As the contested case for the Haleakala Telescope wraps up, Don Reeser, the retired superintendent of Haleakala National Park, testified that the proposed solar telescope would negatively impact the nearby park with noise and a big telescope building, and it would degrade the preservation of Native Hawaiian traditional and cultural practices.
Kilakila attorney David Kimo Frankel argued that some things are not mitigatable, including rights of Native Hawaiian practitioners. He denied that benefits off site could be used to compensate for losses on site.
Kiope Raymond of Kilakila said: “It does not matter if a few Hawaiians think that a few other Hawaiians will benefit. The overwhelming majority of Hawaiians believe it will have long-term, major, adverse impacts.”
The land board approved the conservation district use permit in December. Kilakila intervened. UH is the applicant for the permit.
The Maui News reports that this will probably go to Circuit Court either way.
