6 arrested in protest vs. telescope

Six arrests were made when protesters tried to block an equipment convoy for a solar telescope being built on a Hawaii mountain held sacred by some Native Hawaiians.

Police arrested two women and four men early Wednesday, according to state, county and federal agencies. They were among more than 100 protesters who gathered starting Tuesday evening in an attempt to block the convoy of trucks from reaching the summit of Maui’s Haleakala.

One arrested man was taken by ambulance to an emergency room, where he was evaluated and released back to police custody, Maui police said in a statement.

Despite the protests, a four-meter mirror system for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope was deliv- ered safely, telescope officials said in a statement.

“The project made concerted efforts to identify and mitigate cultural and environmental impacts associated with the construction of what will be the world’s most powerful solar telescope,” the statement said. “Like those who protest our facility, we too respect and value our planet, broader universe and our shared origins.”

Construction is on-schedule to be completed by 2020, telescope officials said. The construction progress of the $340-million solar telescope is unlike another embattled telescope planned for a different Hawaii mountain.

Construction of the $1.4-billion Thirty Meter Telescope on Hawaii Island’s Mauna Kea is stalled amid protests and a state Supreme Court ruling invalidating its building permit.

Opponents of both say the telescopes will desecrate sacred land.

Honolulu couple Mahealani Ahia and Kahala Johnson said they flew to Maui to protect Haleakala from the solar telescope.