The Office of Mauna Kea Management has reopened the Mauna Kea Access Road, which was shut down June 24 following protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope. ADVERTISING The Office of Mauna Kea Management has reopened the Mauna Kea Access Road,
The Office of Mauna Kea Management has reopened the Mauna Kea Access Road, which was shut down June 24 following protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope.
“The State seeks to provide safe access to Mauna Kea summit by all lawful users,” Gov. David Ige said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the destructive actions of several individuals temporarily rendered the mountain road unsafe since June 24. I am pleased (University of Hawaii) has reopened the road following its damage assessment and repairs.” The management office operates under UH-Hilo.
The road was reopened at 3 p.m., following remedial work and grading of the road that leads to the 13,796-foot summit of Mauna Kea. The access road closed in late June when TMT opponents blocked the summit road with stones.
The reopening follows an emergency rule passed Friday by the Board of Land and Natural Resources restricting access from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Vehicular access above the Hale Pohaku mid-level facilities will be by four-wheel drive vehicles only. Two-wheel drive vehicles will not be allowed past the end of the paved road at Hale Pohaku, officials said.
The Visitor Information Station and its restroom facilities will remain closed. Restrooms are available at the Mauna Kea Recreation Area and Puuhuluhulu at the junction of Saddle Road and the Mauna Kea Summit Access Road. Portable toilets for the public are available on the summit.
