In a setback for opponents of mountaintop telescope development, state and county law enforcement arrested 27 people and cited six others early Friday during protests against astronomy projects being built on the summits of Mauna Kea and Haleakala.

But the telescope foes vowed to regroup.

"We knew this was coming. This was no surprise. We were prepared for it. They have taken the bait. And now we holomua (progress)," Mauna Kea protest leader Lanakila Manguail said Friday in an online message to his fellow "protectors."

Two weeks after Gov. David Ige signed emergency rules restricting overnight access to Mauna Kea for 120 days, police and state officials arrested seven protesters and cited six others early Friday on the Hawaii island mountain.

In a written statement issued after Friday’s arrests on Hawaii island, Ige said: "The emergency rules were enacted to ensure public safety and access after the road was blocked by boulders. The state has made sure people are aware of and understand the emergency rules before taking the next step. While we had hoped arrests would not have to be made in the process of citing violators last night, we were prepared to take action, and we did so."

On Maui, meanwhile, police arrested 20 people who tried to block a convoy of construction materials bound for the summit of Haleakala.

Demonstrators had surprised officials with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope June 24, prompting a postponement of the shipment then. This time, the police were out in force as 200 peaceful protesters attempted to block three semitrailers loaded with oversize telescope parts.

Five protesters joined hands inside polyvinyl chloride pipes fastened with duct tape and laid themselves lay in front of the vehicles. Police spent several hours using handsaws to cut through the pipes, and the vehicles eventually went on their way up the mountain.

Joseph McMullin, project manager of the $340 million Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, issued this statement Friday: "Last night, despite plans announced by protesters to prevent materials from departing the Central Maui Baseyard — all (three) planned transports for the summit arrived safely at the summit."

He added that the arrests were regrettable, but he was thankful authorities were able to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

"We are pleased to be able to continue to work on this telescope that will allow astronomers to glean new insights into solar phenomena and discover new information about how our nearest star works that can serve as a basis for protecting vital space-based assets, the power grid, and communication and weather satellites," McMullin said.

Protesters say the 14-story telescope will desecrate what they view as a sacred mountain and have demanded that construction be halted pending the outcome of a Hawaii Supreme Court decision.

Those arrested, including University of Hawaii Maui College Hawaiian studies professors Kiope Raymond and Kaleikoa Kaeo, were charged with refusing right of way, resisting arrest, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct and posted $600 bail. They are:

» Cameron Ahia, 43, of Waihee.
» Hiilei Aiwohi-Kolt, 19, of Wailuku.
» Kaena Elaban, 27, of Pukalani.
» Kristen Enriquez, 26, of Kihei.
» Wade Homes, 40, of Kihei.
» Jonathan Irvine, 31, of Waiehu.
» Kahala Johnson, 29, of Waiehu.
» Sean George, 27, of Honolulu.
» Pohai Kaikala, 20, of Pukalani.
» Dustin Kaleiopu, 18, of Lahaina.
» Christopher Kasak, 37, of Makawao.
» Christopher Nakahashi, 31, of Haiku.
» David Praise, 37, of Wailuku.
» Alexander Quintana, 25, of Wailuku.
» Stanley Kiope Raymond, 60, of Kula.
» Sunny Savage-Luskin, 38, of Haiku.
» Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond, 56, of Kula.
» Jordan Takakura-Puha, 24, of Paia.
» Tiare Lawrence, 33, of Pukalani.
» Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo, 49, of Kula.

On Hawaii island, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement officers surprised the protesters at about 2 a.m. near the Mauna Kea Visitors Information Station, where they have camped for nearly four months.

The emergency rule, which went into effect on July 14, prohibits camping on the mountain and restricts nonvehicular access to the Mauna Kea Access Road between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

DLNR spokesman Dan Dennison said state officers, Hawaii County police and Mauna Kea rangers teamed up to make the arrests.

Dennison said 13 protesters were cited, but seven refused the citations and were taken to the Hilo police station and booked on a petty misdemeanor offense.

Those booked by Hawaii island police and posting $250 bail were:

» Joseph Henderson, 26, of Pahoa.
» Eric Ana, 35, of Kaawa.
» Marcus S. Yoshizu, 26, of Kaneohe.
» Pueo K.M.M. McGuire-Turcotte 27, of Naalehu.
» D’Angelo McIntyre 29, of Honolulu.
» Bronson Kobayashi, 23, of Hilo.
» Laakeaokani Sanborn, 32, of Kona.

In addition, McGuire-Turcotte was also arrested for resisting arrest and for contempt of court. His total bail, which included an existing contempt of court warrant, was $3,100. Kobayashi was also arrested for failure to appear. Bail for that charge was an additional $150.

These protesters were cited but not arrested: Michael Kyser; Lakea Trask; Sam Whatley-Kelliihoomalu; Justin Murphy; Caleb Murphy; and Kapono Kuikahi, a state official said.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources adopted the emergency rule three weeks ago to regain control and restore safety to the summit region following months of protests over the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope.

On April 2, authorities arrested 31 people when protesters blocked workers from reaching the construction site of the $1.4 billion project. On June 24, a total of 12 protesters were arrested among the hundreds who ultimately turned away a convoy of workers trying to restart construction.

Friday morning’s arrests and citations followed more than a week of warnings issued by DLNR officers. In addition, signs were installed and flyers were handed out describing the specific provisions of the rule.

Officials wouldn’t say when any further law enforcement efforts would occur. They said only that it could continue at any time while the 120-day rule is in effect.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees issued a statement urging the state to stop further enforcement action and arrests until legal questions relating to the Mauna Kea emergency rule are resolved. A contested case and at least one lawsuit has been filed against the rule.

"Native Hawaiians have constitutionally protected rights to reasonably engage in traditional and customary practices, and regulations cannot eliminate the exercise of these rights. We hope for a resolution that ensures our beneficiaries’ rights are protected instead of violated," OHA Chairman Robert Lindsey said.

Others condemned Friday morning’s enforcement actions.

"It’s appalling and disgusting what they did with these people in the spirit of peace and aloha trying to protect sacred areas from further desecration," said Moanikeala Akaka of Hilo, a former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee who was arrested on Mauna Kea April 2.

Kealoha Pisciotta, leader of the Mauna Kea Hui, blasted the enforcement actions, saying authorities on different islands moved simultaneously, perhaps only to minimize the negative publicity.

"Obviously there was some communication between them," she said.

But Dennison of the DLNR said the actions were "wholly independent," to his knowledge.

Also on Friday, telescope foes said there are rumors the state will move soon to take control of the Mauna Kea summit area with a special armed force that will establish a permanent garrison allowing the TMT to commence work.

Dennison said he was unaware of any such plan, while Jodi Leong, Ige’s spokeswoman, declined to comment on any possible future enforcement action.