A round-up of events connected to the ongoing debate concerning the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea.

Latest Events – Tuesday, April 21

• Hundreds took to the streets of Oahu on Tuesday for the Ku Kia’i Mauna March. The Mauna Kea Hui and their supporters met with staff of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, demanding that the OHA Board of Trustees reverse their position on the building of the TMT Telescope. OHA CEO Kamana’opono Crabbe was there to meet the group. From there the hui marched downtown to deliver their demands to the Watanabe Ing Law Firm, the legal counsel for TMT International Observatory, LLC. The law firm was be told to “stop brokering deals to build on our sacred Maunakea”. The marchers finished their journey at the Governor’s Office, where they delivered their demands to “stop the construction of the TMT Telescope permanently” to chief of staff Mike McCartney. The event made headlines across the state and was heavily covered by Oahu news networks. Here is the KITV report that aired on Tuesday evening.

• As the hundreds marched in Oahu, the Thirty Meter Telescope took to its Facebook page where it promoted the $500,000 in grants awarded to various local educational programs through the THINK (The Hawai‘i Island New Knowledge) Fund at Hawai‘i Community Foundation. $200,000 came directly from TMT. $300,000 came in from other funders. “Join us in inspiring the next generation of scientists!” TMT wrote on its wall. “We are proud to be a part of the THINK Fund at Hawaii Community Foundation and support these and many other outstanding organizations.”
  Recipients of the inaugural grant awards through THINK Fund at HCF STEM Learning Grants Program:
  • Akamai Workforce Initiative – Internship Program
  • Big Island Invasive Species Committee – Teacher Professional Development for STEM
  • Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island – Akeakamai Aloha ‘Aina
  • Friends of the Future – Earl’s Garage
  • Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy and Waimea Elementary – STEM Summer Learning Partnership
  • Hawai‘i Space Grant Consortium – Inspiration Imagination Innovation Project
  • Hilo Intermediate, Kaumana Elementary School and EB Desilva Elementary School – STEM Framework Partnership
  • Holualoa Elementary School – Expand and Integrate STEM
  • Honaunau Elementary School – Garden for STEM Learning
  • Honoka‘a Complex – STEM Partnership
  • Honoka‘a Complex – TechnoTrailer
  • ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center – Mobile Science Outreach
  • Kanu o ka ‘Aina Learning ‘Ohana – Malama Kipuka-Taking Care of a Culturally Sacred Place Through Science Exploration
  • Ke Kula ‘o Nawahiokalani ‘ōpū‘u – Ko Kula Kai
  • Kea‘au Elementary School Robotics
  • Kealakehe High School – STEM Education
  • Keaukaha One Youth Development – RISE 21st Century After School Program
  • Kohala Watershed Partnership – Environmental Education
  • Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School – Project-Based Learning and 21st Century Skills
  • North Kohala Community Resource Center – Kohala Robotics
  • Pa‘a Pono Miloli‘i – ‘Imiloa O Miloli‘i Miloli‘i Seekers of Knowledge”
  • PISCES Moon RIDER at Kealakehe High School
  • West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy Public Charter School Robotics