Sacred Summits

Quick links to Updated Resources:

TMT Factsheet (printable)
Mauna Kea Timeline of Events
TMT Contested Case Exhibit List

Forty years ago, the people of Hawai'i agreed to share two of our highest and most sacred summits with a small community of UH astronomers--on the promise of protection and stewardship of fragile alpine habitats, endemic native species, and sacred cultural landscapes.Revised TMT Fact Sheet

Today, Haleakalā and Mauna Kea have become the target of increasingly aggressive industrial development proposals from some of the world's wealthiest nations, corporations, and institutions. The promise to mālama (care for) our sacred summits remain unfulfilled.

The footprint of roads, buildings, parking, and ever-larger telescope complexes--has grown each decade, while natural and cultural resources have been irreplaceably lost, descecrated and destroyed. New telescopes, buildings and roads are being proposed, while the U.S. Army has announced a proposal to create "landing zones" for risky high altitude helicopter trainings on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Up against immensely wealthy organizations and some of Hawai`i's highest paid lawyers, community advocates for these sacred summits have worked successfully to prevent further desecration and more bulldozers for nearly a decade.

Demanding that developers comply with the law, these advocates are seeking a true public process and a better future for these incredible public trust conservation lands.

Today, new plans for massive expansion of industrial land use in the conservation districts on Mauna Kea and Haleakalā are again on the table. A`ole.

You can join with thousands across Hawai'i and the world calling for a new vision, and a better future for these sacred summits.