Happy New Year, Love Judge Hara.
On New Year’s Eve, we got word from Judge Hara (3rd Circuit), that he would uphold the August 2009 decision of the Hawai’i Land Board (Board of Land and Natural Resources) to deny the Mauna Kea Hui their “day in court.” The hui–made up of conservation and cultural rights advocates–has been the long-time defender of protections for Mauna Kea’s unique and sacred summit.
We asked for an administrative review of UH’s new development plan for the mountain; BLNR and Judge Hara have now both said “no.” We’re still reading through the findings, wading through the legal language and figuring out what it all means for the future of the mountain. We’ll keep you updated and let you know what we come out with.
Our deepest thanks goes out to all the long-time supporters of Mauna Kea. Mahalo for your aloha ‘aina.
This year, we will continue to work for a community plan which sets forward a truly new paradigm for managing cultural and natural resources of the summit and governing future telescope development. The struggle is not over!
