Big Island Now - June 5, 2019
The Peace For Okinawa Coalition has formally condemned the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea, according to a June 4, 2019, press release from the Honolulu-based organization.
In an email to Universuty Of Hawai`i President David Lassner and the Board of Regents, the Peace For Okinawa Coalition criticized the project for “violations against Native Hawaiians, environmental destruction and for failing to benefit the local people of Hawai`i.”
“Okinawans, as well as Okinawa supporters, stand with our indigenous cousins in protecting our rights, our culture, our ancestors, and our environment,” the coalition wrote.
Robert Kajiwara, a UH alumnus and president of the Peace For Okinawa Coalition, has pledged not to give any alumni donations to the university until “all plans for construction on Mauna Kea are scrapped and President Lassner is removed from office....”
