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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.051 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura From: Michael Keoni DeFranco <michael@getlua.com> Sent: Wednesday,July 24, 2019 8:26 AM ` J 05 To: Council Testimony Subject: Standing with Mauna Kea. Aloha, My name is Keoni DeFranco. I am the founder and CEO of a technology company based in NYC. We worked on curing age-related diseases by applying cutting edge Al technologies. I come from a technology and science background so I understand the significance of new discovery and the importance on working on a mission to better the world,just as TMT does. I am also a Kanaka Maoli, Native Hawaiian, and I stand with the thousands of people engaged in peaceful demonstration on Mauna Kea and throughout the world. My ancestors were some of the most gifted astronomers in the world, they used their knowledge the sail the Pacific and to discover the Hawaiian islands and settle here. They also knew the importance of listening to nature and the elements around them. They understood that you must live in equilibrium and balance with your surrounding and the dangers of not doing so. Mauna Kea is calling for protection, she has been under seize and mismanagement for decades at this point and, unfortunately for this specific project, the people have risen up in defense and said enough is enough. The native Hawaiian community has not seen a resurgence of energy and unity of this magnitude in decades. It has been long overdue and shows no signs of waning. People from around the world are watching and joining us. The world is also watching TMT's leaders and partners, who are in a unique position to take a step forward in understanding and respecting the rights and wishes of native Hawaiians despite their desire to revolutionize our understanding of the universe from Mauna Kea. I strongly urge the TMT International Observatory Board and it's partners to withdraw its plans to construct the TMT on Mauna Kea and relocate the project to La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. Respectfully, Keoni DeFranco Michael Keoni DeFranco Founder,CEO Life Lua Technologies A Life Biosciences Company 900 Broadway,Ste.504 New York,NY 10003 Michael Keoni DeFranco Founder,CEO Lua 900 Broadway,Ste. 504 1 New York,NY 10003 X Secure Messaging for Healthcare Powering safer cononunicalion and higher patient satisfaction. getlua.coi» ���♦�' ©2019 Lua Technologies, Inc. Private and Confidential Comm. No. Ref. To: 1 Ref. nate JUL 3 1 2019