The Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the decommissioning of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hōkū Ke’a teaching telescope on Maunakea is posted by the University of Hawaii at Hilo for public review and comment.
Public comments are due by Friday, Oct. 8. The public is “strongly encouraged” to review the relevant documents and to aid by making comments prior to that date. The goal of the project is to bring the area back to its original state, according to the University of Hawaii’s official website.
The other telescope on Maunakea to be decommissioned is the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, and its Draft Environmental Assessment was posted on Sept. 8. There are a total of 13 observatories on Maunakea. UH has committed to operating only nine astronomy facilities on Maunakea by Dec. 31, 2033.
The Hōkū Ke’a site, built in 1979 as one of the first observatories on Maunakea, was given to UH after being operated by the U.S. Air Force. It is located at the south summit ridge next to the UKIRT telescope. UH is in the planning process for a new telescope, a 0.7-meter telescope system, for the Halepōhaku Mid-Level Facility on Maunakea.
Under Hawaiian environmental laws, a DEA is mandated for planned uses of state lands and funds inside of a designated state conservation district, according to the University of Hawaii’s website.
