MAUNA KEA >> U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard toured the protest camp on Mauna Kea today, embracing activists and visiting with kupuna or elders who have been camped in the roadway for four weeks.

Gabbard also embraced an enforcement officer with the Department of Land and Natural Resources as she approached the kupuna tent, which has been the nerve center of the demonstrations that have blocked the Mauna Kea Access Road.

More than 3,000 opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope turned out for another day of protests today, lingering to pray, listen to music and watch hula performances on the closed roadway.

Gabbard, who represents the neighbor islands in the Congress, has called on Gov. David Ige to delay construction of the telescope and deactivate about 80 Hawaii National Guard troops that were called up to help move construction equipment to the summit area.

The protests have stopped the $1.4 billion TMT project in its tracks while Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim leads discussions to try to resolve the impasse.