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.

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 upon the world’s tallest volcano from sea level, Mauna Kea.

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.