The Canadian group among the partners behind the Thirty Meter Telescope has said it would withhold its backing unless Native Hawaiians support it: “It is important to us that astronomical facilities are only constructed where they are welcomed by the communities in which they are built,” said one spokesman.

It was supposed to be a clarifying statement, but it’s unclear how they could measure support. This is easier to do if an indigenous group has unified governance — which doesn’t exist here.

Bringing football to UH-Manoa campus

Architectural renderings of a retrofit project at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex depict views of a vibrant green field and bleachers for University of Hawaii football games, with seating initially expanding from 3,585 to about 9,000. Due to the moratorium on events at aging Aloha Stadium — along with the uncertain pace toward building a replacement at the Halawa site — the Rainbow Warriors will be calling the complex at UH-Manoa home for at least a few years.

This switch to the smaller venue, which will cost an estimated $8.3 million to retrofit, may serve as an tryout of sorts to gauge whether an on-campus home is a good fit for football.