Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 6, 1 June 2015 — Trustees take neutral stance on TMT [ARTICLE]

Trustees take neutral stance on TMT

Opportunity seen to improve stewardship of Mauna Kea

By KWO Staff The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees rescinded its July 2, 2009 decision to support the location of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea in April. "I liken the TMT issue to the nation-building effort," said OHA Chair Robert Lindsey. "We have folks on muhiple sides of both issues. In honor of these differing perspectives, I believe OHA's neutral position is a prudent one."

Bigger than TMT "TMT is not a standalone issue for OHA," Trustee Peter Apo said. "The issue is the entire Mauna Kea Management Plan. So, the scope of OHA's interest is far greater than TMT - it's about native rights." Mauna Kea is ceded land, also known as public trust lands, and Native Hawaiians have never relinquished their claims to these lands. Because Native Hawaiians are beneficiaries of the public land trust, OHA has an interest in ensuring proper management and disposition

of ceded lands. "Our vote to rescind the board's previous position is not about divorcing ourselves from the issue," said Apo. "Instead it keeps us at the table for a complete review of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. We don't have any legal standing (at the table). We are going to be doing our own review of the Mauna Kea Management Plan." The goal is to ensure the management plan is in eomplianee with state and federal policies and that they are governing the public land trust appropriately. "It's a responsibility

that the state has to us, a condition of statehood," said Apo. "That's basically why the trustees did what they did. We are moving ahead on that as we speak. At the end of the day we hope we eome out with findings in terms of where we ean improve the plan itself and make recommendations to the state of Hawai'i, who manages the public land trust. The kuleana is with the state - DLNR and the governor's office - and that is where we will start in hope of improving the overall stewardship SEE TMT ON PAGE 8

TMT

Continued from page 5 of Mauna Kea." Multiple sides The construction of the telescope on Mauna Kea has become a contentious issue. More than a hundred people signed up to express their opinion on OHA's previous support for the telescope at a special meeting held April 30. After hearing the testimony, Trustees voted to rescind the board's previous support of the telescope on Mauna Kea. The decision was met with unhappiness from those who wanted the board to oppose the project outright. Trustee Haunani Apoliona said, "The voices have been heard and we are listening. We, who have to make such decisions; we, who have the systems in plaee ... for us to maneuver the changes on behalf of who? Our Native

Hawaiian interests." Trustee Rowena Akana said the decision allows the trustees to be a better advocate for Native Hawaiians. "I tell you as one of you, I give you my word when I vote with this motion I will stand with you. I will go to the university. I will stand against the governor and anybody else for you. I promise you this. I promise you." "Who better to be your bulldog at the BLNR table and the Governor? It's OHA. This is how we ean work together," said Trustee Colette Machado. Trustee Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey, who made a motion urging her colleagues to rescind their previous decision and oppose the telescope said, "My na'au is where my motion was but I ean see that I do not have the votes today. I think it is better for us to rescind the position of four years ago and stand behind all of you and move our lāhui forward, so work with us so we ean do that." ■

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