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Abby Herhold Mauna Kea Thesis Final Hawai’i’s Thirty Meter Telescope Construction of the World’s Largest Telescope on a Sacred Temple Abby Starr Herhold Master thesis in Culture, Environment and Sustainability Centre for Development and Environment UNIVERSITY OF OSLO October 2015 II © Abby Starr Herhold October 2015 Hawai’i’s Thirty Meter Telescope: Construction of the World’s Largest Telescope on a Sacred Temple http://www.duo.uio.no/ Print: Reprosentralen, University of Oslo III Abstract Mauna Kea is located on the Big Island of Hawai’i. It is a dormant volcano and the highest mountain in the world measured from sea bottom. Mauna Kea’s dry atmosphere, cloud-free skies and distance from city lights attracted astronomers starting in the1960s. The first telescope was built on the summit in 1970. Since then there has been a total of 13 telescopes built on Mauna Kea, funded by 11 different countries (Astronomy 2014). Mauna Kea is considered to be the preeminent site in the world for ground-based astronomy. On April 12, 2013, the Thirty Meter Telescope Observatory Corporation was granted a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) by the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to build and operate the US $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea. The TMT will have the most advanced technology of any telescope on Earth, far surpassing the orbiting Hubble telescope’s capabilities (TMT 2015). The potential for scientific discovery is enormous. Paradoxically, Mauna Kea is also considered to be the most sacred place in all of Hawai’i for Native Hawaiian people. Mauna Kea is the spiritual center of the Native Hawaiian people, connecting them to their akua (gods), kupuna (ancestors) and ‘aina (land). Mauna Kea is the piko (umbilical cord) that connects the Native Hawaiians to their original creators, Papahānaumoku, the Earth Mother, and Wākea, the Sky Father. For astronomers, the TMT is a necessary next step for science and, as they see it, the future of humanity itself. For Native Hawaiians, the TMT threatens their sacred mountain and culture. As a result, Mauna Kea has become a “battleground” between TMT proponents and Native Hawaiians—or, as some have framed it, Science vs. Culture. This, I argue, is a shallow interpretation of the deeper issue at hand. Native Hawaiians have been clear that they are not opposing science or the potential for discovery the telescope will enable. Their opposition to the TMT revolves around their culture and connection to the land. They are trying to protect a sacred mountain that is the backbone of their identity as Hawaiians. The dispute between proponents and opponents of the TMT represents a fundamental difference in philosophy between two disparate views on the TMT—science in general, and the role of history, culture and spirituality in determining the outcome of a difficult and sometimes contentious issue. In this thesis, I will first present a detailed analysis of IV the history of Hawai’i, as it provides a background into the importance of Mauna Kea to the Native Hawaiians and why they are standing up to protect their revered “Mauna.” I will then examine the subject matter by highlighting the current court cases challenging the legality of the TMT. In doing so, I will investigate the following questions: How and why was Mauna Kea selected for the TMT? What are the actual and perceived benefits of building what will become the world’s largest and most powerful telescope on Mauna Kea? What is the nature of the opposition to the TMT? How have the cultural beliefs, practices, and myths of the Native Hawaiian people been treated in the quest to build and operate the TMT? Although the TMT may be instrumental in “unraveling the mysteries of the universe” and “benefitting humankind” (TMT 2015), is it also symbolic of a deeply ingrained disconnect from the Earth? How has the Cartesian separation of the mind and body influenced this apparent disconnect between man and the Earth? How has the TMT been granted a use permit to build when it is clearly violative of not only Hawaiian culture, history and land, but the Native Hawaiians themselves? V VI Acknowledgements To the Protectors of Mauna Kea: Your tireless commitment to protect the Mauna and the Earth is beyond inspiring. To Mom and Dad: Thank you for your guidance and support. And to my partner Jarno: Thank you for your patience and endless love. VII VIII IX Table of contents 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................1 1.1 Rationale/Motivation for Choice of Topic .........................................................5 1.2 Ethical and Methodological Considerations.......................................................7 1.3 Outline of Thesis ..............................................................................................11 2 Historical Background.............................................................................................13 2.1 Polynesian Migration and Settlement of Hawai’i.............................................14 2.2 Arrival of Captain James Cook ........................................................................17 2.3 Arrival of Missionaries.....................................................................................19 2.3.1 Abolition of the Kapu System...................................................................20 2.4 The Spread of Christianity................................................................................22 2.4.1 Christian Dogma vs. Hawaiian Thought...................................................24 2.5 The Ahupua’a System ......................................................................................27 2.6 The Constitutional Monarchy and The Great Mahele......................................30 2.7 Overthrow of the Monarchy and Statehood .....................................................34 3 Mauna Kea ..............................................................................................................39 3.1 The Mountain ...................................................................................................39 3.1.1 Climate Zones and Ecosystems.................................................................41 3.2 The Mauna and the Hawaiian Creation Story ..................................................43 3.3 State Law Governing Development on the Mountain......................................47 3.3.1 The Ceded Lands.......................................................................................47 3.3.2 The Mauna Kea Science Reserve..............................................................49 4 Development of Astronomy on Mauna Kea ...........................................................55 4.1 Growing Opposition to Astronomical Development on Mauna Kea ...............61 4.1.1 The Defeat of the Outrigger Telescopes on Mauna Kea...........................64 4.2 The Thirty Meter Telescope .............................................................................67 4.3 Environmental Impacts of Telescope Construction..........................................72 4.3.1 Impact on Endemic Species ......................................................................72 4.3.2 Hazardous Materials and Water Contamination .......................................75 5 The Legal Battle Over the TMT..............................................................................79 5.1 Petitioners vs. DLNR........................................................................................80 5.2 October 7, 2014 TMT “Groundbreaking” ........................................................86 X 5.3 Current Legal Status of the TMT..................................................................... 88 6 TMT and Humanity’s Disconnect From the Earth ................................................. 91 6.1 The Philosophical Debate ................................................................................ 91 6.2 Humanity’s Disconnect and Construction of the TMT.................................... 95 6.3 “We are Mauna Kea” ....................................................................................... 97 7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 101 References..................................................................................................................... 103 XI List of Figures Figure 1: Mauna Kea (Hawai'i 2015)................................................................................1 Figure 2: Polynesian Migration and Settlement Pattern (Wilmhurst 2010)....................15 Figure 3: Ahupua'a Land Division (Mueller-Dombois 2007).........................................29 Figure 4: Big Island of Hawai’i Volcanoes by Land Area (Hawaii 2015) .....................40 Figure 5: Hawaiian Ridge-Emperor Seamounts Chain (Hawaii 2015)...........................40 Figure 6: Big Island Climate Subzones (Guru 2015)......................................................42 Figure 7: Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Astronomy Precinct (Hilo 2008; pp. 3)......52 Figure 8: October 7, 2014 Protests on the summit of Mauna Kea (photo credit: Abby Herhold)...........................................................................................................................87 XII Acronyms ABCFM: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions BLNR: Board of Land and Natural Resources Caltech: California Institute of Technology CDP: Complex Development Plan CDUA: Conservation
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