2019-07-25 Mayor Kim Clarifies his Role as Mediator re Mauna Kea and TMT -- press release

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Wil Okabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 July 25, 2019 NEWS RELEASE Mayor Kim Clarifies the Scope of His Authority to Mediate Mauna Kea Situation Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim wants to take this opportunity to clarify the scope of his work to mediate the situation regarding the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) and Mauna Kea. The Mayor said on Thursday that he has no authority to intervene or make any kind of deal regarding TMT; his role is to work with all sides to find a better way forward for everyone concerned. The Mayor expressed his heartfelt wish to get the parties to find common ground and to achieve a peaceful resolution for the sake of all. “I’m here to see where we can go, and I’m hoping we can establish a relationship so we can all join hands together, to move forward to making it better,” Mayor Kim said. The specialness of Hawai‘i Island as a small community whose people are all ‘ohana gives the Mayor hope that we can come together. The Mayor said his first important task is to ensure the safe flow of traffic on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (aka Saddle Road), and the safety of both protectors and the general community as they travel on the highway. “The traffic flow on the Saddle Road, the ingress and egress, is what I’m trying to address. My job is to coordinate the safety of everybody,” the Mayor said. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.