Posted on: Sunday, August 29, 2004

EDITORIAL
New NASA telescope must be kept in Islands

It's not clear how serious the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is about moving its proposed "Outrigger" telescope project from Hawai'i to the Canary Islands.

What is clear is that such a move would be a disaster for Hawai'i's reputation as the premier astronomical research site in the world.

It is critical that all parties, both those who support the telescope project and those who oppose it, come up with a solution that allows the project to go forward here.

This means serious consideration of, and deference to, the recreational, cultural and environmental issues that surround the astronomy complex atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island.

Aside from tourism, astronomy is one of Hawai'i's few world-class economic activities. It is a high-tech, high-value industry that has enormous spinoff value to our university, to the economy of the Big Island and to the reputation of our state.

If the NASA project is rejected and moves elsewhere, it will send a signal that we are not serious about making use of our potential.

The Outrigger project involves building six new telescopes in a ring around the existing W.M. Keck Observatory.

Criticism of the project comes from many fronts. Some Hawaiian groups argue that the summit of Mauna Kea is of great cultural significance and that it has been degraded enough already.

Environmentalists say the astronomy "industry" is creating pollution and threatens rare or endangered species.

Others say a promise was made years ago to restrict the number of telescopes or observatories on the mountain to 13, and that promise should be kept.

There is validity to each of these criticisms. But the answer is not to simply slam the door on any new development on Mauna Kea.

Rather, the answer is to work cooperatively so that new generations of astronomical research can go forward there in a way that protects and even enhances existing cultural and environmental resources.

One solution would be to have new-generation telescopes replace older facilities rather than simply add to them. Another would be to assess rents or leases that would help pay for environmental protection measures.

A third approach, which in fact is already under way, is to shrink the "footprint" of the astronomy sector while enlarging the areas set aside for cultural practices, environmental protection and the like.

The scientific complex atop Mauna Kea is a huge boon to Hawai'i and to the world of science and discovery. In a context that shows great sensitivity to the cultural and environmental issues involved, it must be allowed to prosper.