Seven protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope were arrested by state conservation officers early this morning for violating the new emergency rule restricting access on Mauna Kea, according to officials.
Seven protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope were arrested by state conservation officers early this morning for violating the new emergency rule restricting access on Mauna Kea, according to officials.
The arrests occurred around 2 a.m. at the camp set up outside the Mauna Kea Visitors Information Station.
Dan Dennison, a spokesman for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said there were seven arrests and six citations. All the arrests were for being in the restricted area.
The enforcement action comes exactly three weeks after the state Land Board approved them via a 5-2 vote.
The temporary rules are meant to deal with what state officials described as an “imminent peril” to public safety and natural resources resulting from the protests. In addition to prohibiting certain camping gear, including tents, sleeping bags and stoves, the rule restricts being within a mile of Mauna Kea Access Road at night, from 10 p.m.-4 a.m., unless in a moving vehicle.
Read Saturday’s edition of the Tribune-Herald for more details.