The Thirty Meter Telescope might be a Big Island project, but Oahu is clearly TMT country.

In the latest Hawaii Poll, more than three-quarters of Oahu’s likely primary voters say they support construction of the controversial $1.4 billion astronomy project, and more than half say it would negatively affect Hawaii’s business reputation if it does not go forward.

Ward Research Inc. asked 401 would-be voters their opinions on a range of issues in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s latest scientific survey, conducted June 30 through July 9.

On one of the state’s hottest topics for more than a year, 76 percent of Oahu residents responded that they support moving ahead with construction of the TMT on Mauna Kea, while 17 percent are opposed to advancing the project, and 8 percent either didn’t know or declined to answer the question. The margin of error is 4.9 percent.

Even most of Oahu’s Native Hawaiians are backing the TMT, with 57 percent supporting construction and 40 percent opposing while 4 percent didn’t know or declined to answer. The margin of error is 12.9 percent.

In addition, 57 percent of Oahu voters said there would be a negative effect on Hawaii’s business reputation if the next-generation telescope were not built. Of those, 26 percent went a step further and indicated that failure to build would negatively affect Hawaii’s business reputation strongly.

Eight percent said there would be a positive effect on Hawaii’s business reputation if the TMT were not built, while 30 percent said they didn’t think there would be any effect. Some 5 percent didn’t know or declined to answer. The margin of error is 4.9 percent.

As for Native Hawaiians, 57 percent said not building the TMT would have a negative effect on the state’s business reputation, while 15 percent said it would have a positive effect and 38 percent said there would be no effect.

The TMT remains stalled after protesters repeatedly blocked construction crews on the mountain last year and then the state Supreme Court in December ruled that the state committed a due-process error in approving the project’s conservation district use permit in 2011. The high court invalidated the permit and ordered a new contested case hearing, which should be getting underway in the next few months.

When looking back to the last Hawaii Poll six months ago, it appears support for the TMT is on the rise on Oahu, while opposition is diminishing. In January 70 percent expressed support for the telescope while 24 percent opposed the project.

Statewide in January the Hawaii Poll found more than two-thirds of the state’s registered voters backing the telescope, while most of the Native Hawaiians who were asked did not. Some 59 percent of Hawaiians statewide said they opposed the TMT’s construction, while 39 percent offered support. Just 2 percent declined to give an opinion.

Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the California- based TMT, said he was pleased by the results of the newest poll.

“These poll results affirm what we have been seeing and experiencing out in the community over the last several months, which is an overwhelmingly positive sentiment toward TMT,” he said in a statement. “We’ve heard repeatedly from people how appreciative and excited they are about the THINK Fund, the workforce pipeline program and other benefits TMT brings to Hawaii. The support is truly welcome and we are grateful for it. We, once again, thank all of our supporters in Hawaii.”

Kealoha Pisciotta of the Mauna Kea Hui, the litigants against TMT, said she was disappointed. She said most folks apparently don’t understand how the state Constitution protects the cultural and traditional practices that will be affected by the massive project near the mountain’s summit.

Pisciotta said it appears the Honolulu public relations firm TMT hired is swaying public opinion.

“We’re going on aloha, not on a PR firm,” she said.

University of Hawaii astronomer Paul Coleman, who is also a Native Hawaiian, said he’s surprised the poll doesn’t show higher numbers in support of the TMT.

“If you look at the facts and you’re not hurt by the past, you realize it’s all good, a very positive thing for Hawaii,” he said.

20160719 Hawaii Poll Tables July 2016 – TMT by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd