RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the unique historic, geographical, and environmental resources on the summit of Mauna Kea make it one of the most culturally and scientifically significant places on earth; and

WHEREAS, these unique resources are assets that are spiritually, socially, economically, and aesthetically significant to the people of Hawaii, especially to native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, under the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, the State has a specific obligation to ensure the preservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits of Hawaii's historic, geographical, environmental, scientific, and other significant resources; and

WHEREAS, any major development activity on the summit of Mauna Kea will simultaneously affect multiple community, cultural, environmental, and scientific interests; and

WHEREAS, these interests should be appropriately incorporated into a decision-making process that will effectively contribute to shaping and directing future development activities on the summit of Mauna Kea; and

WHEREAS, to date, 13 international telescopes have been established on the summit of Mauna Kea that today provide approximately 850 high-paying jobs statewide and generate nearly $210 million in annual revenues, and promise to provide similar benefits to Hawaii in future years; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the importance of supporting national and international astronomy programs and acknowledges the scientific and educational benefits that can continue to be realized from these endeavors in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature also recognizes that concerns for the historic preservation, cultural value, and recreational use of Mauna Kea must be appropriately incorporated into any evaluation, planning, undertaking, and management of future astronomical activities on the summit of Mauna Kea; and

WHEREAS, recently, there has been considerable public discussion, and at times public controversy, regarding various concerns and issues surrounding the development activities on the summit of Mauna Kea, but to date, these discussions have not produced a consensus on how effectively and appropriately these concerns are incorporated into evaluating, planning, undertaking, and managing astronomical activities atop Mauna Kea; and

WHEREAS, as a result, the Legislature finds that there is a strong desire and a pressing need to develop and undertake an effective consultative process that will enable all stakeholders with strong interests in the future of Mauna Kea to participate in seeking to fashion a consensus on the appropriate arrangements under which the evaluating, planning, undertaking, and managing of future astronomical activities on the summit of Mauna Kea would take place; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) shall assemble and meet with the key stakeholders with strong interests in the future of Mauna Kea to develop and participate in a consultative process concerning future astronomical development at the summit of Mauna Kea that would seek to fashion a consensus on the appropriate arrangements under which the evaluating, planning, undertaking, and managing of astronomical activities on the summit of Mauna Kea would take place; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this consultative process shall appropriately address community, cultural, legal, legislative, administrative, environmental, recreational, scientific, and other relevant issues and concerns associated with the development of astronomical facilities and research programs on the summit of Mauna Kea; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies involved shall consider the use of a neutral mediating party to assist the stakeholders in developing this consultative process and in coordinating and facilitating the deliberations among the stakeholders in order to attain a consensus on what should be the appropriate arrangements under which the evaluating, planning, undertaking, and managing of astronomical activities on the summit of Mauna Kea would take place; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LRB is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any specific legislative recommendations and legislation, to the Legislature no later that 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of LRB, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Director of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, Executive Director of the Office of Maunakea Management, Maunakea Management Board, and the Kahu Ku Mana.

Report Title:

Establishing an equitable process for future astronomical development at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve.