Telescope Foes Ask Hawaii High Court To Reconsider Ruling

Opponents want the Hawaii Supreme Court to reverse an earlier 4-1 vote clearing the way for the $1.4 billion Mauna Kea project.

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HONOLULU (AP) — Opponents of a giant telescope planned for Hawaii’s tallest mountain are asking the state Supreme Court to reconsider a recent ruling upholding the project’s construction permit.

They filed a motion Monday saying the court should adopt the opinion of a dissenting justice. The motion says Associate Justice Michael Wilson was correct in saying the impact of the Thirty Meter Telescope on existing cultural resources must be considered.

The court ruled 4-1 that the land board was correct in approving a permit to build the telescope on Mauna Kea, a mountain some Native Hawaiians consider sacred.

Mauna Kea demonstrators telescope Keck Subaru Hawaii . 10 apr 2015
Mauna Kea demonstrators on the summit of the mountain in 2015 considered sacred to many Native Hawaiians. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2015

 

Supporters of the $1.4 billion project say it will bring educational and economic opportunities to the state.

Monday was the deadline to file a motion for reconsideration.

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