Timeline of Astronomy Development on Maunakea Drafted by E. Kalani Flores 

  

1848 : the Mahele Act of 1848, during the reign of Kamehameha III, designated the ahupua’a of Ka’ohe as                                   

Government lands of the Kingdom of Hawai’i, Ka’ohe, within the moku (district) of Hamakua, encompasses most of                                 

Maunakea including the summit. Whereas, the ahupua’a of Humu’ula, within the moku (district) of Hilo, was                               

designated as Crown Lands that includes part of the eastern flank of Maunakea. 

  

1964:  The State of Hawai’I built a road to he summit of Maunakea.  The public lands of Maunakea, administered by 

the State Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) as directed by the BLNR (Board of Land & Natural 

Resources), are subject to the Conservation District rules and permits conditions which must meet the established 

eight criteria. 

 

1968: BLNR issues a general lease (S‐4191) to UH that expires at the end of 2033 for 11,288 acres above the 12,000                                           

ft. elevation encompassing the Maunakea Science Reserve to build one observatory on Maunakea. 

  

1977:  Three UH telescope, built without permits, were issued “after the fact” permits by BLNR. 

  

1983‐1985: Maunakea Complex Development Plan prepared and approved by BLNR in 1985. This plan allowed up                               

to thirteen (13) telescopes by the year 2000. 

  

1986: BLNR issued a general lease (S‐5529) to UH that expires in 2041 for a 19.3 acre parcel for the facilities at Hale                                             

Pohaku. 

  

1998: Hawai’i State Auditor released a critical report documenting 30 years of mismanagement of Maunakea by                               

DLNR/BLNR and UH. 

  

2000: The 2000 Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan was developed by UH that excluded any limit on                                   

telescopes. 

  

2003 : UH Institute for Astronomy (UHIFA) applied for a CDUP for the Keck Outrigger Telescopes. U.S. District Court                                   

(Judge Susan Mollway) finds NASA’s EA for the Keck Outrigger Project to be inadequate for failure to adequately                                   

address cumulative impacts.  A lengthy contested case hearing ensued. 

  

2004: NASA announced it would prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Keck Outrigger                             

Telescopes. The contested case hearing concluded. BLNR issued a CDUP for the Keck Outrigger Telescope Project,                               

allowing additional astronomy development to proceed without a comprehensive management plan. Community                       

members and groups appealed this decision to the State Third Circuit Court. 

  

2005: A court‐ordered EIS concluded the cumulative impact for 30 years of astronomy activity has caused                               

“significant, substantial and adverse” impacts. 

  

2006: NASA withdrew funding for the Keck Outrigger Telescopes project. The State Third Circuit Court (Judge                               

Glenn Hara) found that a comprehensive management plan is required before further astronomy development on                             

Mauna Kea and reverses CDUP granted for the Keck Outrigger Telescopes Project. UHIFA appealed Judge Hara’s                               

decision. 

  

2007: UHIFA withdrew appeal of the Third Circuit Court ruling and began the process of creating a comprehensive                                   

management plan for Mauna Kea. 

  

2009: BLNR approved UH’s Comprehensive Management Plan for Mauna Kea, a development plan which paved                             

the way for unlimited number of new telescopes and support structures. Long‐time advocates requested for a                               

contested case hearing. BLNR denied their standing, on the basis of “no property‐no say.” The group went to                                   

court on appeal. 

  

2012 (Jan 25) : ICA denied Mauna Kea Hui’s challenge to UH’s CMP, concluding no public hearing was required on                                     

the CMP as ‘a management plan proposed independent of any proposed land use.” 

  

Conservation district Use Permit (CDUP) for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project 

  

2010 (May 10): The TMT EIS stated this project would contribute further to the cumulative impact on cultural,                                   

archaeological, and geologic resources at a level considered “substantial, significant, and adverse.” 

  

2010 (Sept. 2):  UH filed an application for a DCUP for the TMT projcect. 

  

2011 (Feb 25): BLNR voted to grant the TMT CDUP and also voted to hold a contested case. Petitions for a                                         

contested case on the TMT‐CDUP were filed by Kealoha Pisciotta of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, Paul Neves, Clarence                                   

Kukauakahi Ching, Deborah J. Ward, KAHEA: The Hawaiian‐Environmental Alliance, and Flores‐Case ‘Ohana                       

[collectively referred to as the Mauna Kea Hui]. 

  

2011 (Aug‐Sept):  A contested case hearing was held on TMT CDUP. 

  

2012 (Nov 30):   Hearing officer issued his report to affirm BLNR’s decision to approve TMT CDUP. 

  

2012 (Dec 13):  Oral arguments delivered before BLNR on the contested case in Hilo. 

  

2013 (April 12): BLNR issued its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decision and order in support of the TMT                                         

CDUP. 

  

2013 (May 13): Mauna Kea Hui appealed BLNR’s decision to approve the TMT CDUP in the Third Circuit Court                                     

based upon violations of Hawai’i State and U.S. constitutional and statutory provisions. 

  

2014 (May 5):  Third Circuit Cour (Judge Greg Nakamura) affirmed BLNR’s approval of the TMT CDUP. 

  

2013: Mauna Kea Hui appealed the Third Circuit Court’s ruling on the TMT CDUP with the State Intermediate Court                                     

of Appeals (ICA). 

  

Mauna Kea General Leases and TMT Sublease 

  

2013 (Dec 13): BLNR deferred action on UH’s proposed issuance of new 65‐year general lease for the Mauna Kea                                     

Science Reserve and Hale Pohaku Mid‐Level Facilities pending completion of an EIS. 

  

2014 (Jun 13) Mauna Kea Hui members and others, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) requested a                                   

contested case hearing on UH’s proposed sublease of Mauna Kea lands to the TMT International Observatory LLC. 

  

2014 (Jun 27): BLNR denied all contested case hearing requests for the proposed new general leases. Also, BLNR                                   

approved the TMT sublease pending disposition of petitions for a contested case hearing. 

  

2014 (Jul 25): BLNR denied all contested case hearing requests for the TMT sublease and accepted OHA’s                                 

withdrawl of their previous request for a contested case hearing. 

  

2014 (Aug 25): Mauna kea Hui petitioners, Kealoha Pisciott, Paul Neves, Clarence Ching, and E. Kalani Flores filed                                   

two separate appeals pertaining to BLNR’s approval of UH’s sublease of Mauna Kea lands to the TMT International                                   

Observatory LLC based upon violations of Hawai’i State and U.S. constitutional and statutory provisions. 

  

2015 (Jan 9): UH filed an Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) concerning its proposal to                               

acquire new 65‐year general leases for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Hale Pohaku Mid‐Level Facilities. 

  

Construction Activities at proposed TMT site 

  

2013 (Aug‐Sep): BLNR Chair allowed grading, excavation, and drilling for geotechnical testing at proposed TMT site                               

prior to BLNR’s consent to the TMT sublease. 

  

2014 (Sept):  Groundwork and grading done at proposed TMT site for planned grounbreaking event.  

  

2014 (Oct 7):  TMT groundbreaking event disrupted and ultimately stoped by Mauna kea protectors. 

  

2015 (Mar): TMT contractors attempt to begin groundwork, grading and excavation at the proposed TMT site                               

despite legal appeals of the TMT CDUP and sublease still pending in court. 

  

2015 (Apr 2): Hundreds of Mauna Kea protectors blocked road to construction workers accessing the proposed                               

TMT site resulting in 31 arrests. Thousands more throughout the world showed their support for the protection of                                   

Mauna Kea. 

  

2015 (Apr 20): Mauna Kea petition surpassed 53,000 signatures and was delivered to Hawai’i State Govergnor                               

David Ige requesting a halt to further TMT construction and arrests of Mauna Kea protectors. 

  

2015 (Apr 30) OHA Board of Trustees voted to rescind their 2009 resolution that previously support the TMT                                   

project.