4:30 p.m.
During a press conference today in Hilo, Gov. Ige said his No. 1 priority is public safety.
He said he spent the day talking to Mayor Harry Kim and others about how to handle the TMT protests.
He said he is not planning to call up additional National Guard troops and reiterated those deployed would only handle support-related duties. He said the emergency proclamation will remain in effect for the safety of the public.
He said there has never been a discussion about using tear gas on protesters, which is among the rumors being spread via social media.
He also said that some protesters have violated rules agreed upon by both sides regarding the protesters’ camp at Pu‘u Huluhulu. He said law enforcement has reported the use of drugs and alcohol at the camp. But he said the state has no immediate plan to shut down the camp.
He said the state continues to have discussions “with all stakeholders” involved.
1:21 p.m.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has issued a statement urging Gov. Ige “to withdraw the emergency declaration, delay any new construction, and bring leaders together from both sides in the spirit of aloha to ho‘oponopono and determine the best path forward.”
“While the legal process has determined that TMT may proceed, there are spiritual and cultural issues that have not been addressed,” she said. “This is about something much greater than the TMT project — it has to do with longstanding history on Maunakea, broken promises, desecration of sacred land and disrespect for native culture.”
She said Maunakea is “so much more than a mountain. It’s a revered and sacred sanctuary connecting keiki and kupuna to the past, present and future, and where Native Hawaiians practice their customs and traditions.”
She said the “materialistic way” that developers and corporations are viewing Maunakea — ignoring the spiritual significance and relationship many Native Hawaiians have with the mountain — “is at the heart of the problem.”
“It is hypocritical that many TMT proponents speak of their own spiritual quest for knowledge and wisdom, while simultaneously closing their eyes to the spiritual inspiration and significance that Maunakea offers — not only to Native Hawaiians but to humanity at large.”
Gabbard said “it is wrong that state leaders have approved the development of a new telescope on a new site on the mountain, without first ensuring the timely removal of decommissioned facilities along with full restoration of those sites.”
1:03 p.m.
Mayor Harry Kim briefed Governor David Ige this morning on the county’s perspective of the situation on Maunkea Access Road.
Kim told Hawaii News Now the discussion included “Where we are and where we are going to go from here.”
As to where we go from here, Kim said that is up to the governor.
Kim said that he was sorry and saddened about the arrest of 33 kupuna on Wednesday, but was pleased at the way law enforcement handled the situation, with respect.
He also commented that he was proud of the demonstrators keeping their promise of a peaceful protest.
“I want to be the same community of beautiful people, of family working together.” said Kim.
12:30 p.m.
Lt. Governor Josh Green weighed in on the protest on Maunakea in a Facebook post today.
“People all across our state, including friends and family, some of whom are on the mountain right now, have asked me to weigh in on the sacred mountain and the prospect of building the TMT. This is difficult to do with a social media post, in a way that respects the gravity of the current situation.
First and most important in my opinion, there must not be any violence on Mauna Kea. That would cause irreparable damage to our state and people, culturally and spiritually. I want to recognize the Protectors right now for their peaceful approach to date. I have enormous respect for that. This is also why I have stated in the past my opposition to using the National Guard on Mauna Kea for TMT matters. I trust and respect the National Guard, however my belief is they should only be used when there is no other way to protect life and safety.
In the coming days/weeks I will be personally meeting with Protectors, Kupuna, thought leaders, my family that has engaged in this struggle, elected leaders and citizens with any view on this critical issue for Hawaii. I will meet people where they fight for liberty, on the mountain if asked, on the streets, in my office (which is your office too) on long walks, wherever necessary. I do this because if there is some path to harmony, we should find it together.
In my opinion no single project, not any, is important enough to allow ourselves to damage the fabric of our Ohana in Hawaii.
I believe that this struggle is more about the heart of Hawaii and our sense of self and dignity, especially for the Hawaiian people, than it is about a telescope. It is about cultural recognition and people’s self worth.
Know that I will always put safety, health and human growth above any project.
I also know that all voices, pro and con should be heard and that is how I will approach this period in our state’s beautiful history.
You will be heard by me.
My cell phone is (808)937-0991 and I will be seeing all the people I can across our state as I have been doing on the other crises we face together, like homelessness for example.”
Please continue to embrace one another with love and respect, peacefully, no matter what your position is on the TMT and the sacred mountain.
UPDATED 12:04 p.m.
Jason Redulla, chief of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Unit for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, this morning refuted claims that the state has approved “the use of excessive force.”
There has been no order or direction approving the use of excessive force, he said.
Redulla said the rumor is “dangerous and it is absolutely false,” and there has been no action by law enforcement since the protest started to support the “outlandish” claims.
Earlier this morning in a Facebook post, Lt. Gov. Josh Green opposed the use of National Guard troops for the TMT protests on Maunakea.
“First and most important in my opinion, there must not be any violence on Maunakea,” he wrote. “That would cause irreparable damage to our state and people, culturally and spiritually.”
He recognized the “protectors” of the mountain for their peaceful approach.
“I trust and respect the National Guard, however my belief is they should only be used when there is no other way to protect life and safety.”
Green said he will meet with the community, elected leaders and citizens in the coming days and weeks because “if there is some path to harmony, we should find it together.
“In my opinion no single project, not any, is important enough to allow ourselves to damage the fabric of our ohana in Hawaii,” he continued. “I believe that this struggle is more about the heart of Hawaii and our sense of self and dignity, especially for the Hawaiian people, than it is about a telescope. It is about cultural recognition and people’s self worth.”
Meanwhile, rumors that Gov. Ige is on the Big Island and might visit the protest site today could not be verified.
12 p.m.
Meanwhile, Hawaii island’s Thirty Meter Telescope standoff has prompted rallies and a freeway traffic tie-up across the state.
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, a caravan of vehicles driven by TMT protesters made westbound traffic on the H-1 freeway near Ward Avenue slow to a crawl for several minutes until police cars entered the freeway in front of the creeping procession that included a couple of mopeds, and chased them away.
Like a similar coordinated slowdown Wednesday on H-1 near Manoa, the freeway was slow to recover and remained congested for much of the afternoon.
The Honolulu Police Department said it made multiple citations for traffic violations in roadway-blocking actions across the islands and made at least one arrest.
11:48 a.m.
Mayor Harry Kim is expected to meet with Governor David Ige today regarding the protest atop Maunakea, according to the Mayor’s Office, although details of that conversation were unavailable.
11 a.m.
Thirty Meter Telescope opponents began their fifth day of occupying the Maunakea Access Road by training for how to resist police — and possibly the National Guard — without violence.
After a tense standoff between protesters and police on Wednesday, protest leader Andre Perez told hundreds of protesters this morning how best to impede access without presenting a threat.
The first line of defense is to be lines of wahine (women), Perez said, stretched across the road in front of the kupuna, or elders, who remain seated across the road. The wahine are to sit and not resist if seized; rather, they were advised to go limp and be carried away.
Perez said the image of armed police seizing unresisting women will reflect poorly upon the state. He added that the protesters are winning the PR battle, and that presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has stated his support for the protesters on social media.
In a tweet today, Sanders said: “We must guarantee native people’s right to self-determination and their right to protest. I stand with Native Hawaiians who are peacefully demonstrating to protect their sacred mountain of Mauna Kea.”
Between the wahine and kupuna will be lines of kane (men), who will do the same as the wahine. However, the kane must be extra careful to not appear threatening, Perez said.
Protest leader Kahookahi Kanuha said no aggression by protesters will be permissible, as it will justify violent retaliation by the police, he cautioned. Kanuha said chanting “E Aloha E” can help alleviate rising anger among protesters.
“Aloha ‘aina is more powerful than any weapon in the world!” Kanuha said.
