MAUNA KEA HUNTING UNITS REOPEN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

News Release from DLNR, August 1, 2019

(Honolulu) – State hunting units A, K, and G, in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and Natural Area Reserve, closed since July 15th will reopen today. The units were closed to protect public safety and provide security for the safe movement of heavy construction equipment associated with the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “We announced at the beginning that these units would reopen as soon as practicable and with Governor Ige lifting the emergency proclamation earlier this week, it is no longer necessary to continue to restrict access to these popular hunting areas. In the future, depending on circumstances, the hunting units could be temporarily closed again.”

Originally the units were scheduled to be closed through August 12, 2019.  DLNR and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) appreciates everyone’s patience during the closure.

# # #

Related--History of Anti-Telescope Violence:

• April 24, 2015: "Their throats should be slashed and their blood should be spilled on our Sacred Mauna A Wakea!"
• Sept 18, 2015: 'Bi-Polar' Anti-Telescope Protester Arrested 3x -- for Breaking into Car on Mountain—Ramming Vehicle
• Oct 16, 2015: Fiber optic cables were maliciously cut on Mauna Kea this Summer
• March 30, 2016: Photos: Hate-Fueled Attack on Mauna Kea Radio Telescope (truck rammed into telescope building)
• July 17, 2019: Among ‘Kupuna’ arrested, “Abel Lui, 76, a longtime Hawaii island activist (convicted of 1976 manslaughter, jailed one week for assaulting park worker in 2010)”
• July 20, 2019: Telescopes Already Being Damaged by Protests