---
title: "Thirty Meter Telescope protests"
chunk: 1/6
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Meter_Telescope_protests"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:34:21.595573+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) protests were a series of protests and demonstrations that began on the Island of Hawaii over the choosing of Mauna Kea for the site location of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Mauna Kea is the most sacred dormant volcano of Native Hawaiian religion and culture, and in Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) tradition is home to the sky god Wākea and other gods. Protests began locally within the state of Hawaii on October 7, 2014 but went global within weeks of the April 2, 2015 arrest of 31 people who had blockaded the roadway to keep construction crews off the summit. Thousands later joined when attempts were made to restart construction.
The TMT, a $1.4 billion ground-based, large segmented mirror reflecting telescope grew from astronomers' prioritization in 2000 of a thirty-meter telescope to be built within the decade. Mauna Kea was announced as TMT's preferred site in 2009. Opposition to the project began shortly after the announcement of Mauna Kea as the chosen site out of 5 proposals. While opposition against the observatories on Mauna Kea has been ongoing since the first telescope, built by the University of Hawaii, this protest may be the most vocal. The project was expected to be completed by 2024, nearly simultaneously with the 39-meter Extremely Large Telescope being built in Chile; however, on December 2, 2015, the Supreme Court of Hawaii invalidated the TMT's building permits. The court ruled that due process was not followed. The TMT corporation then removed all construction equipment and vehicles from Mauna Kea, and re-applied for a new permit, meant to respect the Supreme Court's ruling.  This was granted on September 28, 2018.  On October 30, 2018, the Court validated the new construction permit.
The controversy has led to considerable division in the local community with residents choosing support or opposition.  Notable native Hawaiian supporters include Peter Apo, sitting trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and leading University of Hawaii professor and astronomer the late Dr. Paul Coleman, who in 2015 said "Hawaiians are just so tied to astronomy I cannot, in any stretch of the imagination, think that TMT is something that our ancestors wouldn't just jump on and embrace". In July 2019, 300 protestors gathered in support of the TMT project outside the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu.  Notable opponents include Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee for Hawai'i Mililani Trask, Native Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa, Samoan actor Dwayne Johnson, and practitioners of traditional Hawaiian culture and religion.
In early 2020, the protests and attempts at construction were halted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. No construction has resumed as of 2024, and management of the mountaintop is being transferred to a new oversight authority with representatives of both astronomers and Native Hawaiian communities. In June 2025, the National Science Foundation dropped support for the TMT in favor of the Giant Magellan Telescope. Although the international consortium of scientists behind the TMT plans to press on, this loss of funding means the telescope may never be built.

== Background ==

=== Development of Mauna Kea observatories ===
After studying photos for NASA's Apollo program that contained greater detail than any ground based telescope, Gerard Kuiper began seeking an arid site for infrared studies. While he first began looking in Chile, he also made the decision to perform tests in the Hawaiian Islands. Tests on Maui's Haleakalā were promising but the mountain was too low in the inversion layer and often covered by clouds. On the "Big Island" of Hawaii, Mauna Kea is considered the highest island mountain in the world, measuring roughly 33,000 feet from the base deep under the Pacific Ocean. While the summit is often covered with snow the air itself is extremely dry. Kuiper began looking into the possibility of an observatory on Mauna Kea. After testing, he discovered the low humidity was perfect for infrared signals. He persuaded then-governor John A. Burns, to bulldoze a dirt road to the summit where he built a small telescope on Puʻu Poliʻahu, a cinder cone peak. The peak was the second highest on the mountain with the highest peak being holy ground, so Kuiper avoided it.
Next, Kuiper tried enlisting NASA to fund a larger facility with a large telescope, housing and other needed structures. NASA, in turn decided to make the project open to competition. Professor of physics John Jefferies of the University of Hawaii placed a bid on behalf of the university. Jefferies had gained his reputation through observations at Sacramento Peak Observatory. The proposal was for a two-meter telescope to serve both the needs of NASA and the university. While large telescopes are not ordinarily awarded to universities without well established astronomers, Jefferies and UH were awarded the NASA contract, infuriating Kuiper who felt that "his mountain" had been "stolen" from "him". Kuiper would abandon his site (the very first telescope on Mauna Kea) over the competition and begin work in Arizona on a different NASA project. After considerable testing by Jefferies' team, the best locations were determined to be near the summit at the top of the cinder cones. Testing also determined Mauna Kea to be superb for nighttime viewing due to many factors including the thin air, constant trade winds and being surrounded by sea. Jefferies would build a 2.24 meter telescope with the State of Hawaii agreeing to build a reliable, all weather roadway to the summit. Building began in 1967 and first light seen in 1970.