Opposition to the Mauna Kea Observatories has existed since the first telescope was built in the late 1960s. Originally part of research begun by Gerard Kuiper of the University of Arizona, the site has expanded into the world's largest observatory for infrared and submillimeter telescopes. Opposition to the telescope from residents in the city of Hilo, Hawaii were concerned about the visual appearance of the mountain and Native Hawaiians voiced concerns over the site being sacred to the Hawaiian religion as the home of several deities. Environmental groups and activists have been expressing concern over endangered species habitat.
The Outrigger Telescopes Project, intended to build from four to six comparatively small telescopes for interferometry, was to surround the Keck telescopes.[1] It was cancelled in 2006, after a court found NASA's Environmental Impact Statement was improperly limited to just the telescope area.[2][3]
An ongoing proposal for one of the world's largest optical telescopes, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) was the focus of protests concerning the continued development of the mountain Hawaiians consider the most sacred peak in the island chain. On 30 October 2018, the Supreme Court of Hawaii approved the resumption of construction of the TMT.[4][5]
- ^ "Record of Decision for the Outrigger Telescope Project". W. M. Keck Observatory. 5 August 2005. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ Young, Kelly (8 August 2006). "Judge reverses permit for new Hawaiian telescopes". New Scientist. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project (PDF). Vol. I. NASA. 2005.
- ^ Hawaii top court approves controversial Thirty Meter Telescope BBC News, 31 October 2018.
- ^ "State Supreme Court rules in favor of Thirty Meter Telescope's construction". Hawaii News Now. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.