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Hundreds of residents marched to the Hawaii State Capitol on Tuesday to urge the governor to stop the development of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, a Big Island mountain that many Native Hawaiians consider sacred.
Construction on the observatory stopped two weeks ago after 31 activists were arrested for blocking construction crews.
More than 53,000 people have signed a petition opposing the telescope. In a press release, the Mauna Kea Hui said the signatures show “an awakening of Aloha.”
“It is about re-visioning how we want to live in the world — we are the children of Papahānaumoku (Earth Mother) and Wakea (Sky Father) and we want to live in harmony within our world and to do this we must change the way we live for our children and our children’s children so they will have a place on Earth and a future. This is Aloha `Aina!”
Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s march, courtesy of photographer Cory Lum:
Demonstrators gather at the King Kamehameha statue on their way to the governor’s office.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Before then, they stopped at the First Hawaiian Bank tower in downtown Honolulu. That’s the location of the Watanabe Ing law firm, which represents the Thirty Meter Telescope.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Demonstrators meet with Ige’s Chief of Staff Mike McCartney outside the governor’s office on the fifth floor of the Capitol.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
Walter Ritte, a Molokai resident and longtime Native Hawaiian activist, speaks to demonstrators outside Gov. Ige’s office.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
McCartney greets Lanakila Manguil, a spokesman for the activists, using a traditional Hawaiian greeting called honi.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
The group gathers for a photo outside Aliiolani Hale.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
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