Mauna Kea, technology, and kuleana

[longship]

4. Thank you for that.

It is too bad that some people think that the summit is kapu, as you say.

I do not understand, if the native culture does not go to the summit because it is kapu, and that some of the historic sites might be related to astronomical phenomena, why they would not want astronomy to be done on the summit.

And I will ask again, why would the volcano gods not want the world's greatest astronomical observatory on Mauna Kea?

Nobody knows the answer, I suspect. The protesters just don't want any telescopes up there because it is sacred to them. Well that ship has sailed.

If people stop the building of the TMT because the summit is kapu, that would be a real tragedy, as the summit of Mauna Kea is in a way sacred to the astronomers as well. It is one of two places on the planet that is perfect for visual astronomy. That is why the world's best observatory is up there. It is also why the TMT project should be built up there.

I appreciate your information.

My regards.