It's a question of values.

A proposal to build a large new telescope on Haleakala has rightfully raised concerns about its impact on the "House of the Sun," which has unique ecological, cultural and spiritual values.

Of course, the project has merits of its own. The estimated $250 million Advanced Technology Solar Telescope would be the largest and most advanced land-based instrument of its kind. It would provide scientists with an unparalleled ability to observe the sun, to study its magnetic field and how it affects life on Earth, including hazards for air travelers and satellite communications.

The National Science Foundation, after a lengthy worldwide search, determined that there's only one place to put it: the Haleakala High Altitude Observatories site, where other telescopes already peer at the heavens through the summit's unparalleled clear skies.

And the deadline for public comment on one of the project's final legal steps — the supplemental draft environmental impact statement — is fast approaching: It's June 22.

For the advancement of astronomy — in which Hawai'i is a world leader — and the investment in the state's science and technology community, the project deserves support. It's expected to bring in an estimated $75 million in construction spending, as well as about $18 million a year and 35 jobs.

Nonetheless, support for the telescope must come with conditions. Mitigating the impacts of such a large project — the 142-foot-high telescope would be visible from some Maui communities — is essential.

Ground should not be broken without a clear agreement to reduce or eliminate the impacts on sensitive cultural, historic and archaeological resources. The public can weigh in on what such an agreement should include, through meetings on Maui this week or online.

Other ideas under consideration deserve support, including a community benefits package that provides for educational programs. They would include high-tech training that infuses traditional Hawaiian navigation and cultural practices with modern science and technology.

The federal government should also commit to removing the facility at the end of its useful life — about 45 years.

This may not satisfy those adamantly opposed to the project, who see Haleakala as a sacred place despoiled by these projects. Those concerns deserve consideration and respect.

But in the broader interests of science and human advancement, the best option here is a meaningful compromise.