Posted on: Thursday, March 24, 2005

EDITORIAL
Mauna Kea: UH must move quickly on plan

The University of Hawai'i should be commended for its intention to make things right with those who oppose the use of the Mauna Kea summit for astronomy and for trying to better manage that precious environmental resource.

This peacemaking initiative likely will include a traditional Hawaiian forgiveness ceremony acknowledging past UH mistakes, a promise to better manage the site and an offer of a gift, perhaps a privately raised endowment for scholarships.

The university also is reshuffling its Mauna Kea management structure and funding vacant positions aimed at providing greater environmental protection for the mountain that Native Hawaiians consider a sacred site.

This new approach comes at a time when several new telescope projects are under consideration, possibly including the world's largest telescope.

The initiatives proposed by the university are much needed and long overdue. Now it's up to university leaders to ensure that these are more than just placating words.

It's clear that the future of the world-class astronomy center atop Mauna Kea depends on a cooperative relationship among the scientific, environmental and cultural users of the mountain.

Critics of the university's management of Mauna Kea have the right to be skeptical. The university has long been faulted by Hawaiians and environmentalists for instances of insensitivity.

All who use Mauna Kea for scientific purposes must embrace stringent environmental and cultural protection measures, and UH should be held particularly accountable as the steward of the site.

Mauna Kea is valued by astronomers because of the clarity of observation from its peak. The 13,796-foot mountain also is traditionally sacred to many Hawaiians. And, it is home to unique and endangered plants and insects.

Clearly, the scientific aspects of this valuable mountain must be more carefully managed.

The university must move quickly on its plan to make things right and must truly be willing to adapt to genuinely shared use.