Proceeding and continuing on a predetermined path that the identity of Native Hawaiian Culture, Practices and Beliefs have been absorbed and homogenized singularly into science and technology has upset the balance and Spirit of Aloha Let us reenergize, rejuvenate and focus on the future Share and extend the true Spirit of Aloha Each and every day Here, there and everywhere Our stewardship of Mauna Kea embraces science and technology, Native Hawaiian culture cultural practices and beliefs and the spirit of all who love Hawaii and her People ...

1. Clifton M. Hasegawa
President and CEO
Clifton M. Hasegawa & Associates, LLC
1044 Kilani Avenue 12, Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786-2243
T-Mobile: (808) 498-8408
Email: clifhasegawa@gmail.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/cliftonhasegawa
April 18, 2015
RE: Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), Maunakea, Hawaii
Dear Friends,
You have reached out and expressed your thoughts on the construction of
the Thirty Meter Telescope on the summit of Maunakea. Your voices have
reverberated throughout the world. The essence, the core, of your heart has been
shrouded and masked by your enthusiasm, the generality of your chosen words
and expressions of frustration of not being accorded effective-listening ears.
Respect and Trust embrace the strength, timbre and tone of your voices.
The overarching statement for the Thirty-Meter Telescope upon which all
work for the telescope has proceeded on from the beginning, to this day, and will
proceed in the future is justifiable cause for your alarm. Specifically,

2. THIRTY METER TELESCOPE (TMT) http://www.maunakeaandtmt.org/
Maunakea is a mountain of rich ancestral
history for the Hawaiian people. To help
preserve and safeguard the most sensitive
areas of the summit where cultural and
spiritual practices are conducted, a decision
was made about 15 years ago to prohibit
observatories from being built at these highly
visible and sensitive areas at the summit, or on
pu’u at the summit, of Maunakea. Because of
this, and a continued desire to be as respectful
to the land as possible, great care was taken in
identifying a location for TMT to have minimal
impact archaeologically and environmentally.
The selected site has no archaeological
shrines or features, no endangered plants, no
endangered bugs and no burials.
[Emphasis Supplied]
In marked contrast and contraposition please examine,
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project
Maunakea, Hawaii Island
May 8, 2010
Volume I
“Preface
“In Hawaiian culture, natural and cultural resources
are one and the same.” The formation of the
Hawaiian Islands and the presence of life and around
them are descried by Native Hawaiian traditions …

3. The cultural attachment to the environment and
nature bears direct relationship to the beliefs,
practices, cultural evolution, and identity of a people.
Maunakea bears much significance because it is
believed that the points of highest altitude are sacred
and open the gateways to Heaven. Six main zones
can be found on the slopes of Maunakea: Kuahiwi,
the core summit is the highest and most sacred … the
sacred zone next to the Kuahiwi is known as Kualono
and consists of the near-summit lands where few
trees grow. As early as AD 1100, adz makers came in
reverence to the Maunakea adz quarry, Keanakāko`i
(most of which is located in the Mauna Kea Ice Age
Natural Area Reserve) and this practice continued
through the 1700s up until the time of Western
contact … As part of the ritual with quarrying,
craftsmen erected shrines (as evidenced by unique
stone structures) to their gods. The two uppermost
sacred zones were also used for burials, with one
pu`u, or cinder cone, having been confirmed to
contain burials and four others considered to likely
contain burials. Historical documents reveal that
most of the shrines are located on the summit plateau
(mostly on the north and northeast side of the
mountain), not the core summit region or the tops of
the cinder cones, suggesting that the area was likely
avoided because of it high degree of sacredness.
Other cultural practices on Maunakea include
deposition of a baby’s piko, or umbilical cord … For
some families, the practice of piko deposition on
Maunakea is a long-standing tradition cultural
practice, requiring means for depositing and
maintaining cleanliness and purity. Following the
summit and near the summit lands are four zones in
descending order: wao ma`u kele1
, a wet land area of
large koa; wao akua2, an area of more varied forest –
also referred to as the region of the gods for its remote
desolate location where benevolent or malevolent
spirits lived and people did not:

4. wao kanaka3
, the lowest forested area most used as a
cultural resource: and kula4
, the upland grassy plains.
Hawaiians used the lower zones for everyday
purposes, however wao ma`u kele1
and wao akua2
are currently part of the Conservation District.
[Emphasis Supplied]
NOTES:
1. wao kanaka3
and kula4
are not part of the
Conservation District.
2. kanaka historically refers to kānaka `ōiwi
and kānaka maoli. kanaka is today more inclusive
and is defined by all Native Hawaiians.
3. OCCL is monitoring the progress of … the
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in the Mauna Kea
Science Reserve on Hawai`i. [Emphasis Supplied]
Source: Department of Land and Natural
Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
(OCCL). http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/special-projects/
Accessed: April 18, 2015.
Cultural Resources Management Plan for the University of Hawaii
Management Areas on Mauna Kea: A Sub-Plan for the Mauna Kea
Comprehensive Management Plan, October 2009.
“The use of a sacred place, such as Mauna Kea, without rules and regulations is
inconceivable from a cross-cultural perspective where sacred places are
universally hedged with restrictions.”
“The State preservation law, Chapter 6E, Hawaii Revise Statutes, does not
specifically address Native Hawaiian cultural practices or access issues.”
“The existing policies on cultural access, while useful, do not go far enough.”

5. “The archaeological inventory survey of the Science Reserve indentified several
confirmed burial sites and many other probable burials.”
“No restrictions shall be placed on any Hawaiian cultural observance that is
deemed to be appropriate by Kahu Kū Mauna and any other Native Hawaiian
Organizations as long as practices do not violate Chapter 6E.”
“Astronomy, which encompasses both research and education, is a specialized
activity that by itself does not have an impact on cultural resources. The
construction of observatories, and the maintenance activities and routine
operations related to the support of astronomical research are another matter.”
[Emphasis Supplied]
Implementing and Evaluating the Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP)
for UH Managed Lands on Mauna Kea FEBRUARY 2010
“[F]ull implementation of the CMP depends on receiving funding.”
“Primary operational funding for OMKM [University of Hawaii - Hilo Campus
and Office of Mauna Kea Management] is received from the University
[University of Hawaii at Mānoa] as part of legislative appropriation based on
internal budget estimates. Funding is required to carry out the primary
functions of the Mauna Kea CMP.” [Clarification Supplied]
“The presence/absence [physical] of archaeological sites on the summit is of
little or no consequence, however, since the significance of Kūkahau`ula is
spiritual.” [Emphasis and Clarification Supplied] NOTE: Please compare to
the Statement by UH-TMT on culture and archaeology, stated in the beginning,
“The selected site has no archaeological shrines or features, no endangered
plants, no endangered bugs and no burials.”

6. “In 2008 OMKM developed a cooperative agreement with DNLR, DOFAW-
NARS in order to work more closely on cross-boundary management issues
between the UH Management Areas and the Mauna Kea Ice Age NAR. Under
this agreement OMKM provides visitor assistance using OMKM rangers,
engages in joint research and educational efforts with NAR staff and reports
violations occurring in the NAR.” Observation: The noted absence of mention
of proactive participation and advocacy by the Department of Land and
Natural Resources (DNLR) and communiqué to the Governor and Legislature
of Hawaii is reason and justification for your voices and outcry for action.
Governor David Ige has extended his hand. Governor Ige presence
among your gathering goes beyond a mere political statement. The Governor
has come to you to reach mutuality by collaboration. To have success is to
continue the path for full and open discussions.
The missteps of the past should be lessons learned.
Going forward I am hopeful that your spirit and that of Governor Ige
will come together, be united and be focused on a path to reaching an acceptable,
appropriate and harmonious resolution and conclusion.
There can be a meeting of science and technology and Native Hawaiian
culture, cultural practices and beliefs.
Respectfully,
Clifton M. Hasegawa