Mayor Kim: Hawaiian Leaders Want To Meet Again On Telescope

Many of the leaders the Big Island mayor talked with Monday were from Oahu. He met earlier with the protesters at Mauna Kea Access Road.

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(AP) — The man tasked with trying to find a way out of an impasse over the construction of a giant telescope in Hawaii says he met with Native Hawaiian leaders. But the only issue they reached a consensus on was to meet again.

Hawaii County Mayor Kim said Monday he met Native Hawaiian community leaders, including many from Oahu.

He says the group didn’t include protesters currently blocking a road to Mauna Kea’s summit, where an international consortium has a state permit to build a telescope. Kim says he met with protest leaders earlier when he visited the spot where they are blocking the road.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige last week asked Kim to take the lead on finding common ground with protesters. The protest is on its 15th day.

Mayor Harry Kim speaks to the House Health and Human Services committee briefing on homeless solutions.
Mayor Harry Kim has been placed at the helm of TMT negotiations by Gov. David Ige. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

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