UPDATED 1 p.m.
Momoa, addressing crowd, said, “Sorry it took me so long (to get here). I’ve been busy,” which generated a collective laugh from the TMT opponents.
Momoa said he’s thankful for the protectors and called them “stewards of this land.”
“We are not going anywhere,” he said.
After his comments, Momoa began meeting with kupuna as rain started picking up at the protest site.
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Movie and TV star Jason Momoa is visiting the Thirty Meter Telescope protest site on Maunakea.
Momoa, who was one of the first celebrities to join in on the “We Are Maunakea” movement that sprung up in 2015 in opposition of TMT’s first attempt to begin construction, had been hinting on social media recently that he would visit with protesters, who refer to themselves as “protectors.”
Before his arrival, there was a low-key music and hula demonstration going on, and then his van backed into the access road.
Everyone quieted down and gathered around. He currently meeting with some of the protesters.
Momoa starred in “Game of Thrones” and the movie, “Aquaman,” among other film and TV projects.
Momoa was ranked last week as No. 1 on the Hollywood Reporter’s top actors chart, which ranks the most popular personalities on social media. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he had the second-biggest post on social media by an actor in the week ending July 23, with a July 19 Instagram post stating his opposition to TMT.
In a recent Instagram post linking to that report, Momoa wrote, “… with all due respect to the pursuit of scientific knowledge, we must always protect what is sacred to our people, I believe your telescope can be built in a place where it is wanted. If u stay we will stay we are Kapu Aloha and we will share our ways with the world. Times are changing.”