Here’s a sample of some recent comments I saw about something I wrote about the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Facebook:
I’m certainly not trying to tell people they need to change, or think like I think. Everybody can have their own opinion and say what they want to say, but I’d like to see the communication be more respectful than this. We need to keep the spirit of aloha with us.
I cannot remember a time when Hawaiians were attacking other Hawaiians loudly and in public. We need to dial the temperature down. Our native Hawaiian leaders need to step forward and lower the temperature.
I do know the Royal Order of Kamehameha stepped up early on and prohibited the use of the war god Ku up on the mountain. Before they did that, Lanakila was running around with an image of Ku. We need more such positive leadership examples.
If folks want to protest or engage in civil disobedience, that is their choice. People have given their lives so they can do that. But we all know that the TMT will start construction and it’s important to remember that it’s a dangerous environment on the mountain. We all need to be careful and respectful and abide by kapu aloha.
What some of the anti-TMT people are not hearing is that my point is really about the maka‘ainana. I always, always advocate for the maka‘ainana, the “rubbah slippah folk,” who are a huge part of Hawaiian culture.
I often wonder how many of the anti-TMT folks have studied up on and understand why so many of us consider geothermal, GMOs, and the TMT important to the Big Island’s future. We hear so many of their arguments based on incorrect assumptions.
We’re also hearing a lot about sovereignty and Hawaiian Kingdom issues wrapped up in the TMT. I don’t take a position on those issues. They will be decided over time. We’re talking here about the TMT.
Too often in the discussions surrounding geothermal, GMOs and astronomy in general, the consequences to the rubbah slippah folk are not taken into consideration. Too often the end justifies the means whether it makes sense or not. I don’t agree with that.
I’m open to discussion about any of these topics. My Facebook page has always been set to public. I’m pretty active there and also respond here at my blog. But for safety’s sake, we need to see the temperature dialed down a bit.
Richard Ha you are the REAL HAWAIIAN in this effort. Richard you are a man of reason and Aloha. The Aloha that never treated anyone with disrespect, was open to expressing views without hate…and threats. A true Hawaiian definitely would not propose to stand on a Sacred Place with any form of disrespect. it’s like the words of another religious man…Forgive Them Father they no not what they do.
Mahalo Richard for standing firm for your values as you care for the understanding that there is NO HARM in cultural reverence blending with an understanding of the miracles Akua has created for us to explore..it’s called the path to finding our sense of Place in the universe. Standing for this openness is the true journey.
The mountain has already been desecrated with all the thousands of acres of gorse. This slow moving evil is worse than 10,000 telescopes and the irreversible growth that spreads through the upper slopes will bring a tear to your eye. Malama the Aina? Start here.
Yes, the invasive gorse is just devastating on the slopes of Mauna Kea as the telescopes have been on the summit. What they have in common is that these matters have resulted from actions introduced by those from outside of Hawaii and the failure of the State (DLNR/DHHL) to properly manage these public lands. As such, we should start from the top, from the piko, and work our way down to clear ALL these foreign intrusions totally off the mountain.
mr Ha you started this all with you yelling out Walter Ritte, putting him on alert and calling him MAHA’OI. Your created the hewa. U asked for language use…but you knew what you were doing to create the EHA. You don’t have the feeling inside for anything outside your farm. You have no respect for our ancestors the ones who walked your path before you. Like I said you want respect you need to earn it…because you have none for the sacredness of our culture that was here before you….I and probably most have none for you, what you think and what think you deserve. So you stop telling people what to do or think…you are not a JUDGE there is only ONE, you are from it. So stop blasting our people….REMEMBER OUR MO’I CHARGED US AND MADE IT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MALAMA OUR LANDS….ALL OF IT. There is a post here that true Hawaiian would not stand on any sacred land with disrespect…..Once again people learn our spiritual rituals, chants…creation chants, lineage chants…..they are way before your time, our time…respect what was CREATED FOR US! THOSE CHANTS ARE FEELING OF EVERYTHING REAL IN HAWAI’I….THOSE PLACES, THINGS OF THOSE PLACES SOME STILL THERE….SO DONT TELL US ABOUT RESPECT….we TRUE HAWAIIAN ARE MERELY DOING WHAT WE WERE DIRECTED TO DO….OR WE WILL LOSE IT….GOT THAT!!!’ We have stood by long enough ….ITS THIS GENERATION OF VERY CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL CARRY OUT THE WILL OF OUR ANCESTORS. EO! KU KI’A MAUNA! ALOHA ‘AINA FORVER HAWAIIAN FOR OUR PEOPLE, ALL LANDS AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Aloha Renee; I understand and respect how deeply you feel. My concern is always for the maka’ainana–the rubbah slippah folks. Hawaii Island is the county with the lowest median family income. The Pahoa School complex has more than 90% of the students participating in the free/subsidized lunch program. Three of our east side school complexes are in the top four in the state. With the low income comes social problems like drug abuse, spouse abuse, teen pregnancies, etc. Because the folks against the telescopes are not willing to compromise, I find myself having to stand up for the regular people who need jobs and educational opportunities. This is why I say it is the Big Islands kuleana. It affects our people directly. Mahalo for writing. I aloha you.
Why would you be willing to allow construction on the mountain where you must know your water comes from? You do rely on rain for your farm right? The extent of the project and the amounts of water they WILL be using for their facilities both on the mauna and down below at the dorms will tax the natural resources there at the summit. The monies that are supposed to go to benefit the communities are strategically funded thru certain channels only like the THINK program and a few agencies. Whether it will really help is in the far future so who knows. Also they will not shell out the first million until the telescope is fully built and operating which isnt for a few years. I have read the plans and the timetable and the financials for myself. It is a graduated payout as the construction goes along so the $1million dollar bait that you all are biting will not show up for years. What do you think the Big Island should do until then? Wait for a TMT savior? Also i would like to know if you work directly with any of the poor public schools to provide food from your farm on a regular basis. Hire people to work your farm and there will be jobs. Traditional farmers can also provide food, you should all collectively feed the island. Don’t you also sell your farm food to the other islands as well? Yes, you do. You and Hamakua Farms need us other islanders and our income too! If you think this is only a big island issue, keep all your farm food on the Big Island only and not look for other sources of revenue on the other islands that you feel are not worthy of concern for your island. Food for thought….You must understand that the earth that is on the mauna is just as important as the earth that you farm down below. Personally i dont see myself as the lowly rubbah slippah folks you coined nor as the young impatient ones from off island. I lived there and i know how neighbor islands feel about Oahu. Yet Hawaiians everywhere feel passionately about the islands and the Mauna and dont have to be living there to appreciate it. My ohana lives there and I do care. Many of us around the islands and around the world care about this issue. Stop talking as if the protectors and supporters are uneducated and uncaring as you think. We care very much and i hope that you will see that very soon. #BigIslandBred #KuKia’iMauna #AoleTMT #AlohaAina
Aloha Mr. Ha! I for one will continue to purchase and eat your bananas; exclusively. As I have for several years now for one reason; they’re the best quality there is and grown here! Thank you for your wonderful farm and for your intelligent and aware understanding of reality!!!
Aloha Euclid. I have farmed for 35 years and have produced more than 100 million pounds of fruit and vegetables in those years. I know a little about trying to feed lots of people. Its not easy. Relying on traditional methods cannot feed all the people. We need the help of all food producers and all kinds of technology. We need to plan ahead. Just saying we feel this way or that does not address real world problems. Mahalo
Mr. Ha I encourage you keep up the work you are doing with TMT. You are looking ahead for future generations dispite what the oppsing view may feel. Do not let them discourage you in your endeavor.