Yesterday I joined a group of community folks who came together to create some radio ads that articulate why the Thirty Meter Telescope is beneficial to us living here on the Big Island. Nobody had an agenda, other than their belief that the TMT is good for people. The ads will run in a few days.
In the final analysis, it is about respect for each other and concern for the future.
I keep coming back to the word “pono” as best describing what we are trying to do. Chicken skin!
I’ll post the audio of the complete radio session in a few days; in the meantime, here is my own 20-second spot:
Aloha Everyone,
My name is Richard Ha. I’m president of Hamakua Springs Country Farms. I support the Thirty Meter Telescope. It is no longer about us; now, it is about the keiki and future generations.
The Thirty Meter Telescope will be the biggest and best in the world. The officers of the TMT come from humble beginnings themselves, so they can relate to our people. They understand when we say, We need to plan for our keiki and future generations.
This is an opportunity for all of us to respect, cooperate and collaborate with each other for the good of future generations.
My dad told me when I was a small kid: “There are a thousand reasons why ‘No can;’ I only looking for one reason why ‘Can.’” For the sake of the keiki and future generations, we need to figure out how CAN!
Richard,
I just read that the TMT’s home base might be at UH Hilo.
This would be excellent for some of us in the Tech industry.
I just tremor with fear that some mainland folks will be hired for some positions that I feel that some locals could probably fill.
I’d be very interested to follow the employment process of hiring for these jobs… and of course… very interested to see if my skills ever match any position that might open…
Of course… this is all if/when the TMT does come to Hawaii.
Howzit Damon and Wayne:
You might be interested in President McClains statment a short time ago.
“After discussions with academic and community leaders on the Big Island, and review with the Board of Regents, I can say that should TMT come to Mauna Kea, the Hawaiian community and community-at-large will benefit through an annual $1 million community benefit package, which will provide funding for locally chosen and managed educational programs on Hawai’i Island. This will begin once all permits for the project have been received.
The compensation to the University of Hawai’i, which is expected to begin at “first light”, will be split equitably between a higher education package to be used for selected initiatives of the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and Hawai’i Community College on Hawai’i Island and observing time for University of Hawai’i scientists.
David McClain
President
University of Hawaii”
I feel we are moving forward in a pono way.
Aloha
Richard