As the former director of the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii, and the current director of science of the European Space Agency, I would like to give an outside/inside view on the conflict about the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii.
Maunakea on Hawaii Island is arguably the best site on the northern hemisphere to do astronomy. In the last half century there has hardly been an astronomical breakthrough where telescopes on Maunakea were not involved. Just consider black holes, dark matter, dark energy and the quest for life on planets around other stars — Maunakea has been at the forefront.
With respect for the Hawaiian host culture, more and more breakthrough discoveries have been given Hawaiian names, like the local supercluster of galaxies Laniakea, or the first interstellar visitor ‘Oumuamua. The role of Maunakea with TMT will remain vital in astronomy.
The observatory on the mountain was originally founded after the devastating tsunami of 1960 in Hilo with the explicit goal to develop astronomy as an economic driver. In the meantime, astronomy in Hawaii has an economic impact of more than $170 million per year, and provides close to 1,000 clean high-tech jobs with employment opportunities in STEM fields for local young people.
Beyond the simple numbers, astronomy diversifies the economy and gives local young scientific and technical talents a wealth of opportunities to realize their potential without having to leave family and friends to pursue a career elsewhere. These opportunities are not just for astronomers — the workforce has more than 50% local employees.
The most important aspect in this workforce pipeline is education, starting in schools and ending with higher education. The fascination of astronomical research attracts a whole generation of children into the world of science. Every year the Journey through the Universe reaches more than 7,000 school kids in Hilo; the HI-Star and Maunakea Scholars programs train local high school kids in STEM fields; and the Akamai program provides high-tech internships, many of them for Native Hawaiians. The academic astronomy education in the UH system is among the finest and most attractive in the U.S.
As the highest peak in all of Polynesia, Maunakea has also enormous importance to Native Hawaiians and is among the most revered sites in the state. The resurgence of the Native Hawaiian culture and the drive for political self-determination in the later 20th century led to significant tensions with the growth of astronomy in Hawaii, culminating in the current conflict around the TMT.
Admittedly, the management of astronomy on the mountain was less than optimal in the first decades of the observatory. However, the university and the state of Hawaii have learned their lessons — and the mountain management improved dramatically over the last two decades, “ … balancing the competing interests of culture, conservation, scientific research, and recreation” (state audit, 2014).
TMT has added to this change of paradigm, taking to heart the environmental and cultural concerns and minimizing its impact. With substantial lease payments and generous support to the education and workforce pipeline it has already benefitted thousands of members in the local community. TMT had to go through an arduous process of legal challenges over the last decade, but has cleared all hurdles with the latest Hawaii Supreme Court ruling.
I have personally participated in many of these deliberations, often side by side with the protesters. I have also tried to help find common ground for a solution of the conflict.
But the TMT is like a lightning rod and a highly visible pole to hoist the flag of Hawaiian sovereignty. This way TMT and astronomy in Hawaii have been taken hostage for a much bigger cause, which they cannot solve — regardless of whether TMT will be built in Hawaii or not. If we cannot find a way to share this majestic mountain for culture and science, I am afraid that astronomy in Hawaii will dwindle.
Guenther Hassinger is former director of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy.
