Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2002 — On top of the world [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

On top of the world

Iwish to report on the climb up Mauna Kea, the hours and many miles covered from Hilo, pass~ ing through more miles of Parker Ranch lands and those belonging to other owners as well as our ceded lands to reach Hawai'i's "top of the world," Mauna Kea, Why drive up Mauna Kea? At the top of the mountain rests 13 obser~ vatories occupying one of the best viewing sites in the world, On Mauna Kea are two large telescope complexes whieh are the largest in the world whieh will extend the viewing range of we earthbound humans and increase our knowledge of the universe, The scopes are named for their benefactor, W.M, Keek, who was a wealthy oil magnate that left his fortune to education by supporting the sciences and arts, The Keek concept was born to further the knowledge of astronomy, There are four principal players in the Keek undertaking: The

University of California (UC) Berkley Proposal in 1995, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the University of Hawai'i and the California īnstitute of Technology (CIT). Funding comes primarily from NASA and the UC. Why is this $140 million Keek Observatory and $500 million invested in all 13 observatories ? Because of curiosi~ ty, That's why we sent a man to the moon, The resulting technology that has developed has proven valu~ able for today's world, Last month, OHA trustees and staff were invited to tour the Keek complex, Our hosts were Fred Chaffee and Ronald Laub of the California Association for Research in Astronomy (CARA), īt was explained to us that when the mas~ sive scopes were erected, there was a laek of sensitivity to Native Hawaiian concerns, but we were given assurances that future devel~

opments like the proposed "outrig~ gers" to complete the interferome~ ter design would be mindful of those concerns, We were advised that adding mterferometers will require no more space than has already been set aside or prepared in the science reserve surrounding the Mauna Kea summit, and that the combined tele~ scopes "footprint" would not increase in size, There are three components to the telescopes operations: the Hale Pōhaku site, the Waimea Laboratory and the scopes on the summit. At 9,000 ft. Hale Pōhaku site visitors prepare for the ascent, At the Waimea Laboratory, comput~ ers interpret what the telescopes view, At thel3,000 ft, summit is the habitat of the wēkiu beetle a rare and unique species, Most of the identified sacred and cultural sites are at the 9-10,000 ft. elevation. The benefit of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve to Hawai'i and our

beneficiaries is my primary eoneem, Is agreement possible in the form of university courses for residents to qualify them for employment at the telescopes? Because there are an estimated 200 cars a day driving up to the summ.it to visit the mostly elam, clear and stable atmosphere offering unparalleled views of the adjacent Mauna Loa summ.it as it rises above the clouds and also Haleakala Crater across the ehannel, is there a reciprocal benefit? What is being done at Hanauma Bay for the viewing public could also be done as a benefit for the beneficiaries, Or for those who get to enjoy the spectac~ ular views of Mauna Kea, afforded by using and enjoying the beneficiaries ceded lands, would they reciprocate? Graduate students from around the world are working at Mauna Kea, and should include Hawai'i astronomy students after their receiving education and training, ■

Charles Ota Trustee, Maui