HALEAKAL\u0100 (HawaiiNewsNow) – The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with plans to build seven more telescopes on Haleakal\u0101, drawing opposition from those who consider the mountain sacred.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaleakal\u0101 is a sacred space for not only Hawaiians, but our wider community too, people all across the world. It\u2019s such a treasure deserving of the highest protections,\u201d said Hina Kneubuhl of Protect <\/a>Haleakal\u0101.<\/a><\/p>\n The military says the project is necessary for national security, while opponents call it continued desecration.<\/p>\n Air Force officials want to construct and operate a Small Telescope Advanced Research (STAR) facility on the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site (AMOS), also known as \u201cAMOS STAR.\u201d<\/p>\n The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) says the proposed facility would consist of up to seven telescopes that would be located on a \u201cpreviously disturbed, less-than-1-acre site.\u201d<\/p>\n The graphs show that the telescopes would be smaller than the existing ones on the mountain.<\/p>\n However, Kneubuhl and many others who consider Haleakal\u0101 sacred say the mountain has endured enough desecration.<\/p>\n They say construction could kill endangered species like the \u02bb\u0101hinahina, or Hawaiian silversword, and the \u02bbua\u02bbu, the Hawaiian petrel, which burrows underground to nest on the summit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re standing for the protection of our summit spaces, of the top of Haleakal\u0101, the piko of our mauna. We\u2019re standing for the protection of endangered species like \u02bb\u0101hinahina and \u02bbua\u02bbu, because they are kupuna to us,\u201d Kneubuhl said.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the U.S. Space Force said communication with the community is a top priority, and the AMOS STAR project team respects concerns about potential environmental impacts as well as the cultural and spiritual significance of Haleakal\u0101, and is committed to continued engagement with the community and to minimizing impacts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose of the Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and associated public hearings is to inform the public of potential impacts and mitigation measures to the proposed AMOS STAR initiative and its alternatives, as well as to provide further opportunity for community feedback. Open communication with the Maui community and key stakeholders has been and remains a top priority throughout this process.<\/p>\n The Space Domain Awareness mission has existed for many years on Maui with Maui Space Surveillance Complex members contributing to the community and economy while serving in this important role. Space domain awareness is a vital part of space flight safety and daily aspects of everyday life such as agriculture, travel, GPS, internet banking, and satellite TV, in addition to the critical role it plays for national security. At more than 10,000 feet elevation, the space surveillance location at the summit of Haleakal\u0101 contributes to that mission with some of the best astronomical viewing conditions on Earth. The proposed location of the AMOS STAR project on already developed land would also advance critical Space Domain Awareness capabilities to address rising national security threats,” said a U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command spokesperson.<\/p>\n But Haleakal\u0101 protectors say the military needs to do a better job.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see absolutely no evidence of any kind of meaningful engagement with Native Hawaiians or Native Hawaiian organizations,\u201d Kneubuhl said.<\/p>\n Opponents are calling on their community to make their voices heard at two public hearings this week to discuss the proposal.<\/p>\n The first hearing is Tuesday, Feb. 17th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kihei Community Center. <\/p>\n The second is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. 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