Aloha Mauna Kea

This page is dedicated to the protection of sacred Mauna Kea.

Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part the Motion for Reconsideration

Hawai’i Supreme Court Justices Recktenwald and McKenna along with Circuit Judge Castagnetti granted part of the motion for reconsideration deleting footnote 15 and revising footnote 17 however “in all other respects, the motion for reconsideration is denied.”  Hawai’i Supreme Court Justices Pollack and Wilson both did their own concurring and dissenting separately while Justice Nakayama was recused.

To read the Order Granting in Part an Denying in part the Motion for Reconsideration click HERE

Deleted Footnote 15 and Revised Footnote 17 from original decision

To read Justice Pollack’s order Concurring and Dissenting with the Majority click HERE

To read Justice Wilson’s order Concurring and Dissenting click HERE

Motion for Request for Leave to File an Amicus Brief was Denied – Wilson Dissenting

The motion for request for leave to file an amicus brief was denied by Supreme Court Justices Recktenwald, McKenna, and Pollack and Circuit Judge Castagnetti.  Justice Nakayama was recused and Justice Wilson dissented.  Despite denying this request for leave in its partial reconsideration the Majority of the Hawai’i State Supreme Justices did address two of the suggestions brought up in the request for leave to file an Amicus Brief.

To read the Order on the Motion for Leave to File an Amicus Brief click HERE

To read Judge Wilson’s dissent on the Order on the Motion for Leave to File and Amicus Brief click HERE

Motion for Reconsideration Filed by Mauna Kea Petitioners

A motion for Reconsideration was filed on November 19, 2018 by attorney Richard Naiwi Wurdeman for the Mauna Kea Petitioners – Mauna Kea Anaina Hou and Kealoha Pisciotta, Clarence Kauakahi Ching, Flores-Case ‘Ohana, Deborah J. Ward, Paul K. Neves, and KAHEA:  The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance. 

To read the entire Motion for Reconsideration filed by the Mauna Kea Protectors click HERE.

Motion for Reconsideration Mauna Kea Appendix A

Motion for Reconsideration Mauna Kea Appendix B

Motion for Reconsideration Mauna Kea Appendix C


Amicus Brief Filed by Earthjustice, Former Supreme Court Judge, OHA Trustee Machado and others supporting the Motion for Reconsideration by the Mauna Kea Petitioners

An motion for leave to file an amicus brief in support of the Motion for Reconsideration by the Mauna Kea Peitioners was filed on November 19, 2018 by D. Kapua’ala Sproat and Isaac Moriwake of Earthjustice, Justice Robert Klein and Kurt Klein of Klein Law Group LLC,  Melody MacKenzie, and Colette Machado and Dan Ahuna of Kua’aina Ulu ‘Auamo. 

To read the entire motion for leave to file an Amicus Brief in support of the Motion for Reconsideration click HERE.

Amicus Brief Mauna Kea Appendix A


Justice Wilson of the Hawai’i State Supreme Court Gives His Dissenting Decision

On November 9, 2018, Hawai’i Supreme Court Judge Wilson released his dissenting decision regarding the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. He argues Conservation land and its cultural and natural resources do not lose its protection under the Hawaiʻi “State” Constitution and the laws of the “State of Hawaiʻi” because it has already had substantial adverse affects caused by previous development. In the case of Mauna Kea the previous building of telescopes on the summits have had adverse affects to the Mauna Kea summits but Judge Wilson states that they should be looking at EXISTING cultural and natural resources.  Justice Wilson states:

Judge Wilson

“The substantial adverse impacts to cultural resources presently existing in the Astronomy Precinct of Mauna Kea combined with the impacts from TMT—a proposed land use that eclipses all other telescopes in magnitude—would constitute an impact on existing cultural resources that is substantial and adverse. Accordingly, the Conservation District Use Application for TMT must be denied.”


To read the entire Hawai’i Supreme Court Dissenting Decision click HERE.


Hawai’i Supreme Court Decision Supporting Construction of TMT

On October 30, 2018, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a decision supporting the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea.

In a 73-page ruling, the court affirmed 4-1 the state Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision to issue a construction permit for the $1.43 billion project. The BLNR’s decision to issue the conservation district use permit had been appealed by TMT opponents.

**Warning when reading the Hawai’i Supreme Court majority decision.  The decision was based on faulty and some incorrect information.**

To read the entire majority decision by the Hawai’i Supreme Court click HERE.


Community Letters, Press Releases and Resolutions in opposition to TMT being built on Mauna Kea

American Studies Association Statement in Support of the Mauna Kea Kia’i

University of Hawai’i Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine (UH-SFJP) Statement of Solidarity and Support for Kia’i

Mauna Kea Hui Press Release regarding three days of Divestment meetings, talks and rallies on January 29, 2019.

University of California Students’ statement to the University of California and the University of Hawai’i on January 26, 2019

Democratic Socialist of Honolulu State of Solidarity with Mauna a Wakea and the Protectors December 12, 2019.

University of Hawai’i Staff and Faculty press statement on December 5, 2018

Young Progressives Demanding Action letter to the University of Hawai’i on December 5, 2018

Letter from the Dean to the Students, Staff and Faculty at Hawaiinuiakea:  The School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa regarding TMT on November 26, 2018

University of Hawai’i Puko’a Kanaka Maoli Staff and Faculty Council letter to President Lassner on April 8, 2015

University of Hawai’i Puko’a Kanaka Maoli Staff and Faculty Council Resolution Regarding Mauna Kea and Haleakala

Associated Students of the University of Hawai’i Undergraduate Student Government of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa resolution in support of Mauna Kea on November 6, 2013

Assessment of the Risks for Siting the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea October 26, 2007


Other Community Resolutions

Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs 2018 Resolutions regarding Mauna Kea



Check out the Aloha Mauna Kea campaign for the 2018 Legislative Session by clicking HERE.

One thought on “Aloha Mauna Kea

  1. I can not fathom the fact that some of these “So-called” Judges are natives of this island themselves and do not stand with their Ohana kupa and fight. They should be ashamed of their behavior. There are plenty of no sacred lands that can be used for this project. #protectmaunakea

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