October 15, 2008 – Hilo, Hawaii

The Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope project, which is considering the summit of Mauna Kea as a location, gathered community input Tuesday night in Hilo’s Keaukaha section.

Turnout was large compared EIS meetings already held in Hawi, Kona, Waimea, and Ka`u. The packed room at the Keaukaha Elementary School Cafeteria offered officials with the TMT project a wide variety of opinions. Many residents who spoke were very passionate about their stance on the issue, and some even lashed out at representatives from the partnership of University of California, Caltech, and ACURA.

Mauna Kea is considered sacred ground by native Hawaiians. Many in attendance who spoke expressed a feeling of betrayal by the telescopes that have already built on the mountain. There are currently 13 telescopes operating on the summit.

There were also residents in attendance who expressed a desperate desire to see the TMT built on the Big Island of Hawaii, saying that the economic situation could be improved with the project, and that it would assist in educating the youth.

The Thirty Meter Telescope will be the world’s most advanced telescope, whose primary mirror is made up of 492 segments and measures 30 meters in diameter, giving the telescope its name. The technology will allow the telescope to see farther into the deep recesses of the galaxy, with greater clarity, than any other telescope in existence. It is at the cutting edge of astronomy.

Meetings are still scheduled to be held in Puna and Honolulu.

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