Maui council opposes US Space Force plan for new telescopes on Haleakala volcano
- The Maui council voted to oppose the U.S. Space Force's plan to build new telescopes on Haleakala volcano.
- This decision is part of the ongoing objections to observatory projects in Hawaii.
- Local officials are concerned about the impact on the summit of the volcano.
Local officials in Maui voted against a plan by the U.S. military to build new telescopes on Haleakala volcano. The U.S. Space Force and Air Force want to construct a new facility on top of Haleakala to observe objects in space. The Maui County Council voted 9-0 against the project, stating that Haleakala's summit is a sacred place for Native Hawaiians. They believe it is a spiritual site for ceremonies and connecting with ancestors. The proposed facility, named AMOS STAR, would have six telescopes in domes on the ground and one on the rooftop. The military has not yet cleaned up a diesel fuel spill from one of its existing telescopes on Haleakala. The spill happened due to a pump failure during a lightning storm. The resolution passed by the council asks the military to stop the project and urges other authorities to deny permits for it. Haleakala's peak offers excellent conditions for space observation due to its clear skies and dry air. The area is similar to Mauna Kea on the Big Island, which already has many telescopes. Haleakala, rising to 10,023 feet, is home to University of Hawaii observatories and Space Force telescopes. In the past, protesters tried to stop the construction of new observatories on Haleakala, but some projects, like the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, have been completed despite objections.