TMT protesters agree to remove tent

Thirty Meter Telescope opponents agreed to remove a tent from their campsite on Mauna Kea on Thursday shortly before a deadline.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a notice to the Native Hawaiian protesters to remove the illegal structure Tuesday, and was giving the group, which has been on the mountain for 176 days, until 6 p.m. Thursday before it was to be considered abandoned.

In a statement, protester Kuuipo Freitas said that their presence on the mountain had been fulfilled for the time being and that they were assured there was no “imminent surprise threat” of the TMT International Observatory trying to resume construction of the large telescope atop Mauna Kea, which the protesters consider sacred.

A hale, which protesters call their “spiritual house,” will remain for the time being.

Read Friday’s Hawaii Tribune-Herald for more details.