Governor Ige and key members of the Legislature has launched a campaign against sacred Mauna Kea through the introduction of a series of bills that would allow the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) to be built without going through a rigorous and public permitting process. Ka Lāhui Hawai’i Political Action Committee, Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, KAHEA (The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance) and many other community based organizations have been working to track these bills and raise public awareness.
Below are community based campaigns launched against three bills that if passed would have detrimental effects on the pristine environment of Mauna Kea, allow a expedient permitting process for the TMT, and waive Kanaka Maoli and the public’s right to a contested case against destructive decisions. House Bill 1565 was deferred by the House Committee on Economic and Business (Chair Evans and Vice Chair Keohokalole) and House Bill 2564 was deferred by the House Committee on Water and Land (Chair Rhoads and Vice Chair Gabbard) effectively killing these two bills. However, Senate Bill 3090 Proposed SD1 was passed by the Senate Higher Education (Chair Kahele and Vice Chair Kim) and Water and Land Committee (Chair Rhoads and Vice Chair Gabbard) with amendments despite 700 TESTIMONIES IN OPPOSITION and ONLY 4 Testimonies in Support.
CALL THEIR OFFICES AND LET THEM KNOW HOW DISAPPOINTED YOU ARE IN THEIR DECISION.
BELOW ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED “YES” AND IGNORED 700 TESTIMONIES IN OPPOSITION TO SB 3090 PROPOSED SD1:
Higher Education Committee: Chair Kaiali’i Kahele (Hilo) Phone 808-586-6760; Senator Keith-Agaron Senator (Kahului, Maui) Phone 808-586-7344; Senator Michelle Kidani (Mililani to Kunia) Phone 808-586-7100.
Senate Water and Land Committee: Chair Rhoads (Downtown to Nuʻuanu) Phone 808-586-6130; Senator Inouye (Hilo to Kona) Phone 808-586-7335.
BELOW ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED “YES” AND IGNORED 700 TESTIMONIES IN OPPOSITION TO SB 3090 PROPOSED SD1 WITH RESERVATIONS:
Senate Higher Education Committee: Vice-Chair Kim (Kapalama to ‘Aiea) Phone 808-587-7200.
Senate Water and Land Committee: Vice-Chair Gabbard (Waipahu to Kapolei) Phone 808-586-6830; Senator Riviere (Kāneʻohe to Schofield) Phone 808-586-7330; Senator Thielen (Kailua to Hawaii Kai) Phone 808-587-8388
THE ABSENT SENATOR:
Senate Higher Education Committee: Senator Chang (Hawaii Kai to Diamond Head)Phone 808-586-8420.
To keep update on the status of SB 3090 SD1 keep checking this page or follow us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/KaLahuiHawaiiPoliticalActionCommittee/
