The refusal of half a million natives to construct the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in Hawaii has brought the project closer to Canary Islands. The strong opposition from the local population on the Pacific island poses another obstacle for the promoters, reinforcing the candidacy of La Palma, which awaits a decision on financial support from the European Union.
The collective Puʻuhonua o Puʻuhuluhulu, representing the Hawaiian people, has demanded the promoters immediately cease efforts to build the TMT on the sacred mountain of Mauna Kea. They warned that otherwise, they would take legal action to halt development, stating: "The TMT will never see first light if its construction in Hawaii is maintained."
This petition, supported by over 500,000 signatures, recalls that the island's population has never given its "free, prior, and informed" consent for construction on Mauna Kea. The rejection is considered representative, given that the island is home to 1.4 million inhabitants. The campaign highlights the sustained and widespread opposition to the project over the last 15 years.
The natives insist on the risks for those supporting the project, calling any attempt to build on Hawaiian soil a "bad investment" that would generate "significant programmatic, financial, legal, and reputational risks."
Native opposition has caused continuous delays and a cost overrun of 1 billion dollars for the project. The collective Kū Kia’i Mauna (Guardians of the Mountain) has been key in the mobilization, successfully halting construction and preventing heavy machinery access on several occasions since 2014.
Despite the difficulties, promoters have not given up on Hawaii, which remains the consortium's preferred site. In parallel with negotiations with the Canary Islands, they are seeking alternative locations on the island, such as the dismantled Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO), to reduce environmental impact and appease dissenting voices.
Meanwhile, La Palma has intensified its bid to host the telescope. The Spanish Government has given promoters two months to decide its future; otherwise, the construction permit will expire, and the 400 million reserved by the CDTI will be allocated to other projects. The final decision is expected by the end of this month, coinciding with the potential resolution from the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a 600 million loan.
