this island to buy coastal lands on this island. Prices are driven by mainland investors and developers to accommodate the wealthy. This being said, their concerns are so far from the children of Hawaii, that their opinions have no relevance or merit for the future of this island.
Don’t believe me? Go poll the children in the immersion schools statewide, poll the children in public school statewide. From the mouth of babes you’ll discover the truth. As reported, this telescope is for future generations, well, let’s see what they think — not a small fraction of people concerned about “progress” and the creation of jobs no one from this island is going to get. I’m surprised that the scientific community in support of TMT would act like studies with a statistical significance of .000005% are “significant.”
What is significant is the will of the descendants of this land. Not the conglomerate of immigrants since American business and military took these islands by force. Force, imprisonment, and warfare. Methods so far removed from democracy, that is an insult to democracy, to lay claims to any form of democracy in this modern era. Let us be honest with ourselves, let us be honest with each other. These islands are best preserved in the romantic vision of what they are to us all. The more of Hawaii we allow to fade to residential and commercial development, the more we poison the world for us all.
Mahalo, Hawaii. He ola na pohaku!
Aubrey Hounshell
Mountain View
Respect earned, not given
I have been following the crisis on Maunakea by viewing news stories and television coverage online. Thank you for covering this situation for those of us who no longer live there. I feel the coverage has been balanced and fair. I would like to add to this coverage by pointing out something.
I worked on Maunakea for 13 years with some of the most talented and hardworking people I have ever had the privilege to be around. During this time I drove up and down Saddle Road over 1,000 times. I never once saw locals engaged in cultural practices other than enjoying the snow. However, I was involved in a cultural practice. It was called going to work and earning a living.
So when I see “protectors” impeding the workers’ and scientists’ activities it makes me see red, spit nails, and take a deep breath. The lack of respect for decent law-abiding citizens who have worked years for the privilege of working on Maunakea is astounding. Why is this allowed?
In my book, respect is earned not given.
Barney Magrath
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Protest an education, too
I am currently outside Hawaii’s physical boundaries, but never is Hawaii outside my heart so I feel compelled to say this now about the protest at Maunakea Access Road: Do not let the Department of Education edicts regarding attendance affect your approach in your stance on TMT.
To meet school system guidelines one needs only to sign a form at their school office stating they intend to homeschool their children this year. And the values expressed and the learning that transpires as families remain together as the protest continues will guide generations toward deeply meaningful lives — with greed and materialism necessarily abolished.
Sarah Kay
Keaau