Coming out of the week of the full moon and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, our eyes have been guided skyward, and our minds to the courageous feats of the sky wayfinders.
Whether skywatching virtually and/or via naked eye or telescope you, like myself, may be enfolded by the same sense of wonder that strikes as each night’s sky map unfurls, strewn with stars and planets — blue-black velvet stitched with myriad gemstones. You, too, may have experienced a similar sense of awe and connection with the test pilots and astronauts who were the first to brave space, and those who backed them by dreaming up and constructing modern “flying machines” made possible through our developing technology that reach for the moon and beyond.
This is a leading example of human creativity paired with ingenuity and intelligence, as well as bravery. Discoveries and milestones in all fields of human knowledge formed the base to allow dreams to become reality.
That is why it shocked me to see the crowd of protesters gathered at Kauai’s “airport corner” in Lihue last Tuesday evening. People waved signs and Hawaiian flags and yelled out their opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope. Yet this newest and most-powerful of telescopes to be installed on the optimum site on earth for “skywatching,” Mauna Kea, will train its magnificent eye upon far galaxies we now know exist in space, providing knowledge beyond known boundaries.
The protest truly puzzles me. Hawaiian studies teaches that the Polynesians who plied the deep, wide and unknown waters of the great Pacific were the very first true navigators. Running parallel to today’s wayfinders they, too, were launching into previously uncharted realms in the best craft of their day, and with the best knowledge gained by careful observation of the heavens. The Polynesian elders who developed through generations the star map used by Nainoa Thompson’s navigator forebears and then followers in the recent peacemaking circumnavigations of our globe by Hokulea were the ancient’s “NASA,” if you will.
The navigators knew that not just designated places and peaks were sacred, but that all land was holy and to be honored and respected. How could they not? As human beings, if they failed to make landfall, they would lose their lives. To find a life-giving island or body of land in the great unknown was the quest and the reason behind the canoe with its chosen crew aboard. Those aboard had to be sound of mind and body, not unlike today’s astronauts. They, too, were the colonizers. Similarly, each was an expert in his or her discipline that would contribute to the success of the mission. It’s a given that Polynesian adventurers had to reach landfall before their fresh water supply gave out. In space, the absolute requisite, of course, is air — oxygen. We have gone beyond.
We human beings developed as a species to live on this planet. All people of the earth who are in touch with the land, their homeland, know that “the earth is our mother,” as in the Hawaiian concept of aina. This principle — the Gaia Principle — is ancient and deep-rooted.
Once-great and powerful world cultures throughout time have failed and disappeared after over-populating and decimating life-giving resources, fouling themselves. On the way to their ruin, history teaches us, lies a disconnection with the earth, the natural world.
When the Apollo 11 crew first saw the “earth rise,” a previously unknown phenomenon to “earthlings,” it’s reported that color film was quickly called for. The view of Earth, our swirly-blue planet home, was captured as a never-to-be-forgotten image. Seeing this image and realizing its implications while hurtling through space changed the meaning and connection of their lives for those men, and for others who gaze upon the stunning photograph. My “nutshell” realization of what may be heard recorded in the film of that moment shown on PBS was that our planet — all of it — is sacred.
Sadly, it seems we have fouled our own planet home and are continuing on this path, ignoring the warnings of our scientists. When I saw and read of the Hawaiian protests centering on Mauna Kea, I wondered if these impassioned citizens have considered that all land — and ocean — is sacred, not just this mountain peak. The observatories upon it today are dedicated to scientific knowledge in peaceful pursuit that may help humankind in ways we don’t yet comprehend.
In ancient times, an adze quarry for hammering out tools existed on Mauna Kea, not a heiau, or sacred space set aside for worshipful purposes. If this information is incorrect, then this writer begs to be corrected.
I wonder if the protesters, if time-warped back to days of the great Pacific explorations that launched from the small experimental triangle of Fiji-Tonga-Samoa, from Nuku Hiva, from the Cook Islands, Tahiti and Aoteroa, would demonstrate their opposition on those beaches. I wonder if they would chant their opposition to the observations of the heavens of their own scientists which led to the launches of the craft of that day manned by their wayfinders into the unknown. I wonder if the Hawaiian people would ever have had the chance to develop upon these new-found islands we call home today.
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Dawn Fraser Kawahara, writer and poet, has focused her supportive interests within the Kauai community since the early 1980s. She and her husband, a retired biology teacher, live in Wailua Homesteads and share a passion for books and travel. Kawahara’s books are available through Amazon and other outlets. For information, email tropicbirdpress@gmail.com.
Oh Dawn you have argued yourself into a knot. You speak of the moon photo of Earth as though it had a significant impact upon our collective awareness of the importance of Earth and then you proceed to show that no such thing has occurred. Please get your head straight and realize that our over rating of science has led us to go where we should never and in the case of other planets cannot ever go. If you truly care about Earth you will support the enlightened protesters on the sacred mountain on the sacred Earth.
That seems, at best, unenlightened. Perhaps you’re coming from an ignorant perspective, but that’s just wrong about SHOULD never. Getting one’s head on straight should also require some education.
Right on, Dawn!
Right on Dawn. I too am puzzled by TMT demonstrators. Mauna Kea ha 13 telescopes and is removing a bunch and building on old telescope sites. So why protest a bigger and better telescope.
Aloha Dawn,
Yes humans exploring unknown ocean destinations were lost at sea, prompting following voyages to turn back when they used up less than 1/2 of their food and water to safely sustain their return journey safely home.
And why did they leave to explore new territory?
A. Certainly out of curiosity.
B. Overcrowding
C. Disease
D. Anger over disagreement
E. Religious intolerance
F. Familial dispute
G. Food supply
H. War
I. Boredom…etc.
J. And stupidity for those lost at sea…
Intelligence and tolerance could have solved many of those ancient and current issues still here on earth…not that that would have perpetuated a lack of discovering Hawaii by one culture or another…inevitably.
It seems that the vast majority of earth’s desecration is from the use of earth’s petrochemicals originating from oil (petroleum) and coal tar (petroleum) meaning oil wells and coal mining. And getting rid of the garbage it leaves behind, like plastic water bottles, air pollution, and chemicals in the air, water, land, humans, and all animals…and all etc.’s included.
For this, with fortitude and intelligence, we can reverse this disgrace of arrogance and profit. After all, the humans survived…a thousand (1,000) times longer on earth without the use of petrochemicals, than the modern era like now with plastics, fuels, and toxic medical drugs and other chemicals. To disagree is admittance of being misinformed. And the animal kingdom now succumbing to these same petrochemical pollutions has survived millions of years longer in time than the last few hundred years of petrochemical use.
When you compare early Explorers, successful or not, of any kind whether waterways or oceans (Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea.), or land crossing of vast and difficult distances (Hannibal or Genghis or arrival of the first American Indigens, or by air (Lindberg or Earhart)…you must understand they did this here on their own planet…not trespassing in the Outer Space Zone. Are we sure we are welcome?
It is said that “space ships”, UFO’s have been sighted by many credible people, but none have landed or communicated with earth or its people. Some say as they near earth that the UFO’s get a WARNING POP UP WINDOW on their instrument panel that says: DO NOT LAND OR APPROACH, THIS IS EARTH: Known to be Dangerous and Dirty.
You think intelligent life wants us to come their way.
And if you think space exploration is for colonization, well the Hawaiians have already suffered that as have the Tahitians (French), Aboriginal Australians with British same for the Maori, the Indians, Hong Kong…and so many other coastal and island places that the Dutch, French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese have colonized around the world on every continent and many islands and abruptly ceased the natural evolution of their unique populations and their cultures. Ooops did we forget to mention Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower, and the Pilgrams…and the slaughter of the American Indians with fire sticks vs. bow and arrow, now placated by CASINOS backed by the powerful in Lost Wages…!
Humans leaving Earth to spread their filth and ignorant ways. Can’t they just sail away like windsurfers as far as nature will take them?
We read into your article that the Explorers went into the unknown. Not so, as all those Sea Explorers of the South and West came from islands surrounded by more islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, and Marquesas. They knew there were more islands. It was never a question of if, but only where, is the next island or islands, could they have even imagined the concept of a continent to discover…after all every inhabited island on earth so far has been a discovery.
And yes all these discoveries have been in our own back yard, our planet, all possessing a paradise either upon arrival or adaptation. It has been only the Broken Brain of humankind that has desecrated the Sacred Places, like Mauna Kea and the almost complete loss of nature on Oahu, Los Angeles and New York and other massive world cities. And than God Ke Akua and the brave people trying to protect here in our islands our home separated by water and joined by Aloha. Save and Protect Sacredness and Sacred Places…let no one steer you asunder.
Forget your towerIng Babel of telescope, billion$ spent on space, ripping off the hungry and the unsheltered on every continent and some islands like at least 4 in Hawaii.
Our collective tax dollars are being corrupted and diverted from the needs of those displaced and deprived in our own Earthly Village.
It’s not time to leave earth it is time to clean up our mess and love one another by caring for each other’s needs instead of sending the assets into outer space.
The lunar lander on the misssile, etc., and all same same, are a Moron on an Ox committing deceptive practices. 2 men walk on the moon while millions suffer hunger and depravation…and children cry.
Shame on those elite who Foment such Folly, Desecration’s, and Starvation of Food, Shelter, and Education viciously NOT sharing the knowledge of INNER SPACE, that is our very own bodies, that the profiteers of Disease Care horde from us and even from some of their own ignorant kind, that is, the practitioners of disease care, the devil incarnate on Earth.
You can’t cheat God, but you Can with Honesty and Integrity…CHEAT THE DEVIL !
Mahalo
Aloha Hans,
You’re puzzled by those that hold places on our earth sacred, but your not puzzled by another partially foreign 30 meter telescope? We do not even know if it is military backed for more weaponry or telemetry of same.
If it is such a marvelous view up there why don’t they show it to us on a regular basis, aren’t our taxes paying for It?
They could just as easily go to Mt. Everest and set this all, it’s easy to find the way to the top , MT Geo says just follow the bodies and litter right to the top.
And in the age of small is cool, how come they can’t fit a 30 meter into a 30” Telescope…and then show what they are looking at on live TV on .Hoike…UNLESS IT IS SOME MILITARY SECRET STUFF OF SACRILIGIOUS DESTRUCTION.
MAHALO,
Beautiful letter, Dawn.,
The protesters who consider ‘all the aina’ sacred need to peddle down to all the sacred places on the islands that are littered with discarded appliances, mattresses and broken vehicles for a starter. Then talk about ‘respecting’ the aina.
Way to go Dawn! Problem is, just as Mr. Millett responded, he only took part of what you wrote and picked at it. He did not take in the whole.
I shake my head in wonderment as these protesters claim to be trying to save the mountain. Our sacred place, one of many, is over a mile away from where they will be building. I don’t view that desecrating anything. When will they acknowledge that they can work with the TMT builders to achieve what they desire if they will just back down a bit? It’s as if they are looking for a fight and want it to turn physical.
Dawn, you have used your skills as a writer to paint a flowery but over-generalized picture of something that is anything but, so let’s bring this “Don’t they know all land is sacred” lah-di-dah perspective down to earth.
Imagine if you will, Dawn, that someone knocks on the door of your home in Wailua Homesteads and announces that you will have to move because some assumed greater authority has decided that your property is the perfect location for a skymap store to be built.
You protest, “But this is not just a house, this is our HOME of many years. We raised our kids and grand-kids here, so many rich life events have transpired in our home. How in the world can you possibly put a material value on that? We worked hard to get this beautiful land and want to will our property to them when we pass away. Don’t you understand that this is not “just a piece of property” that has no history of joy and love and life entwined with it? Don’t you see that this land is sacred to our sense of family? We have a right to belonging here”
The answer comes, “None of that counts for anything. There is money to be made in selling maps of the stars to the rest of the world and it has been determined by more important minds than yours that your lot is the perfect place to do that. You will have to move on and you will have to leave now. If you resist you will be met with paramilitary force, so wise up and retreat before you are sorry you stayed because that WILL be the outcome, guaranteed. We don’t care where you go, but you have to get out of here… and take your antiquated ideas of your family’s beliefs as somehow being crucially meaningful and important with you. That’s just a primitive superstition. Total ‘o bull kuka. Now, move aside if you know what’s good for you. We need to build our sacred (vis a vis $$) map store here.”
I hope analogy this helps to illustrate the reality of the situation for you, Dawn.
And shame on you for exploiting this major cultural confrontation as an advertising vehicle to tell people where they can buy your books. All I can think is that either the editing department was asleep at the wheel in letting that slip through or you have a friend on the inside. There’s no issue with including a short bio with your guest article but you went outside the bounds of proper decorum and the newspaper has enabled it. Reminds me of a controversy that is front and center in US politics right now- emoluments.
I’m not going to be able to put my business contact info here, nor is anyone else. This is probably one of the main reasons that comments are not directly posted to the website but must go to an approval person first.
Hans Roeger, allow me to correct your misunderstanding about the proposed site for the TMT. I don’t know where you got your information about the TMT being built on the site of older telescopes that are being de-commissioned but I would like to know because there is a concerted movement afoot by vested interests to skew the public’s perception through spinning false equivalencies and it looks like they got to you, sir.
Here are the facts: While it is true that 3 older telescopes with a combined square footage larger than that of the TMT are being removed, this is a moot point because the TMT is slated to be built on the last still pristine plateau of the mauna. Stories have been written in such a way that it implies that the TMT is a replacement over the top of the old sites. Not true, but I’m sure you can see the value in getting the public to assume this is so.
The new TMT will dig its foundation 5 stories down into the mauna where it will affect the water table that serves much of the island and have a footprint larger than the Eiffel Tower and ironically it will be so large above ground that it will block the ability to use the peak to serve as an area where the night sky can be observed and studied by indigenous wayshowers and their haumana.
Another good fact for the public to be aware of is that for over 10 years now, the forces wanting to create the TMT have known that they would meet this profound level of resistance but they are so attached to having “the best” location on earth for their telescope that they have been willing to attempt to push it through, spiritual and other collateral damage be damned, trusting that their money and connections would get them their prize.
Whether the permitting process was legitimate or “bought” is too much for this particular conversation but suffice it to say that the TMT people are smart enough to have covered their bets by securing “the second best” site on earth – In case the Mauna Kea site does not in fact work out, TMT has a backup plan to build the telescope in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain where they do not expect any resistance at all.
So you see, it is once again the ages old story of money, greed and power intent on steamrolling the sacred aspects of life aside for the purpose of profits. The whole, “you must honor, respect and understand the importance of this location to science” is just so much posturing and misdirection. This is about profits and the deluded self-perception of entitlement by an arrogant faction of people to the detriment of a native people and their culture.
TMT has the guns and the money to buy political acquiescence. The protectors have the mana to uphold their stance of kapu aloha and proclaim a righteous aole to the TMT.
The TMT is quickly revealing itself to be Hawaii’s Standing Rock. Hopefully the military and paramilitary forces of the illegally occupying US government will exercise restraint when it comes to the use of force.
The time for the TMT to head for the Canary Islands is close at hand.