I think it’s really important that I say something now.

I’ve been talking a lot about the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan, and I want to be very, very clear about one thing:

This is not about “sides.” It’s not about the astronomers or the business people or the Hawaiians or the labor people. It’s not about whose agenda “wins” and whose agenda “loses.”

This is about taking care of Mauna Kea. It’s all about Malama Mauna Kea in a very “big picture” way. The CMP is a process where we are taking everybody’s input and coming up with a plan that takes care of the mountain and looks to the future.

I feel very strongly about this. This is not about any one group of people and what they want. It’s a matter of everybody having their say. I’ve been meeting all the different people who have an interest in Mauna Kea, and they’re all nice people. None of them are the enemy. And I’m not the enemy, either.

We need to aloha everybody – that’s the point. No matter what side of the fence you’re on, we need to aloha you. Because we all have to live here with each other.

When we wave signs on Monday, people will be carrying signs that say “CMP Yes.” But I’m making a sign that will say, “CMP took all of us.” That’s what I’ll say when they interview me. I really feel strongly about this. It’s all of us.

If you’re going to teach the kids anything, you’ve got to teach them that we’re not fighting with each other. We’re going through a process, and it’s a good process. The process is the lesson.