Whether you are for or against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, there are a few things that are as plain as day.

First, the scientists who traverse the mountain are horrible drivers. They drive too fast, and are not courteous. Their only concern is to get up the mountain as quickly as possible to do their studies.

The second culprits are the tour drivers in a rush to get their clients to the prime locations for that sunset view. They are sharing it with 15-20 other vans, and hundreds of naive tourists, seven days a week.

The third violator is the local resident who is ignorant on what is pono. Tire tracks on most of the cones near the summit attest to this; they never go away.

The fourth perpetrator is the University of Hawaii, for its many years of mismanaging the mountain. It should be stripped of this responsibility.

There should be a five-year moratorium on Mauna Kea to let the mountain heal. No motorized vehicles past Hale Pohaku.

Stan Atkins

Keaau, Hawaii island

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