HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.090 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura
From: Leedda W <leedda@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday,July 23, 2019 10;53 PM e
To: Council Testimony -"
Subject: Resolution 233-19 - A Moratorium on TMT Construction
Aloha,
First let me begin by saying that I am an astronomer and I am not Hawaiian. While I do sympathize
with the way in which the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown and land stolen from the Hawaiians, I also
believe that if the US had not become involved in the islands, they would currently be ruled by the
Japanese and tied to their hugely inflated economy. That might have driven the Hawaiians entirely off
the islands if they had to pay$80 for an asian melon.
I am writing to say that it is time for the State of Hawaii to allow TMT to begin construction on the
summit of Maunakea. You all must find a way to resolve this situation with the Hawaiians. I know there
is a small contingent that are opposed to any telescope on the summit, but I also believe that the majority
of Hawaiians are happy to have the observatories here on Maunakea. They want their kids to get a better
education in the sciences and get good paying jobs working for the observatories which will keep them home,
close to extended family. Now is not the time for more moratoriums, it is time for construction to begin.
If nothing else, it is time for law enforcement to safely escort employees up to do routine maintenance
on equipment in the existing observatories and allow us to get back to the exploration of our universe.
Without access to our telescope, we cannot observe possible impactor near earth asteroids, or study
nearby stars to find habitable planets to which one day we may have to travel to ensure the continuation
of the human race. Think about how the economy of the island would suffer if all of a sudden, there was
no astronomy here. You would lose so many good paying jobs for locals. Please, vote against the moratorium
and get someone involved in a resolution.
Mahalo,
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Lisa Wells
Kamuela, HI
Comm. No. `�"�A0
Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date JUL 3 12019