OHA v. NASA - Revision history

WikiSysop: /* Honolulu Advertiser, Wednesday, November 2, 2005 */

2005-12-06T05:34:02Z

Honolulu Advertiser, Wednesday, November 2, 2005

WikiSysop at 05:32, 6 December 2005

2005-12-06T05:32:03Z

WikiSysop: /* Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004 */

2005-11-03T21:34:29Z

Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004

WikiSysop: /* Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004 */

2005-11-03T21:30:18Z

Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004

WikiSysop: /* Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004 */

2005-11-03T21:29:00Z

Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004

WikiSysop: /* Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004 */

2005-11-03T21:28:28Z

Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004

WikiSysop at 06:23, 3 November 2005

2005-11-03T06:23:01Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 05:34, 6 December 2005
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	He said the proposed Mauna Kea site is on a plateau well below the summit. The summit area is considered sacred by many Native Hawaiians. The lower location and a long-term plan to reduce the number of observatories on the summit are among Kudritzki's arguments to persuade residents to welcome the telescope.		He said the proposed Mauna Kea site is on a plateau well below the summit. The summit area is considered sacred by many Native Hawaiians. The lower location and a long-term plan to reduce the number of observatories on the summit are among Kudritzki's arguments to persuade residents to welcome the telescope.
		+
		+	=Hawaii Herald-Tribune (Hilo) Sunday, December 4, 2005=
		+	http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2005/12/05/features/features03.txt
		+
		+	UH-Hilo astronomer publishes a general-interest book on Mauna Kea
		+
		+	A professor of astronomy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo recently had his book on Mauna Kea published by Island Heritage.
		+
		+	"A Gentle Rain of Starlight: The Story of Astronomy on Mauna Kea" is 108 pages of "non-technical, jargon-free prose and photographs," said a spokesman for the university.
		+
		+	"Author Michael J. West artfully weaves a fascinating tale of scientific discovery through breathtaking photographs and captivating commentary in 'A Gentle Rain of Starlight.' This insightful and uplifting book is the story of astronomy atop Mauna Kea and the engaging exploration of our cosmic home," noted the publisher.
		+
		+	Of the book's many photographs, most were taken by the author, with many others courtesy of the Mauna Kea observatories, Hawaii State Archives, NASA and other photographers.
		+
		+	While it is primarily about astronomy at the mountain's summit, the book also touches upon the cultural significance of the mountain to Native Hawaiians and the mountain's history and the controversy over its future.
		+
		+	"Just as astronomical research continues to expand on Mauna Kea, there is a growing awareness of the need to protect the mountain's fragile ecosystem, and for increased sensitivity to Native Hawaiian cultural concerns over the continued development of Mauna Kea's sacred summit," West said.
		+
		+	"Achieving a balance between these sometimes-conflicting interests may not be easy, but it is essential to ensure that all feel welcome on Mauna Kea to worship as they wish, to practice their cultural heritage, and to study the stars.
		+
		+	"It is my hope that all who choose to visit Mauna Kea will do so in a way that is respectful of the Hawaiian culture, the natural beauty and the scientific endeavors of this unique place," said the author.
		+
		+	==Honolulu Advertiser, Monday, February 17, 2003==
		+	<blockquote>''Note from Ken Conklin: Michael West, the astronomer who wrote the book described above, published a commentary nearly three years previously, saying that astronomers, environmentalists, and followers of the ancient Hawaiian religion should all be able to use Mauna Kea harmoniously. That commentary is copied here.''</blockquote>
		+
		+	http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Feb/17/op/op04a.html
		+
		+	ISLAND VOICES
		+
		+	There's room for everybody on Mauna Kea
		+
		+	By Michael West<br/>
		+	Associate professor of astronomy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
		+
		+	If Queen Lili'uokalani had lived today, she might have been an astronomer. This thought occurred to me as I spent a few enjoyable hours sailing under the starry skies with a group of Big Island astronomers and Native Hawaiians aboard the Hawaiian voyaging canoe Makali'i.
		+
		+	Lili'uokalani, Hawai'i's last reigning monarch until her overthrow in 1893, was a woman of great intelligence and creativity. She had a passion for poetry. She composed over a hundred songs, including the famous "Aloha Oe." She spoke several languages. She dined with presidents, queens and kings. She fought tirelessly for the rights of the Hawaiian people after the illegal takeover of their kingdom.
		+
		+	But above all, Lili'uokalani had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. As she wrote in her 1898 autobiography, "Hawai'i's Story by Hawai'i's Queen," "the acquisition of knowledge has been a passion with me during my whole life, one which has not lost its charm to the present day."
		+
		+	I imagine that, if she were alive today, Lili'uokalani would feel saddened that two of her greatest passions — her love for the Hawaiian people and her desire for knowledge — should have so much difficulty coexisting on the summit of Mauna Kea. The many amazing discoveries about the universe that are made by the telescopes on the "White Mountain" would surely have fascinated her.
		+
		+	And who knows, perhaps as a young girl Lili'uokalani might even have been inspired to pursue a career in astronomy.
		+
		+	As the Makali'i glided across the water, I thought about how we're all explorers of one sort or another. It's part of our human nature. The same curiosity to find out what lies beyond the horizon that inspired the ancient Polynesians to set sail for new lands is what inspires astronomers today to search the heavens to learn about distant worlds across the cosmic ocean.
		+
		+	So why is there so much controversy surrounding Mauna Kea today?
		+
		+	Much of the blame belongs to astronomers. For many years, the astronomy community was, through ignorance or arrogance, insensitive to the sanctity of Mauna Kea to some Hawaiians. In their eagerness to build bigger and better telescopes, astronomers forgot that science is just one way of looking at the world, and that we must be respectful of world views that differ from our own. Mauna Kea was a sacred site to the Hawaiian people long before there were ever telescopes there, and so astronomers have a moral obligation to help preserve the dignity of this holy place.
		+
		+	But sensitivity to other cultures is a two-way street. Science, too, is a culture, an ancient one whose roots go back to the dawn of human civilization. Today the science of astronomy transcends race, religion and language. Calls from some Native Hawaiian and environmental groups for the dismantling of telescopes on Mauna Kea or banning future development there are also culturally insensitive because they ignore the kinship astronomers feel with the mountain as they explore the cosmos in what is ultimately a spiritual quest for them, too.
		+
		+	Sure, there will always be some astronomers who view the Hawaiian reverence for Mauna Kea as merely a quaint relic of an ancient belief system that is out of place in the modern world and who believe that astronomers should be allowed to build whatever telescopes they wish on Mauna Kea.
		+
		+	Likewise, there will always be some Native Hawaiians who view the presence of astronomers on Mauna Kea as a very visible example of the continuing occupation of their nation by foreign invaders, and who will settle for nothing less than the removal of all the telescopes and a return of the mountain to its original state.
		+
		+	But between those two extreme views lies the common ground occupied by most of us. There's enough aloha spirit in these Islands to ensure that our keiki, whether of Hawaiian or non-Hawaiian blood, will always feel welcomed on Mauna Kea to worship as they wish, to practice their cultural heritage, and to study the stars. We can't live in the past, consumed by anger or guilt over earlier injustices.
		+
		+	As Queen Lili'uokalani said herself, "The world cannot stand still. We must either advance or recede."
		+
		+	As the Makali'i docked in Hilo Bay and we returned to shore, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, astronomers and non-astronomers, I thought to myself that if Lili'uokalani were alive today, she'd surely say that there's room for everybody on the summit of Mauna Kea.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:32, 6 December 2005
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		+	<!-- copied from http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/maunakeaeisnews2004.html -->
	=Introduction=		=Introduction=
	OHA FORCES NASA TO PRODUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT; MEANWHILE, MAUNA KEA DISCOVERIES CONTINUE, WHILE ASTRONOMERS AND ETHNIC HAWAIIANS COLLABORATE IN PRODUCING A TV MOVIE AND A PUBLIC EDUCATION CENTER IN HILO -- newspaper coverage and activist announcements through 2004 and 2005		OHA FORCES NASA TO PRODUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT; MEANWHILE, MAUNA KEA DISCOVERIES CONTINUE, WHILE ASTRONOMERS AND ETHNIC HAWAIIANS COLLABORATE IN PRODUCING A TV MOVIE AND A PUBLIC EDUCATION CENTER IN HILO -- newspaper coverage and activist announcements through 2004 and 2005

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:34, 3 November 2005
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	One of the references cited by Mr. Sullivan in his testimony refers to an article from “Honolulu Magazine” which describes the fact that the word “ohana” is a recent invention that did not exist until after 1950. The cultural concept it names has been cobbled together from ancient customs that varied widely from place to place. Today's concept was invented for political purposes. “'Ohana” is a buzzword, neither historically authentic nor descriptive of current practices. Mr. Sullivan cites that article as evidence that “Hawaiian culture” is a very slippery, nebulous term, referring to practices and concepts that are constantly changing; and thus “Hawaiian culture” or “traditional practices” should not be used in legal or scholarly documents such as the Mauna Kea Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The complete text of the Honolulu Magazine article about “ohana” can be seen at: [[The Word 'Ohana Is A Modern Invention]]		One of the references cited by Mr. Sullivan in his testimony refers to an article from “Honolulu Magazine” which describes the fact that the word “ohana” is a recent invention that did not exist until after 1950. The cultural concept it names has been cobbled together from ancient customs that varied widely from place to place. Today's concept was invented for political purposes. “'Ohana” is a buzzword, neither historically authentic nor descriptive of current practices. Mr. Sullivan cites that article as evidence that “Hawaiian culture” is a very slippery, nebulous term, referring to practices and concepts that are constantly changing; and thus “Hawaiian culture” or “traditional practices” should not be used in legal or scholarly documents such as the Mauna Kea Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The complete text of the Honolulu Magazine article about “ohana” can be seen at: [[The Word 'Ohana Is A Modern Invention]]
−	~~http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/ohana.html~~

	=Final Approval Granted, November 1, 2004=		=Final Approval Granted, November 1, 2004=

@@ Line 465: / Line 465: @@
 On September 30, 2004 Honolulu attorney Paul M. Sullivan submitted “Comments on NASA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project.” Mr. Sullivan analyzes some core concepts used in the DEIS, calling into question assertions that “Native Hawaiians” have special “cultural” rights over Mauna Kea based on “oral history” developed through interviews by a “cultural expert” who has a conflict of interest when serving as both an interpreter and information gatherer for NASA and also as an advocate for a local group opposing the NASA project. See: [[Media:SullivanHawnCultureMaunaKea.pdf|PDF of Paul M. Sullivan's comments]]
-One of the references cited by Mr. Sullivan in his testimony refers to an article from “Honolulu Magazine” which describes the fact that the word “ohana” is a recent invention that did not exist until after 1950. The cultural concept it names has been cobbled together from ancient customs that varied widely from place to place. Today's concept was invented for political purposes. “'Ohana” is a buzzword, neither historically authentic nor descriptive of current practices. Mr. Sullivan cites that article as evidence that “Hawaiian culture” is a very slippery, nebulous term, referring to practices and concepts that are constantly changing; and thus “Hawaiian culture” or “traditional practices” should not be used in legal or scholarly documents such as the Mauna Kea Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The complete text of the Honolulu Magazine article about “ohana” can be seen at:
+One of the references cited by Mr. Sullivan in his testimony refers to an article from “Honolulu Magazine” which describes the fact that the word “ohana” is a recent invention that did not exist until after 1950. The cultural concept it names has been cobbled together from ancient customs that varied widely from place to place. Today's concept was invented for political purposes. “'Ohana” is a buzzword, neither historically authentic nor descriptive of current practices. Mr. Sullivan cites that article as evidence that “Hawaiian culture” is a very slippery, nebulous term, referring to practices and concepts that are constantly changing; and thus “Hawaiian culture” or “traditional practices” should not be used in legal or scholarly documents such as the Mauna Kea Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The complete text of the Honolulu Magazine article about “ohana” can be seen at: [[The Word 'Ohana Is A Modern Invention]]
 http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/ohana.html

@@ Line 463: / Line 463: @@
 =Comments by Paul M. Sullivan, September 30, 2004=
-On September 30, 2004 Honolulu attorney Paul M. Sullivan submitted “Comments on NASA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project.” Mr. Sullivan analyzes some core concepts used in the DEIS, calling into question assertions that “Native Hawaiians” have special “cultural” rights over Mauna Kea based on “oral history” developed through interviews by a “cultural expert” who has a conflict of interest when serving as both an interpreter and information gatherer for NASA and also as an advocate for a local group opposing the NASA project. See: [[Media:SullivanHawnCultureMaunaKea.pdf]]
+On September 30, 2004 Honolulu attorney Paul M. Sullivan submitted “Comments on NASA's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project.” Mr. Sullivan analyzes some core concepts used in the DEIS, calling into question assertions that “Native Hawaiians” have special “cultural” rights over Mauna Kea based on “oral history” developed through interviews by a “cultural expert” who has a conflict of interest when serving as both an interpreter and information gatherer for NASA and also as an advocate for a local group opposing the NASA project. See: [[Media:SullivanHawnCultureMaunaKea.pdf|PDF of Paul M. Sullivan's comments]]
 One of the references cited by Mr. Sullivan in his testimony refers to an article from “Honolulu Magazine” which describes the fact that the word “ohana” is a recent invention that did not exist until after 1950. The cultural concept it names has been cobbled together from ancient customs that varied widely from place to place. Today's concept was invented for political purposes. “'Ohana” is a buzzword, neither historically authentic nor descriptive of current practices. Mr. Sullivan cites that article as evidence that “Hawaiian culture” is a very slippery, nebulous term, referring to practices and concepts that are constantly changing; and thus “Hawaiian culture” or “traditional practices” should not be used in legal or scholarly documents such as the Mauna Kea Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The complete text of the Honolulu Magazine article about “ohana” can be seen at: