Community Protests Massive Telescope Atop a Sacred Mountain
Clip: 9/10/2026 | 2m 17sVideo has Closed Captions
Thousands of Native Hawaiians and protectors of Mauna Kea gather in protest.
On July 20, 2019, Hawai'i Governor Ige announced the approved construction of an 18-story telescore. In response, hundreds of Native Hawaiians and protectors of Mauna Kea began protest atop the sacred mountain.
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Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Community Protests Massive Telescope Atop a Sacred Mountain
Clip: 9/10/2026 | 2m 17sVideo has Closed Captions
On July 20, 2019, Hawai'i Governor Ige announced the approved construction of an 18-story telescore. In response, hundreds of Native Hawaiians and protectors of Mauna Kea began protest atop the sacred mountain.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipIGE: Yesterday afternoon the Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a notice to proceed to the University of Hawaii at Hilo for the Thirty Meter Telescope.
Since the notice to proceed has been issued, we expect the TMT construction to begin sometime this summer.
♪ ♪ (chanting in Hawaiian).
(chanting in Hawaiian).
(chanting continues in Hawaiian).
(chanting continues in Hawaiian).
(chanting continues in Hawaiian).
(chanting continues in Hawaiian).
(chanting continues in Hawaiian).
(indistinct chatter).
(conch shell reverberates).
PUA: This right here on this access road across of a parking lot in a lava field is the way that we stay fully committed to why we are here.
And our reason for being here, you may have your own personal reason, but our collective reason has always has been stopping the building of an 18 story telescope in a pristine area near the summit of our Mauna, on a fragile ecosystem that is full of our kupuna, our cultural ways, and our rights to our water, and our future.
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Native Hawaiian mother-daughter activists stand to protect their sacred Mauna Kea. (30s)
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