Hawaii: Ancient Spirit, Modern Debate

Hawaii is famous for its fiery volcanoes and rivers of lava, or hot liquid rock. According to legend, those volcanoes were created by the goddess Pele (PAY lay), who made the fiery mountains by driving a stick into the ground.

Such legends are part of Hawaiian culture. Today these legends are part of a debate about Mauna Kea.

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is an extinct, or dead, volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its peak is 13,700 feet high. An ancient Hawaiian saying calls it “the astonishing mountain that stands in the calm.”

Mauna Kea's height makes it a perfect spot to place telescopes. There are 13 telescopes on the top of Mauna Kea in an 11,000-acre area called the Science Reserve. Astronomers use the telescopes to study space. They have made several important discoveries using the telescopes.

Some native Hawaiians believe that the mountain should not be used for scientific research. For them, the top of Mauna Kea is a sacred place. In Hawaiian legends, the snow goddess Poli'ahu (Poh Lee AH hoo) and other gods live on Mauna Kea.

The scientists who use the telescopes pay a fee to the University of Hawaii, which built the observatories. Officials at the Center for Hawaiian Studies do not think it is fair for the university to make money from the mountain. “We don't get a penny from Mauna Kea, and it's our land,” said Jon Osorio.

Plan in Place

University officials have made a plan to help solve the problem. The plan includes educating people about the history of Mauna Kea and limiting the number of telescopes the university can build. Meanwhile, the university has control of the area until 2033.