Appellate court affirms police presence on Maunakea

Police officers line the edge of the pavement on July 17, 2019, on Maunakea Access Road. (Tribune-Herald file photo)

Hawaii County Police Chief Paul Ferreira had the legal authority to request police officers from other counties to help maintain order on Maunakea during 2019 protests over the Thirty Meter Telescope, the state Intermediate Court of Appeals said Wednesday in an opinion upholding a ruling by 3rd Circuit Court Judge Henry Nakamoto.