Conflict in the Paradise

Mahiole, is a type of traditional battle helmet work with feather cloaks. They were a symbol of the highest rank given to the men representive ‘the chief.’ Protest leader Kaho'okahi Kanuha wearing a Mahiole addressed the protestor for their afternoon briefing at the base camp on the first day of the ongoing protest.

The struggle of the Natives to save Hawaiian land and tradition

Native Hawaiians have a sacred connection with their ‘Āina i.e land. A cultural significance is known as "aloha ʻāina," which translates to "love of the land." They believe it is the land that nourishes and feed them. However, for centuries of colonization and unwanted settlement different foreign entrepreneurs have led to the displacement of many natives. To this day, some Native Hawaiians are still out in the field, battling against the opposition to raise awareness about these injustices while seeking to gain back control of their land.

This skepticism isn't just a matter of the past. Some Native Hawaiians perceive that Western values are still occupying their sacred spaces, which is preventing them from speaking out. For over a decade, Native Hawaiian activists have been protesting against the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, assumed to be the world's largest telescope atop Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island. Mauna Kea's summit, where other telescopes are already built, is considered sacred ground to Native Hawaiians. It is also a habitat for native and endangered plants and wildlife. Following that came the protest against the Kahuku Wind Farm Project where since October more than 100 people were arrested protesting about the wind farm project on the island of O'ahu. Similar to Mauna Kea, the island of O'ahu also faced such an issue where a private company from the continental US-initiated to construct wind turbines in the hope of producing renewable energy. Due to this landscape of Oahu's North Shore is going through many ups and downs. For a long time, protestors have been out on the streets protesting about getting back their rights to live where they deserve to be.

Walter Ritte of Molokai has been fighting for a cause for decades to protect Native Hawaiian rights, inspiring a new generation of activists trying to stop construction the Thirty Meter Telescope. Back in his 30s, Ritte protested about Molokai which was used as a military bombing range. Now at 74, he’s still a vigorous protester, getting arrested for blocking a road to stop construction of the one of the world’s most powerful telescopes on Hawaii’s tallest sacred peak.

"Mauna a Wakea. It is a Kupuna. It is an ancestor."

As of 2019, three of the thirteen telescopes on Mauna Kea are determined to be decommissioned before constructing the Thirty Meter Telescope.

“To me my tattoo connects me to my ancestors. It’s a reminder keep myself to my root” -Mahi, one of the several TMT protesters who claims Mauna Kea is their sacred land

To the Native Hawaiians, Mauna Kea is a sacred site. It is the pinnacle of the Native Hawaiian ancestral ties to creation. It’s considered as a sanctuary for worship, as a home to the gods, and as the piko of Hawaiʻi Island.

Previously, in 2015 construction of TMT was halted because of the active protest where the protesters blocked the construction workers from accessing the construction zone. Law enforcement authority arrested 31 people back in April 2015 protest. Four years after, when the construction project was officially approved over 2000 protesters and Native Hawaiians gathered at the base of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii to show their unity against the construction of the telescope.

Mauna Kea is the pinnacle of the Native Hawiian’s ancestral ties to creation. The upper regions, Wao Akua, are the lands of the Akua (creator) and the summit is a shrine of the Supreme Being in not only Hawaiian culture but also in many histories throughout Polynesia. It is the home of Na Akua (great deities) and Na’Aumakua (great ancestors) as well as the meeting place of Papa (Earth Mother) and Wakea (Sky Father) who are ancestors of the Hawaiian people.

During the press conference on July 10 with other state officials, Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced officially that the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope would begin on July 15, 2019. After a long 10 years of tension and decision over this matter, the state finally approved the construction of the telescope up on the world’s tallest volcano from sea level, Mauna Kea. Native Hawaiian activists and protesters gathered at the entrance of Mauna Kea Access Road to block construction crews from transporting heavy equipment to the summit of Maunakea for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on July 15, 2019

In resistence to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope at the Mauna Kea Summit, protestors chained themselves with the cattle gate on the entrance of the Mauna Kea summit access road on July 15, 2019 at approximately 4 AM. Although on the first two days the protest was intense there were no arrests. Going on the 3rd day, officers from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources arrested protestors where many of them were kapuna or elderly people.

On the first day, seven activists chained themselves on the cattle guard to prevent the construction machinery from going to the summit. Hawaiian activist, poet and writer Jamaica Osorio and her significant other Malia Hulleman chained themselves to a cattle guard at the base of Mauna Kea Access Road in an effort to block construction workers from transporting heavy machinery up to the Mauna kea Summit for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on July 15, 2019.

Honolulu police department gathered around the last protester Kalahuamakanoe who was attempting to block the convoy of delivery trucks for the Na Pua Makani wind turbine farm project in Kalaeloa on November 19, 2019.

Wind farm protestor Ku'ulei Perreira-Keawekane gets emotional over the wind farm project arrests in Kalaeloa on November 19, 2019

The state of Hawai’i has pledged to generate 100 percent of its electricity by 2045. It includes the production of renewable energy through wind turbines. The wind farm project is planned to include eight turbines standing 568 feet high built near a small village of 2,300 people called Kahuku. Many of the arrests occurred after protesters blocked trucks carrying equipment to the site. The protests started from Kahuku and continued all the way to Kalaeloa where the protestors kept blocking the convoys.

The protest ignited the natives to fight for their land and bring back what they own. This is about protecting the environment, protecting the a’ina (land), standing up for the community. Their voices are not being heard. Kahuku residents have previously claimed that the turbines lead to health problems, such as nausea and migraines caused by the noise and light stemming from the turbines. Since October, AES Corporation has been transporting turbine parts from Kalaeloa to Kahuku five days a week. The company plans to construct eight turbines in Kahuku, which are expected to start operating in 2020. Wind farm opponents have been protesting and attempting to stop the project ever since the company started transporting the equipment.

Melissa Kaonohi-Camit works at Kahuku Elementary in special education for the past 10 years. She along with her husband Mikey K Camit initiated the Kalaeloa protest. Her decision to start this protest comes from her son who was diagnosed with epilepsy due to the low frequencies created from the existing wind turbines.

The Camit family joined the protest for their family. Melissa Camit joined as a mother to fight for her son who is diagnosed with epilepsy. It is a part of their life as they recalls their memory tackling all the situations since the construction of turbines started. "I say 'We' because when destin have a seizure, its a family thing. Its not just Destin's goint through seizure, we all get involved."

Destin plays with her youngest sister Mahina as he mentions some of his symptoms of his epilepsy "Sometimes I can see what's going on and what's going on around me. Others is just like all of a sudden falling asleep or just blacking out and waking up. So I don't know what's going on," Destin said as he recalls his sufferings. Before it was new and now it has been a part of his life. He usually understand the timing of the seizures. At times, he would even have seizures during work and jump back to work again after its done. "Taking medicine, oils, brain surgery and alll type of things I have taken" while Destin mentions his cautions he and his family has taken for him.

Kahuku village hosts around seventy homes. Back in the days in order to live here (Kahuku Village) it was required to have to be a family or relative of a plantation worker. Melissa husband (Mikey) is the grandson of a plantation worker which ended up giving him a place in the village. Deep inside the village there are places which are around hundred years old. It represents the roots of the natives living in the Hawaiian Islands. According to Melissa the turbine contractor doesn’t care about what people like her thinks. “Now AES is coming to my home and saying sorry you can’t live here anymore” she said.

On October 12, 2019, Mauna Kea kia'i (protectors) at Bachman Hall made the decision to stay locked inside of the building until Monday morning. The kia'i are claiming that the university is trying to "smoke them out" since WiFi in the building has also been cut off on the weekend.

On the other hand, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa students and faculty conducted a sit-in protest at Bachman Hall in opposition to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Since the first day of the Fall 2019 academic session, University Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) Bachman Hall Mauna Kea Kia’i (protestors) which includes students and faculties took turns and occupied the main lobby of Bachman Hall 24/7. To them, it is a way to show a nonviolent protest.

After 117 days of occupying the longest sit-in in the history of the University of Hawai‘i, students and faculty packed their belongings and made the final exit from Bachman Hall.

Community member Steven Thomas (middle), Michelle Makalua-yee (left) and University of Hawai'i undergrad student Kameleopu’uwai share an emotional moment with the Maunakea kia'i (protectors) locked inside of Bachman Hall on October 12, 2019.

Tiele-Lauren Doudt, Graduate Student in Hawaiian Studies at University of Hawai’i at Manoa was one of the active leader and participant of the 117 days sit-in protest against the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. As she was in the lock-in, Doudt said that she dreamed of what Hawai‘i would look like if TMT were to never be built. “Even if this was a failure, I will always have my community and my ‘āina to return to,” she said.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Bachman before and after the start of the semester. After 117 days of occupying the longest sit-in in the history of the University of Hawai‘i, students and faculty packed their belongings and made the final exit from Bachman Hall. All of the scattered futons, bookshelves, fridges, tables, and clothes draped across the stairwell rail since August – gone.