MAUNA KEA – As the Merrie Monarch Festival week comes to a close, the encampment of the Mauna Kea Hui at Hale Pohaku grows.

On Sunday, hundreds of supporters of the ongoing Thirty Meter Telescope blockade came and went, and many were prepared for an overnight stay. A complex of tents is now situated by the crosswalk where 12 were arrested on April 2 for obstructing TMT from using the Mauna Kea Access Road (31 were arrested in total that day). A traditional Hawaiian hale is even being constructed at the site. And there is more than enough food to go around, we’re told.

While we were there on Sunday afternoon, a cash delivery was made: donations from a few Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. The Mauna Kea Hui is waiting to see how – if at all – OHA might lend support.

Meanwhile, TMT and its supporters have launched a new website that they say “can be used for fact checking any misinformation that is being proliferated via social media.” The site is located at MaunakeAandTMT.org and we are told content will be added to the site continually.

There is currently a moratorium on construction of the TMT until April 20th, government officials say.