The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutRES 327 Draft 01 1988-1992 OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: June 19, 1991 Action: Approve ane' au~opt EDC Report No. 22 Re F.es. 327-91/EDC ,~ (~OUNTY OF HAVi~`~~~*~,'~~'ATE OF HAWAII ,, ,~< RESOLUTION No. 32"f ~1 A Resolution Concerning the Development of the Smithsonian Telescope on Mauna Kea. WHEREAS, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (hereinafter SAO) is actively pursuing the development of an interferometric array telescope of submillimeter-wavelength antennas and WHEREAS, millimeter-and submillimeter-wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum have great scientific potential for astronomical research; and WHEREAS, submillimeter radiation, a narrow band of ultrashort wavelengths between infrared and radio, has been called the "last frontier of ground-based astronomy"; and WHEREAS, such radiation is particularly well suited for probing the stellar incubators hidden within cool dust clouds of the Milky Way, for looking deep into the violent cores of exploding galaxies, and for exploring both the murky halos of comets and the dense gaseous atmospheres of planets; and WHEREAS, these unprecedented views of otherwise invisible phenomena may help answer some of the most fundamental questions of modern astrophysics, including how stars are born and what kind of natural dynamos power active galaxies and quasars; and WHEREAS, because submillimeter radiation is obscured by water vapor in the earth's atmosphere, observations at these wavelengths require a high, dry location and the SAO requires such a mountaintop site with sufficient space for the necessarily large separations between the six individual antennas which constitute the SAO array telescope; and WHEREAS, Mauna Kea has been confirmed to be the world's best well-developed astronomical site by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, appointed by the Smithsonian; and WHEREAS, the world's two foremost submillimeter telescopes, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Caltech submillimeter Observatory, chose Mauna Kea and are now in operation there; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the University of Hawaii as the leaseholder of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and the SAO to carry on research programs; and WHEREAS, the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents approved, on May 6, 1991, a recommendation that the SAO locate its planned array of six moveable millimeter wavelength antennas, each 6 meters in diameter, on Mauna Kea, and authorized the Smithsonian Institution to begin negotiations with the University of Hawaii for the siting of this telescope. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, that it concurs with the decision of the University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy and the Smithsonian Institution to locate the SAO telescope on Mauna Kea, and endorses the six antennas which comprise the SAO telescope. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it compliments and applauds the University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy and the Smithsonian Institution for all efforts made in bringing the SAO telescope to Hawaii. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it welcomes the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to the international community already located on Mauna Kea--the University of Hawaii 88-inch Telescope, the University of Hawaii 24-inch Telescopes, No.l and 2, The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, the Caltech submillimeter Observatory, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, the W.M. Keck Observatory, and the Very Long Baseline Array Antenna which is presently under construction. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it encourages the people of the Big Island to show their "ALOHA" for personnel responsible for the construction and operation of this great telescope. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit true copies of this resolution to U.S. Senators, Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye; U.S. Representatives, Pasty T. Mink and Neil Abercrombie; John D. Waihee, Governor; State Senator Richard Matsuura, Chairman, Science, Technology and Economic Development; State Representative, Reb Bellinger, Chairman, Planning and Economic Development; Dr. Donald Hall, University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy; Murray Towill, Director, Department of Business/Economic Development and Tourism, State of Hawaii; Michelle Wong-Wilson, Coordinator, Hawaii Island Department of Business and Economic Development; Millicent Kim, Director, Department of Research and Development; Norman Hayashi, Director, Planning Department; William W. Paty Jr., Director, Board of Land and Natural Resources. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 19th day of June ,1991. COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right h~Preof adgp~(ed b1y,~kAe1COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on une . , lyyyy ATTEST: ~ ~ ,,;.,, ~sB UN3`Y C EI~dC C IRMAN & PRESIDI G OFFICER ROLL CALL VOTE AYES NOES ABS EX ARAKAKI DE LIMA DOMINGO HALE KOKUBUN LAI X MAKUAKANE RUDDLE SCHUTTE 2 0 EDC-27 Reference RESOLUTION NO. 32~ ~1 R:ISSELL S. KOKUBUN Chairman & Presiding Officer MERLE K. LAl Vice-Chairwoman O'F,~. ,r14 y.. ~1's //'~ - r'. ~'~..yOF H~~ COUNTY COUNCIIJ County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25Aupuni Sheet Hilo, Hawaii 96720 .~ ~.~~ ner K June 28, 1991 The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye U. S. Senate 722 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D. C. 20510 Enclosed is a copy of Resolution No. 327-91 which was adopted by the Council of the County of Hawaii on June 19, 1991. 1 , ~~~ John A. Wag COUNTY CLER Encl. JAME:~ Y. AR.\I~:\I:1 BRIA,\ J D8 LI'.;A TAKA~HI IXJ,V C~GO HELE\E H. H:V F ROBERT H. ~fA};GV:ARH HARRY S-RL'DDIH SPE:~~CER F. SCIti CTTF. Also sent to attached list: The Honorable U. S. Senate 720 Hart Senate Washington, D. The Honorable U. S. House of 1440 Longworth Washington, D. The Honorable U. S. House of 2135 Rayburn H Washington, D. Daniel K. Akaka Office Building C. 20510_ Neil Abercrombie Representatives House Office Building C. 20515_ Patsy T. Mink Representatives ruse Office Building C. 20515_ The Honorable Reb Bellinger, Chairman State Planning and Economic Development Comm. State Capitol, Room 321 Honolulu, HI 96813 The Honorable John D. Waihee Governor, State of Hawaii State Capitol Honolulu, HI 96813 The Honorable Richard M Science, Technology and State Capitol, Room 201 Honolulu, HI 96813 Matsuura, Chairman Economic Development Comm. Dr. Donald Hall University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy 2680 Woodlawn Drive Honolulu, HI 96822 Mr. Murray Towill, Director Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism State of Hawaii 250 South King Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Michelle Wong-Wilson, Coordinator Hawaii Island Department of Business and Economic Development 80 Pauahi St., Room 207 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 William W. Paty, Jr., Chairman Board of Land & Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE: May 22, 1991 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 9:00 a.m. Chairman and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred Resolution No. 327-91, regarding the development of the Smithsonian Telescope on Mauna Kea, reports as follows: The purpose of this resolution is to concur with the decision of the University Of Hawaii, Institute For Astronomy and the Smithsonian Institution on their decision to locate the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Telescope on Mauna Kea. It also compliments and applauds the University Of Hawaii, Institute For Astronomy and the Smithsonian Institution for all efforts made in bringing the SAO Telescope to Hawaii and asks the people of the Big Island to show their "ALOHA" for the personnel responsible for the construction and operation of the SAO Telescope. The resolution welcomes the SAO Telescope to the International Community of Telescopes already located on [4auna Kea. Present at the meeting was Dr. Robert McLaren, Assistant Director Of Mauna Kea Division, Institute For Astronomy, who answered questions and concerns asked by the councilmembers about the operations of the SAO Telescope that is explained in Resolution No. 327-91. Other discussion concerned the differences and advantages of the SAO Telescope, The advantage of the SAO Telescope is that it is able to observe more detail because it has an array of six antennas compared to other telescopes which only have one antenna. This enables the astronomers using the SAO Telescope to see ten times more detail than they can observe using other telescopes. Of the approximately half billion dollars invested, 30~ will be used for construction money, which would bring job opportunities and economic growth to the Big Island. Eight of the nine telescopes now on Mauna Kea are fully operational. Three are owned by the University Of Hawaii, Institute For Astronomy, which demonstrates the University Of Hawaii's strong commitment to astronomy research on the Biq Island. EDC REPORT N0, 22 ADOPTED: EDC- 22 Page 2 May 22, 1991 Dr. McLaren was asked, what the purpose of Astronomy is, if it's not going to be used for anything practical today? Dr. McLaren explained, "Astronomy is a form of basic research in natural science. It's a cultural activity, an attempt by mankind to understand in a physical way the nature of the universe in which he lives in." Dr. McLaren also stated that 75-80% of research is done on the Big Island. Your Committee on Economic Development concurs with the intent and purpose of Resolution No. 327-91, and recommends its adoption- ROBERT H. MAKUAKANE, CHAIRMAN S Y. ,A1~'AIiAKI, VICE CHAIRMAN i I TAKASHI DOMIN , MEM BRIAN DE LIMA, MEMBER HELENE H. HALE, MEMBER TMV DANIEL-K. INOUYE PPINCE KUNIG FFDFP.LL fiWLGIPG HAWAII Roots 7325, 300 Au MonxA 9GUlFV.PG HGNOWLU, HI 96860 (806) 6d 1-2502 `~nite~ ~tate,~ ~Cnate FAX (606) 601-2649 SUITE 722, HART SENATE BUILDING WASHINGTON, OC 20610.1102 (202( 224-3934 FA%1202~224-6747 July 16, 1991 Mr. John A. Wagner County Clerk County Council County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mr. Wagner: I am writing to you to acknowledge receipt of Resolution No. 327-91, adopted by the Council of the County of Hawaii on June 19, 1991. Thank you keeping me informed of the Council's activities. Alo United States~enator DKI:esm