The University of Hawaiʻi issued a press release responding to calls to end its management of Maunakea state lands.
“UH believes astronomy on Maunakea and in Hawaiʻi will be put at significant risk if work on the new land authorization is stopped at this time with no clear alternative path forward,” the release stated. “Similar ideas have been previously proposed in the legislature in past years with no result. This has created uncertainty and concern amongst the existing observatories and their national and international non-profit owners/sponsors regarding matters critical to their futures.”
The press release further mentioned details of how astronomy has benefited the State of Hawai’i.
“In the 1960s the State of Hawaiʻi, under the leadership of Gov. Burns, determined that it wanted to support astronomy on Maunakea and further, that Hawaiʻi should not just be a landlord but should aspire to a world-class program of education and research in astronomy,” the release stated. “That has been achieved, and the university understands fully that the privilege of stewardship carries an even greater responsibility to mālama, to care for, Maunakea because of its unique heritage and resources. If the State now wishes to discontinue astronomy on Maunakea or continue as a landlord only, those are decisions for the State to make. But such decisions should be made in full recognition of the improvements in stewardship made since 2000 and the changes underway even today.”