(BIVN) – No arrests and no injuries were reported today at the base of Mauna Kea, where the stand off over the Thirty Meter Telescope continued on the 9th day of the scheduled start of construction on the project. Over 1,000 people were estimated to be gathered in the area of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the Mauna Kea Access Road on Tuesday.

Court Decides On Two Court Motions

On Tuesday, Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura denied a petition for a temporary restraining order to halt construction of the TMT on Mauna Kea over the projects security bond. 

Also, a First Circuit Court panel ruled Tuesday that the emergency proclamation will stay in place, however the individual who challenged the legality of the proclamation, Paul Neves (and he alone), must be allowed access to the summit of Mauna Kea to conduct his cultural practice. The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, which represented Neves in court, can still file for an injunction against the proclamation.

Governor Hands Talks Over To Mayor

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige said he is asking Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim to “attempt to reach common ground” with the opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope. Governor Ige’s full message to the media:

Today, I am asking Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim to coordinate both county and state efforts to peacefully attempt to reach common ground with the protectors of Maunakea and the broader community. Mayor Kim is closest to the situation and the impacts are greatest on the island he leads.

We both share the goal of achieving a resolution that is peaceful and satisfactory to as many as possible in the community. I support the vision he has widely articulated for Maunakea as a beacon of hope and discovery for the world that brings us together rather than divides us. And we both understand that the issues underlying what is taking place today are far deeper than TMT or Maunakea. They are about righting the wrongs done to the Hawaiian people going back more than a century.

While Mayor Kim will be taking the lead, hard decisions will need to be jointly supported by the state and county and we will be working together to determine next steps that are in the best interests of all the people of Hawaiʻi.

“For the first time ever he has acknowledged us as the protectors of Mauna Kea,” said Kahoʻokahi Kanuha during a news conference held at the Mauna Kea Access Road.

Kanuha also said he is hopeful, “because Mayor Harry Kim, unlike the governor, has come to the Puʻuhonua o Puʻuhuluhulu himself. He’s been here three times. He has addressed the people. He lives in this community. He knows this community.”

Police Officers Head Back To Oʻahu

After a week on Mauna Kea duty, Honolulu police officers are heading back to Oʻahu, media reports say.

The Honolulu Police Department reported yesterday that salaries of the 56 officers sent to Mauna Kea last Tuesday to aid the Hawaiʻi Police Department, “came from non-patrol units, and their salaries will be paid” by the Honolulu Police Department.

“Since we are in the middle of the operation, it’s not possible to provide accurate costs to date,” said the State Department of the Attorney General. “The state agencies are funded so we can fulfill our law enforcement duties.”

Altitude Sickness Reported

The Joint Information Center reported today that a 21-year old man, reportedly feeling the effects of high altitude, was evaluated by EMS personnel at around 7 p.m. last night. He left the area on his own. Mauna Kea Access Road is 6,632 feet.

“We want to remind everyone here to be mindful that this is considered high elevation, which means you need good sun and weather protection as conditions can change quickly,” Hawaiʻi officials said. “Also, drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.”