Thousands of protesters gathered at the Mauna Kea access road on Sunday on the 28th day after construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) was scheduled to begin. It was just one event that was part of demonstrations all over the Hawaiian Islands opposing the TMT.
Actor Jason Momoa and U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard joined the protests, as did thousands of surfers via social media. The hashtags #SurfsforMaunaKea and #MaukaToMakai were trending, prompting surfers like Dustin Barca, John John Florence, Kelly Slater, Brisa Hennessy, and Leila Hurst to add their voices to the uproar.
“Using the hashtags #SurfersForMaunaKea #MaukaToMakai ocean enthusiasts posted images of themselves supporting the protection of Mauna Kea from all over the world,” wrote the protest organizers. “Their solidarity with the kia‘i (guardians) of Mauna Kea illustrates how the mountain and oceans are all connected. Furthermore, he‘e nalu (surfing) was invented in Hawai‘i, therefore, the international surf community and Native Hawaiians have a shared cultural ancestry. Prominent Native Hawaiian surfers like two-time World Surf League (WSL) longboard champion Kelia Moniz as well as Championship Tour competitors Seth Moniz and Ezekiel Lau posted their support for the protection of Mauna Kea and their opposition of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Instagram. Two-Time WSL Champion John John Florence, who is a proud resident of the North Shore of O‘ahu, also joined in the #SurfersForMaunaKea campaign.”
Gabbard, who livestreamed her visit, posted the following clip on Youtube:
“It’s so good to be home, it’s so good to be here,” Gabbard said. “Mahalo nui to the kūpuna here for your kind words and your warm welcome, and the example that you are setting for not only the people who are gathered here but for the many who are watching from across the United States, and around the world. I’m grateful to be here to be able to share my Aloha with all of you as we recognize that what is happening here is about so much more than just a telescope. That this speaks to not only the history of disrespect and dishonoring of sacred places here in Hawaiʻi, but this alarming trend that we see happening around the world. The danger and the consequence of what happens to us as people when we lose touch with our spiritual roots and when we lose touch with ke Akua and these sacred places, the replenishment that we get when we come to places like this, when we have the opportunity to say our prayers to fulfill our cultural practices.”
For those not able to make it to the Islands, a global protest formed. Singing at the same time on August 11, 2019, at 11:11 a.m. HST, those who stand in opposition to the massive telescope sang in unison from Iolani Palace in Hawaii to Times Square in New York City.
