Big Island Video News 10-9-15… “Mauna Kea Emergency Rules Invalidated By Court”

In my view, this is huge! Recall the efforts of many people, including Lanny Sinkin (several legal actions, here is one), which have helped bring this correction to pass. It’s a victory for the principle of Kapu Aloha.

Here is a link to a related Hawaii News Now article.

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Mauna Kea Emergency Rules Invalidated By Court

HAWAII ISLAND – The emergency rules enacted by the State of Hawaii restricting access to Mauna Kea have been invalidated by the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit. Judge Ronald Ibarra made the ruling Friday.

E. Kalanai [Kalani] Flores, who filed the lawsuit, had this to say:

Under the now-invalidated rules, 14 arrests total arrests were made in three early morning law enforcement actions by Department of Land and Natural Resources DOCARE officers.

Governor David Ige signed new rules for Mauna Kea in July, following the approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Under the new rules, nobody was allowed to enter or remain in the restricted area (within one mile of the Mauna Kea Access Road, on either side) during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Also, no person was permitted to bring in to the restricted area obvious camping paraphernalia. The rules were created by the state with the intention of dispersing the around-the-clock presence of opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope who have blocked construction crews from reaching the summit area to work on the $1.4 billion observatory project.

Attorney General Doug Chin and Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair Suzanne Case released the following statement in response:

“The State acknowledges the Court’s decision and will abide by it. We remind people traveling to Mauna Kea that even in light of today’s ruling existing laws and rules remain. It is always illegal to block the road. This includes standing in the road or placing obstructions in the road. These laws will continue to be enforced.”