RLast night was the Thirty Meter Telescope Environmental Impact Statement meeting in Pahoa.
Respected labor and community leader Wallace Ishibashi spoke and said that, as a native Hawaiian, he was okay with the TMT. He said that he respected everyone’s point of view. It was a very heartfelt, eloquent speech. He made people feel comfortable, whether they were speaking for or against the TMT.
There was a healthy difference of opinion, but everyone was very respectful of each other. Many people expressed the idea that we need to work in cooperation with each other. It felt really good.
I spoke about the TMT’s annual $1 million community benefit package, which will be used for education. I said that the world has changed and it is no longer about us, but rather the keiki and next generations. “One day the boat not going come.” This contribution to education will help us prepare.
Palikapu Dedman, a member of the Kanaka Council, spoke last night as well. He is determined and articulate, and he always voices his opposition in a booming voice. He boomed: “If not in Hawai‘i, where can Hawaiians be Hawaiians?”
Palikapu owns 70 acres of farmland that he purchased and farms himself. He is self-made, and does not rely on government subsidies. He walks the talk.
At the Hilo meeting, outside of the Hilo High School cafeteria, I had a long, heated and respectful discussion with him. We agreed to disagree. I respect him a lot.
I also had a strong discussion with Tom Anthony outside of the Hilo High cafeteria. Tom is very smart, very articulate, and even more “in your face” than Palikapu. He, too, is a member of the Kanaka Council. We also agreed to disagree.
Kale Gumapac is the alaka‘i (leader) of the Kanaka Council. At the Pahoa meeting, he offered strong opposition to things that diminish Hawaiians’ ability to be Hawaiians.
The mostly Puna-centered Kanaka Council is a coalition of groups with the most passionate, loud and angry voices. Many people are afraid of them, but they are my friends and I like and respect them.
Dr. Henry Yang, Chancellor of UC Santa Barbara and President of the Thirty Meter Telescope corporation, and Dr. Jean Lou Chameau, President of Cal Tech, went to meet with them. After that meeting, where the members expressed their views candidly, Henry told me that it was one of their most valuable meetings.
At the time, some felt that I should not have exposed Henry and Jean Lou to the Kanaka Council and to risk. I knew that though it would be passionate, and maybe unconventional, it would not be risky.
In retrospect, it shows how serious the TMT folks are about trying to understand how people here truly feel.
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Stunning Shift in Hawaii’s Astronomy is an interesting blog post about the TMT from the Hilo Living blog.