TMT debate
I have lived in Hawaii for only 50 years and on the Big Island for only 35 years. I was not born here, and my family has not lived here for generations. I am only a visitor to this land that I have made my home. I speak only for myself.
I have personal opinions about the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea. I am conflicted, because I know that great wrongs have been committed in the past against the people of Hawaii, both on Maunakea and elsewhere in this land.
But I am also in favor of using the gift of Maunakea, unique in this world, to further the quest of all mankind to understand our world and contribute to our navigation of the universe.
There are strong opinions on all sides.
I ask only that all of you — especially true Hawaiians and Big Island kama‘aina whose families have lived here for generations and are directly affected — to please talk story with your family, your neighbors and your friends before making up your mind and taking strong action either for or against TMT.
What is truly right for you and your family? What is pono for you, the true people of Hawaii?
Be strong, but also be pono, and act with true aloha for your people and for the ‘aina.
Joel Aycock
Hawaiian Acres
Create a park
As 15-year residents of Leilani Estates, we were saddened by the news that the Leilani Community Association is planning to sue the county in federal court for continued security at the Leilani checkpoint.
While we are NOT members of that association, we ARE residents of Leilani Estates — the older portion with unpaved roads, which we like. Some members of the association fear letting “just anyone” into Leilani Estates, but we miss the free access to our home for our friends, family and visitors that we have always enjoyed, and we find the continued checkpoint cumbersome and unnecessary.
Some in the association don’t want to be inconvenienced by visitors curious about fissure 8, but we would like to see a “Leilani Park” where visitors could come visit fissure 8 with its new lava field — if adequate infrastructure, appropriate security and convenient parking could be assured. We believe such a park is the best way to assure Leilani’s future as a desirable residential subdivision.
Since early in the lava flow, people have needed a placard to get into Leilani Estates, so mostly only residents were able to see the fabulous and beautiful “lava river” spectacle that was so special but challenging. Now that we have fissure 8, and its surroundings in a field of new lava, we would hate to cut off visitors from this new addition to Earth’s lithosphere.
Hopefully, we can ALL find a way to feel secure and safe without trying to keep out the rest of the world, and without taking our county to court. Please, let’s try to work this out so we can progress in peace and harmony as well as safety and security for our homes, our subdivision and our relations, both with each other and the whole island.
Steve Sparks
Andrea Rosanoff
Leilani Estates
