There seem to be misinformed proponents on both sides of the Thirty Meter Telescope issue. This misinformation among the general public creates an unhealthy stigma against space observatories and disregards the right for Hawaiians to reclaim and maintain their identity.

Instead of a mutually thriving relationship between space exploration and the Hawaiian community, there is a major rift that pushes reconciliation further out of reach; and this is all due to misunderstandings and a failure to listen.

There needs to be more awareness of the benefits of space exploration (knowledge and spinoff technology) and benefits from the telescopes for the local community (funding for social programs and jobs).

More importantly, there need to be reminders of why so many Hawaiians are protesting to protect their identity and homeland (colonialism, mismanagement of current observatories, and unfulfilled promises to the environment and its inhabitants).

William Boyd

Ewa Beach

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