Big Island Video News will be featuring the presentations made by the many different speakers slated to talk at the Common Ground series. The archive will be available at this location.

LAUPAHOEHOE, Hawaii – The first of four highly anticipated TMT & Maunakea: Common Ground talks was held Tuesday night in Lauphaoehoe. The meetings are being organized by the Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation. The organization is hoping to bring the community together on the highly divisive issue. Both sides of the argument – for and against building the $1.4 billion project on Mauna Kea – were represented.

Paul Coleman was the second speaker Tuesday night. Coleman is an astrophysicist for the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He now finds himself at the forefront of the current debate over astronomy on Mauna Kea, as a Native Hawaiian voice in support of the science at the summit. He recently appeared on the PBS Island Insights program, defending the project before a state-wide audience. His talk focused on how TMT will advance his field beyond our imaginations.

NEXT: OMKM Director Stephanie Nagata on Mauna Kea Management

Thirty Meter Telescope, courtesy TMT