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November 2, 2015
Aloha <<First Name>>
Hawaii has historically honored the art and science of astronomy and navigation. Today, Maunakea is recognized worldwide as an epicenter for path-breaking discoveries, the northern hemisphere’s best window to the universe, and the ideal location for the Thirty Meter Telescope. But perhaps the Honolulu Star-Advertiser said it best when it described the TMT endeavor as “a human-enriching enterprise.”
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"The TMT will be able to see far more distant and much fainter objects than any other existing telescope and to study them in greater detail; it is a human-enriching enterprise that would enable pioneering work into the understanding of our universe. It remains a prestigious, relatively low-impact project that deserves Hawaii’s support."
~The Honolulu Star-Advertiser/Sunday, October 25, 2015
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For those of us who have worked for more than a decade to bring the TMT vision to reality, that description resonates strongly. Certainly, you’ve heard about the many benefits TMT will bring to Hawaii Island residents and our state’s future prospects in the scientific and astronomy industries and international relationships. They’re worth reiterating:
- TMT will be the first telescope to pay significant rent once it is completed – $1 million annually to care for the mountain and support the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; in fact, TMT has already begun paying lease rent of $300,000 per year.
- The Thirty Meter Telescope is already advancing educational opportunities for Hawaii’s youth, particularly including for Native Hawaiians, and will continue providing benefits to the local economy and the livelihood of kama’aina. This includes a $1 million annual investment in STEM education through the THINK Fund and a $1 million annual commitment to workforce pipeline development.
- TMT will be an agent for positive change in Maunakea’s stewardship, and will follow a Comprehensive Management Plan to protect and conserve the mountain’s cultural and natural resources. TMT will become a model of sustainable astronomy.
- TMT’s location in Hawaii will maintain our nation’s 150-year long leadership position in astronomy research, discovery, and innovation.
- TMT is bringing an international Pacific Rim partnership to invest in Hawaii, with partners in the U.S., Japan, China, India and Canada.
- The project will enable astronomers to see further into our universe and reach back toward the beginning of time, facilitating unprecedented research and discovery – all emanating from Hawaii.
From the earliest days of their vision, an important goal of the global partners’ mission was to ensure that TMT would have low to no impact on its surrounding physical and cultural environment. Its design and operational plan are therefore the result of almost a decade of engaging with all community stakeholders, hearing their concerns, and making appropriate changes to address them.
As you know, while TMT has the legal right to proceed, it has been on temporary hold in Hawaii, out of respect for the State administration’s need to address the larger issues of Native Hawaiian sovereignty and the overall management of Maunakea. We ask you to keep in mind that the issues the State has been addressing are not affected by the existence of TMT. These are important and serious issues, but TMT is not a stakeholder in them, and has no place at the table where resolution will be determined.
We also want you to know that exciting progress has been made on elements of the TMT in Japan, China, India and the US – from the production of special zero thermal-expansion glass mirror blanks for the main mirror to the fabrication of the mirror support system to the development of the laser guide star system.
Finally, we ask you help us to correct misinformation and dispel myths about TMT by sharing accurate information. We invite you to visit maunakeaandtmt.org, like our Facebook page and join our various Facebook groups (Hawaii Businesses for TMT and We Support TMT), and sign up to receive our e-newsletter.
We appreciate your continued support in the Thirty Meter Telescope’s noble quest for knowledge!
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