HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0342.003 2018-2020 SUBMITTED BY: ANONYMOUS P/FC
(Dropped off at Hilo Site, COMM. 342
Did not want to leave name) Fly ip
v£
Born-n-Raised
Hilo, Hawaii 7019 JILL 8 AN 9: 14
Opposition to TMT International Observatory on Mauna Kea
✓ Public officials have vowed to make meaningful changes thatfurther contribute to the co-
existence of culture and science on Mauna Kea. By contrast,the word science, from the Latin
scientia "knowledge," was recorded in English in 1340, and the word scientist did not make
its appearance until five centuries later, in 1840,when it was invented by William Whewell
in his book, The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences.' In Hawaiian culture,a millennium
worth of knowledge (science), is held in chants, dance, and other ancient cultural practices.
In Hawaiian language,knowledge is called 'ike, na'auao; deep knowledge - 'ike kuhohonu;
unsurpassed knowledge -palena 'ole Ica 'ike.2 If public officials are referring to their brand of
science,the kind of science that unwittingly led to global warming, ocean acidification,
antibiotic-resistant bacteria, an atomic bomb, and micro-plastics that's now decimating
marine life,then science is not a good match for co-existence on Mauna Kea. TMT
Observatory will not only bring substantially more harm to an already defaced tallest natural
feature in Hawaii, it will continue fueling civil disobedience and bitterness, at the worst
possible time -- onset of record-breaking global temperatures. Hawaii cannot afford
dimwitted leadership at this critical juncture. Policymakers need to get beyond their silos,
the community's welfare and stability is at risk.
If TMT International consortium has genuine consideration for Hawaii's host people, they
would realize; for Hawaiians, Hawaii is the homeland. When Hawaii's streams and aquifers
dry, or become unsafe to drink from, due to biological or chemical contamination, non-
natives may flee to the lands of their ancestors. Where will Hawaiian natives seek refuge?
With inevitable severe weather on the horizon, people will have only 3 options: (1) Migrate,
(2) Adapt or (3) Succumb. Migration may be problematic in a hotter, more chaotic world,
when mass migration occurs on a global scale. Access to freshwater will be the limiting
factor in option 2. Some people believe desalination is the answer. If desalination is the
magical solution,why is India who is already facing critical water shortages, contemplating
the notion of breaking off a chunk of Antarctic ice for towing.
Future survivability in Hawaii looks bleak. Climate experts have known for decades; it takes
30 years for CO2 to manifest its impacts on weather after its release into the atmosphere.
That means, if the monumental task of removing CO2, from either the atmosphere or
oceans, does not begin soon,global climates will continue worsening, and,the oceans will
continue its current trend towards more acidification, essentially ending marine life as a
major food source. In an even worse case scenario, if ocean waters reach a maximum
capacity to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, climate conditions around the planet will get
really-really bad, really-really soon. The clock is running, towards climate departure.3
'Hendrickson R.2004. The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins,3rd edition.
2 Pukui M.K.and S.H.Elbert. 1986.Hawaiian Dictionary,Revised and Enlarged Edition.
3 Olelo. Public Policy Briefing.Hawaii Climate Summit-Session 2.Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium,Oct 14,2014.
Comm. No. 0- Z
Ref. To:
Ref. Dote J U L 0 2019
r
✓ The Board of Land and Natural Resources and UH Board of Regents have an ethical
responsibility to inform their lessee, aka TMT International Observatory-- U. S.
Congressional Records and the State of Hawaii Archives are replete with overwhelming
evidence that, the Native Hawaiian people are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit
to future generations their ancestral territory, and their cultural identity, in accordance with
their own spiritual and traditional beliefs, customs, practices, language and social institutions;
and further, they never directly relinquished their claim to their inherent sovereignty as a
people nor did they relinquish their rightful claim to their national lands. The state's assumed
legal authority over Hawaii's public lands remains clouded pending reconciliation with
Native Hawaiians. The governor knows this, or should know, because he spent decades in
the State Legislature before being elected governor. Hawaii's dark history is well
documented, and acknowledged,by state and federal legislation spanning decades. The
state's claim to have legal land title over Hawaii's public lands will only grow more
contentious with continuing denials. Someone with official capacity needs to inform TMT
investors,the state's authority over the proposed site is unclear.
✓ The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Clean Water Branch should be required to
convene a contested case hearing, before issuing a renewal National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit,which is the final step, in permitting requirements for
construction of TMT International Observatory.
1. Hawaii's storm weather has changed for the worse since the initial NPDES permit was
issued in 2014; and therefore, it is incumbent on the Dept. of Health, Clean Water Branch,
to conduct a thorough forward looking meteorological assessment on storm water
discharge potential. The risks to Hawaii island's aquifers is too important to rush permit
renewal.
2. In June, 2019, the National Weather Service recorded 120 cloud-to-ground lightning
strikes in a span of 15-minutes,with strikes concentrated in Makakilo-Kapolei. In a
KHON-TV interview with NWS meteorologist,what made this thunderstorm different is
that the clouds were sitting a lot higher than what experts normally see. Permitting
construction of an Extremely Large Telescope is ill-advised, in the midst of a predicted
higher than normal hurricane season, record-breaking temperatures already reported, u
and with unusual local events like Hurricane Lane already occurring. The rapidly
changing weather conditions are mind-boggling even for climate experts.
3. The Hawaii County Council has every right to request a NPDES Contested Case Hearing.
The proposed site for TMT Observatory may be under state control but it is the people of
Hawaii County who will suffer any long-lasting consequences of a catastrophic impact to
Hawaii Island watersheds.
I