Big Island Video News will be featuring the presentations made by the many different speakers slated to talk at the Common Ground series. The archive will be available at this location.

PEPEEKEO, Hawaii – The second of four TMT & Maunakea: Common Ground talks was held Wednesday night at the Kulaimano Community Center in Pepe’ekeo. The discussions are organized by the Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation in order to “bring more information to the community that it serves (from north of the singing bridge in Hilo to Waipi`o Valley) so that people can make informed decisions about the TMT.”

Organizers originally enlisted Paul Neves, one of the petitioners opposed to the Thirty Meter Telescope who has been fighting the project in the courts, to offer a Cultural and Historical Perspective on Wednesday. After Neves reportedly backed out, Hawane Rios spoke instead. Rios has played a big role in the Ku Kia’i Mauna movement.

The next Common Ground meeting will be Tuesday June 2 at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School Cafeteria.