AstroDay West 2025 brought a wave of excitement to Kona Commons as crowds gathered around science booths, telescopes and live demonstrations. The University of �鶹��ý (IfA) joined partners across the island to offer a day of engaging ways to explore the universe at the annual event hosted by .

The day-long celebration offered family-friendly learning, free giveaways and simple science experiments designed to spark curiosity. Organizers said the goal was to make astronomy feel approachable for everyone.

“We were excited to provide keiki and families with the opportunity to learn more about science and astronomy right here in Kona,” said Carolyn Kaichi, education and outreach specialist at IfA. “Through hands-on learning and key partnerships with organizations across the island, we hoped to inspire the next generation of local science and technology leaders.”

Sun, sky and science

Visitors lined up to use a special solar telescope to safely view details on the sun’s surface. Nearby booths showed how stars form, how weather shapes our islands and how scientists observe the sky from �鶹��ý’s mountaintops. IfA staff and students answered questions, guided activities and shared stories about their work.

AstroDay has long been a staple for families interested in science with a mission to strengthen public understanding of astronomy and create more opportunities for learning.

The event also featured displays and expertise from a wide range of partners, such as Las Cumbres Observatory, W. M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Subaru Telescope, Canada-France-�鶹��ý Telescope, TMT International Observatory, NASA Solar System Ambassadors and the UH Hilo .

The physical removal of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) on Maunakea is scheduled to begin by early May after extensive planning and permitting, according to an April 6 . CSO is following the (PDF) of the (PDF) for the observatory removal and site restoration.

“Over the winter, we finalized plans and prepared permitting applications to remove the telescope and transport it from the mountain,” said CSO Director Sunil Golwala in the release. “To transport the main mirror of the telescope to the harbor will require several road closures. We are alerting state and county agencies, the University of �鶹��ý at Hilo (CMS) and the community at each step.”

CSO is one of two Maunakea observatories expected to be fully decommissioned in 2023. The physical removal of the UH Hilo Hōkū Keʻa observatory is expected to begin in the fall.

“Decommissioning an observatory is a complicated process involving regulatory approvals ensuring environmental stewardship and public safety,” said UH Hilo CMS Executive Director Greg Chun. “The progress being made on the decommissioning of the first two observatories on Maunakea honors a longstanding commitment made by the university. We will complete this important work as we continue to work diligently on the transition to the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.”

CSO is coordinating with the �鶹��ý Department of Transportation, �鶹��ý County Police Department and County of �鶹��ý Department of Public Works on road permitting requirements for transporting the telescope’s 34-foot diameter primary reflector to Kawaihae Harbor on the Kona coast.

The entire removal process including a practice run is expected to take about six weeks and will involve publicly announced road closures. Much of the work and major road closures will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. to minimize public impact. A map of the anticipated transport route can be found .

“Other telescope parts will be taken down from the summit as weather permits,” said Golwala. “As those parts are smaller, no road closures will be required.”

Once the telescope is removed, the buildings that housed the CSO telescope will be dismantled and the site restored. As required is the sublease for CMS, CSO is paying for the decommissioning, which is expected to exceed $4 million.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public input on whether it should move forward with a formal environmental review for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Maunakea on �鶹��ý Island.

The process begins with . An open comment period runs through September 17 and comments can be submitted in-person at the public meetings or online.

The University of �鶹��ý has no formal role in the NSF process with the establishment of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority authorized by the recent adoption of Act 255 (HB2024), however, UH community members are strongly encouraged to participate in the NSF process including its public hearings.

“Whether you support TMT or not, the NSF needs to hear from you,” said UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship Executive Director Greg Chun. “Robust, public participation is key to finding the best path forward for Maunakea and astronomy in �鶹��ý.”

NSF has developed a Draft Community Engagement Plan to provide multiple opportunities for the public to participate in the environmental review process, which will include a 2–3 day interactive and NSF-facilitated workshop designed to develop a plan to define and practice responsible astronomy in �鶹��ý. The public is invited to comment on draft study plans that outline the scope and methodology to be used in any studies that may be conducted as part of the environmental review.

On July 19, 2022, the NSF posted in the Federal Register, its Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Initiate Section 106 Consultation for a Potential National Science Foundation Investment in the Construction and Operation of an Extremely Large Telescope Located in the Northern Hemisphere and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Comment Period. This notice officially starts (1) the public scoping process for NSF’s environmental impact statement required by the National Environmental Policy Act related to the proposed project’s impacts to resources, and (2) public consultation required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act related to the proposed project’s impacts specifically on properties that are on or qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. .

According to NSF, informal outreach efforts by NSF on �鶹��ý Island began in August 2020 and formally concluded in November 2021. Meetings were held with approximately 150 people regarding perspectives on TMT and astronomy on Maunakea. NSF also received 140 written comments during this timeframe.

for more information on scheduled public meetings or to submit comments.

Following a review of project activities shared by (TIO) with the University of �鶹��ý, UH notified the (DLNR) on April 28, 2021, that work/construction on the TMT project was initiated in 2019 based on project activities in June and July of that year. DLNR has confirmed that this requirement has been satisfied.

This notification to DLNR is required by the Conservation District Use Permit issued by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in September 2017. The project activities in June and July of 2019 included removal of unpermitted structures; onsite GPS verification of locations and coordinates; construction kick-off meeting with civil contractor and subcontractors to review procedures, safety protocols and other related items; locating and surveying onsite underground fiber optic and electrical lines; inspections of TIO construction equipment for invasive species; and the mobilization of 18 vehicles and equipment to the worksite.

The mobilization of vehicles and equipment in July 2019 was blocked for several months by opponents of the project. The work was unable to continue due to factors beyond the control of UH and the project. Future activity has not been announced by TIO.

The University of �鶹��ý acknowledges the reduction of state law enforcement presence on Maunakea initiated by Governor David Ige today. These past months have been difficult for everyone, and we deeply hope this provides a period of reflection for all to continue to seek a positive, peaceful and non-violent path forward on Maunakea and for �鶹��ý.

UH continues to support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) as part of a positive future for modern world-class astronomy on Maunakea, as we also embrace the decommissioning of multiple telescopes on the mauna and the commitments to stewardship, education and culture embedded in the permit conditions for the TMT and the resolutions of our Board of Regents.

UH believes that Maunakea is a place of inspiration, awe and spirituality for many where modern astronomy can and should coexist synergistically with traditional knowledge and culture to advance all the people of �鶹��ý and the world.

I fully recognize that some Hawaiians consider Maunakea to be so sacred that it should not be the home for TMT or any modern observatory. For them, this sacredness outweighs any benefits of modern astronomy to human knowledge, scientific inspiration and discovery, education, or high-quality jobs. Thousands of Hawaiians and others have raised voices in opposition, and I am sorry for the pain that UH’s support of TMT and astronomy on Maunakea has caused.

At the same time, some Hawaiians and others have shared that they consider the study of astrophysics, the beginnings of the universe and the origins of mankind, to be the most spiritual of endeavors. Some consider the fact that Maunakea is the best site in the world for astronomical observation to be a gift to the people who were the best naked eye astronomers of their day—the Polynesians who first settled here after navigating to these most isolated of islands using their knowledge of the stars along with the ocean and winds, the clouds and the birds.

I am personally inspired by amazing collaborations over these past few years in which astronomers have been working together with cultural and language experts and educators: the connections being explored between modern astrophysics and the Kumulipo; the Maunakea Scholars Program through which �鶹��ý high school students on every island are developing research proposals and answering their own questions using the best telescopes in the world; and Hawaiian-speaking students who have engaged with experts in ʻōlelo �鶹��ý and astronomy to create new Hawaiian names for celestial bodies discovered in �鶹��ý. These inspiring synergies show us the possibilities, and they are examples of collaborations that take place nowhere else on earth.

The university will also continue to strengthen our stewardship of Maunakea, which has become exemplary after the missteps of the first decades. The resolution adopted by the UH Board of Regents in November 2019 commits us to redouble our efforts to accelerate decommissioning, to streamline our internal management model, to explore new collaborative approaches to stewardship and management, and to advance education and culture on the mauna.

We must also acknowledge that TMT and even Maunakea are not the sole root causes of the deep turmoil that �鶹��ý has faced over these last months, including the reawakening of many to the need for justice. The historic wrongs against Native Hawaiians have resulted in many problems that have been intractable thus far: Hawaiian health disparities, shorter life spans, increased houselessness, lower educational attainment, economic inequality, increased incarceration rates and more. There is also much work ahead to help ensure and advance the revitalization and normalization of ʻōlelo �鶹��ý and to bring back to the fore the wisdom of those who lived so sustainably in our islands prior to western contact. And we have yet to resolve complex policy issues around Hawaiian Home Lands, ceded lands and our ability to make difficult decisions as a community about complex projects.

UH must bring our consequential capacities to bear in collaboration with like-minded allies, whether opponents or supporters of TMT and astronomy, to address these many challenges and opportunities for Native Hawaiians and �鶹��ý. At the same time, we have substantial work ahead on our campuses to advance healthy climates that ensure equity and respect among our incredibly diverse communities of students, faculty and staff of different backgrounds. practices and beliefs. We can and must be welcoming to all.

As we enter this holiday season and the beginning of a new decade, we celebrate, congratulate and honor our recent graduates. I hope we can all reflect on our opportunities as part of the University of �鶹��ý, the institution that more than any other can lead the way to a better future for our islands and all who call �鶹��ý home.

David Lassner, President
University of �鶹��ý

“The task of ethics within the context of civil disobedience is to open up the realm of thinking about one’s values and viewpoints,” said Associate Professor of Philosophy Celia Bardwell-Jones.

UH Hilo philosophy and business faculty held a public symposium in September titled, “Do We Have an Obligation to Obey the Law?: Civil Disobedience in a Global Context.”

Brief talks were presented by philosophy professors Bardwell-Jones, Chris Lauer and Tim Freeman, as well as Benjamin Zenk, instructor of business management and ethics. The catalyst for the discussion was the ongoing protests of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Maunakea. Speakers addressed the history and ethical dimensions of civil disobedience and other nonviolent practices.

“The ethical question we are going to attempt to answer today is, ‘Do we have a moral obligation to obey the law?’” said Bardwell-Jones. “If we don’t get an answer, we hope that we leave you with more questions that we hope that you can then reflect on later. The task of ethics within the context of civil disobedience is to open up the realm of thinking about one’s values and viewpoints. Civil disobedience encourages us to reflect on standards of justice that we may take for granted. Just because it is the law, is it moral?”

She added, “I would like to first acknowledge and recognize the efforts of civil disobedience that are occurring on the mauna currently. We believe that this is the perfect practice and expression of civil disobedience that is happening right now so close to home. As a department we have little epistemic authority or credibility to speak about the ethics of civil disobedience compared to the rich knowledge that is happening on the mauna. We would like to recognize that knowledge production.”

History of civil disobedience

Freeman, who has visited the mauna several times during the protest, spoke on the history of civil disobedience and on the Hawaiian concept of kapu aloha, a code of conduct demanding restraint, empathy and respect. He contrasted his experiences at the tumultuous 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle with his time at Maunakea. “I am impressed by what is going on up at the mauna,” he said. “Whatever you think of the issue, I think we all have to say their commitment to kapu aloha and nonviolence training sessions are impressive.”

Freeman explained that the point of nonviolent civil disobedience is to draw the public’s attention to an issue. He cited Henry David Thoreau’s 1848 essay on civil disobedience, which argues that an individual has the duty to disobey unjust laws. Martin Luther King Jr., in his letter from a Birmingham jail, argued that civil disobedience should be nonviolent, and those who engage in it should be willing to pay the penalty of disobeying the law and going to jail. Doing this shows respect for the law without agreeing with the law.

“The whole point of civil disobedience is not to overthrow the state but to raise awareness about the issue to the public so the issue can be addressed,” said Freeman. “What has been going on up at the mauna has made people really think more deeply and reexamine the issue, which I think is broader or bigger than just science versus religion. It is about our whole way of being now that we are facing the crisis of our time with climate change and our relationship to the earth.”

Jimmy Naniʻole, one of the 38 kūpuna who were arrested for blocking the road at the initial protests, spoke during the question and answer period and thanked the speakers for participating. “I want to thank all of you for sharing the philosophical basis for why the mauna is so important not only to �鶹��ý it is important to every Indigenous and native people of the world,“ says Naniʻole. “I don’t think there is a person in this room who doesn’t have an indigenous or native connection. Whether you are from Ireland or Africa. We are all one and the same.”

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Mokaulele Program, the chancellor’s offices and at , the �鶹��ý Island Philosophy Club, the and the .

—By Leah Sherwood, a UH Hilo tropical conservation biology and environmental science graduate student

The start of the fall semester not only marked the first day of classes, but for a group of students, it marked day one of a sit-in protest at Bachman Hall on the campus. This is the latest in a long line of sit-in protests at Bachman that date back to the late 1960s.

The students say they are affirming their commitment to protect Maunakea and their opposition to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the summit of Maunakea.

They have been hosting ʻAha (ceremony) three times a day at Ke Ahu o Wise, the altar on the lawn fronting Bachman Hall that was first raised in 2015 in response to the TMT conflict. Bamboo structures honoring the 38 kupuna arrested while blocking the access road to Maunakea on July 17, 2019, have been placed around the altar.

“We as students can make a difference,” said Beau Shishido, a UH ����ԴDz� ʻŌlelo �鶹��ý graduate student and one of the sit-in organizers. “It’s about holding administration, the university accountable. Research conducted by the University of �鶹��ý should not be at the expense of Hawaiian religion, culture, or people.”

Students have been holding the university accountable by occupying Bachman Hall for 50 years with sit-ins in 1968, 1995, 2005 and 2006.

It all began in 1968

In 1968, there was a 10-day student and faculty sit-in protesting the Vietnam War and the denial of tenure for a political science professor who had served as advisor of an anti-war student group.

It lasted for days while hundreds of students and faculty camped out inside the building as well as on the front lawn. During the protest, students even renamed the Bachman “Liberation Hall.” Even though several students were arrested, UH ����ԴDz� Emeritus Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Diversity Amy Agbayani remembers the teach-in, as she also refers to it, as peaceful and non-violent.

“The sit-in at Bachman was an educational movement for students and the community who weren’t aware of the issues and facts surrounding the anti-war movement and academic freedom at the time,” said Agbayani, then a political science graduate student. “It was well-organized, and we had good face-to-face communication with then administrator Robert Potter, who would come down and talk with us one-on-one.”

Bachman sit-in history

In 1995, faculty staged a teach-in and march on the front lawn of Bachman Hall challenging a $9 million state appropriation cut proposed by then Governor Ben Cayetano that would endanger UH ����ԴDz� programs.

The 2005 sit-in lasted seven days when hundreds of students, faculty and supporters occupied the president’s office on the second floor of Bachman Hall protesting the proposed University Affiliated Research Center that would receive $50 million funding from the United States Navy. Protestors worried the university would engage in classified military research and lead to an increased military presence in �鶹��ý.

The March and April 2006 protest at Bachman Hall was in opposition to UH ����ԴDz�’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources patenting three varieties of hybridized Hawaiian taro. Protestors cited the cultural significance of taro and said that UH did not own the rights to it nor should it profit from it.

There have been other demonstrations that have taken place at Bachman Hall over the years as well, according to long-time campus community members.

“A good tradition”

Agbayani says sit-ins at Bachman are a good tradition that creates an educational opportunity for both sides to talk, as well as draw community support. She added, “The point of a demonstration is to start the conversation, start talking, even though both sides may not always agree.”

UH ����ԴDz� student Tiele-Lauren Doudt, one of the organizers of the TMT sit-in protest, believes the current sit-in is the longest in Bachmanʻs history. Itʻs a tradition she plans to support after she graduates.

“Who knows, perhaps one day when we become kūpuna, there will be a new generation of students rising to address UH and state agendas,” said Doudt. “If or when that ever happens, we will join them here at Bachman, to let them know that they are not alone in the struggle for justice.”

The University of �鶹��ý (BOR) is expected to consider a motion to “Appoint a Permitted Interaction Group to Investigate Issues and Make Recommendations Related to Maunakea Governance.” The item is on the BOR’s August 2 agenda. [Editor’s note, 8/2/2019: The board approved the appointment of the Permitted Interaction Group.] The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the UH Mānoa Information Technology Building, first floor conference room 105A/B. Other items under consideration, following the election of the new board leadership last month, are new committee structures and related proposed amendments to policies and bylaws.

The full board is being asked to consider the appointment of the permitted interaction group, which would be tasked to investigate issues related to the university’s stewardship and governance activities on Maunakea. The group would then make findings and recommendations regarding the development of a statement expressing principles supported by the BOR as pertains to Maunakea, in addition to those articulated in the Resolution Affirming Commitment to the Collaborative Stewardship of Maunakea’s Cultural, Natural, Educational and Scientific Resources, adopted by the BOR on August 24, 2017.

The Sunshine Law governing open public meetings allows a board to appoint a group consisting of less than a quorum of its members to investigate matters for the board. The appointment of the group and designation of its assigned task must be done at a public board meeting. This will occur at the August 2 BORmeeting. After the group undertakes its assigned task, its findings and recommendations must be presented to the board at a public meeting, and the board cannot act on any recommendations until a subsequent public meeting. Thus, the process to create a permitted interaction group, receive its report on its work, and take action of any recommendations will occur in three separate public meetings, with the opportunity for public review and input.

All written testimony on agenda items received up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting will be distributed to the board. Late testimony on agenda items will be distributed to the board within 24 hours of receipt. Written testimony may be submitted via U.S. mail, email at bor.testimony@hawaii.edu or facsimile at (808) 956-5156. Individuals submitting written testimony are not automatically signed up for oral testimony. Registration for oral testimony on agenda items will be provided at the meeting location 15 minutes prior to the meeting and closed once the meeting begins. Oral testimony is limited to three (3) minutes. All written testimony submitted are public documents. Therefore, any testimony that is submitted verbally or in writing, electronically or in person, for use in the public meeting process is public information.

Aloha, and apologies for the length of this message.

On Sunday I was fortunate to visit Maunakea at the invitation of some of our UH Hawaiian leaders. I wanted to witness what is happening there for myself. I was grateful to exchange warm greetings and aloha with the kupuna there that day, most of whom have been colleagues for many years. Throughout my short visit, I was privileged to experience the gracious spirit of those I encountered. I also witnessed tremendous resolve.

I know that many of you have been seeking a response to the messages you have sent me both individually and collectively. Thank you, and please know that I have read every one. These messages share some common themes:

• There is vehement opposition to the building of TMT on Maunakea by hundreds of UH community members and many more in the wider community for a variety of reasons.
• There is also substantial support to proceed with construction.
• There was serious concern about the Emergency Proclamation made by Governor Ige as it relates to the health and safety of UH students, employees and other community members on Maunakea.
• Astronomers and observatory staff are extremely concerned about their lack of access to the current observatories and the future of astronomy on Maunakea.

I believe a number of recent events are moving us in a peaceful direction that is positive for all the people of �鶹��ý.

• Yesterday Mayor Kim shared comments about his meeting late last week with Native Hawaiian leaders from across the community. They have agreed to continue to work together to try and find a peaceful resolution.
• All parties on the mauna have agreed to the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of the highway and Mauna Kea Access Road. This is a positive step forward for the safety of all on the mauna and for all on �鶹��ý Island who use the highway.
• Progress has been made toward improving access to the mauna by both cultural practitioners and workers other than astronomers. It is our hope that routine shared access can be restored soon for all.
• Today the State approved a request UH submitted on behalf of TMT to extend the construction start deadline. I believe that the pressure of a deadline, which was largely arbitrary due to extenuating circumstances such as completion of legal processes, has not been helpful in trying to resolve this extraordinarily complex situation. Although the removal of this deadline gives us more time to work together toward peaceful resolution, I acknowledge that some members of our community will be upset.
• Since there are no imminent plans to move the TMT construction equipment up the mauna, Governor Ige has now lifted the Emergency Proclamation. This follows the departure from Maunakea of police officers from Honolulu and Maui.

I still believe in the educational, inspirational and scientific benefits that TMT and modern world-class astronomy can bring to the people of �鶹��ý. I realize that TMT now represents a huge source of friction in our work to become a model indigenous-serving university and Hawaiian Place of Learning. We will need many conversations over the months ahead to work on that together. My heart and mind are open as I continue to listen and share.

Let me close with my biggest concern: we need to keep the fabric of our university from being torn apart. In a time of differing opinions, points of view, historical understandings, and lived experiences, we can learn from each other and ultimately strengthen our community. I am committed to accomplishing this with you.

Aloha,
David Lassner
President

Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea begins today:
(Read more about the beginning of construction.)

Members of our campus communities and the general public have had different reactions and responses to this announcement. At all the University of �鶹��ý campuses, we are steadfast in our mission of challenging students to reach their highest level of achievement by inspiring learning, discovery and creativity inside and outside the classroom. This means we must all embrace opportunities to have empathetic discussions about our disparate opinions, including those that oppose decisions made by the university and state.

We stand committed to the free and open exchange of ideas and affirm the rights of members of our community to engage in free speech and expression guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of the State of �鶹��ý. UH has a clear and impressive history of diverse ideas, opinions and world views being expressed in different ways by members of our on-campus and extended community. We recognize that the issue of Maunakea and the construction of the TMT has and will continue to draw many into an open exchange of ideas and we encourage such dialogue in ways that are safe and respectful of different perspectives.

The safety of our faculty, staff and students is paramount. This includes emotional, intellectual and physical safety. UH provides support services for these situations, and those who experience emotional trauma or stress regarding this issue or any other issue should reach out to campus support services. Those who experience intimidation or harassment should contact on campus security and/or administration.

We commend those who have engaged in peaceful and non-disruptive protection of the things they hold dear and demonstration against things they oppose. In particular, we have been inspired by the Kapu Aloha that has been called for on the mauna. In anticipation of further peaceful demonstrations, UH has developed guidelines for faculty and staff, including student employees, with information in the event they encounter forms of expression that may alarm them or prevent them from accessing or leaving their place of employment.

As our state’s only public higher education system, UH has a deep responsibility to provide high-quality affordable education to advance our people, our communities and our islands. That mission requires that we support and celebrate peaceful dialogue, diverse perspectives and critical analysis, as we continue our work in teaching, learning, scholarship and service. Mahalo for all you do to contribute to this vibrant campus!

Aloha,
UH Leadership