By Will Falk
Sitting outside the 10 by 20 foot makeshift tent that has served as my home for the last 34 days on Mauna Kea, I watch the tent poles shudder to the concussion of US Army howitzer cannons firing live shells at their training grounds below. When the wind blows just right, from the south, the rattle of automatic rifle fire reaches the occupation. There’s no denying it: A war rages in Hawai’i.
It’s a war on native peoples, a war on women, a war on the land, a war on life itself. The war did not start in Hawai’i. The war began thousands of years ago with the dawn of civilization when some humans chose to live in population densities high enough that they overshot the carrying capacity of their homelands and turned to dominating other peoples in other lands. Imperialism was born, and one-by-one land-based, truly sustainable human societies were either eradicated or forced into assimilation.
The war swept west across Turtle Island (so-called North America) – where it is still being fought -leaving whole peoples destroyed and now largely forgotten. The war is carving peaks from mountains, drying rivers so they no longer flow to their ocean homes, and boiling the planet’s temperature to levels dangerously close to being unbearable for all but a few lifeforms. The war decimates the numbers of our animal kin, too. Buffalo walk the ledge above total extinction. So do salmon. So do timber wolves. So do grizzly bear.
The war in Hawai’i began in the late 1770s when Captain Cook first appeared. By 1897, a million Hawaiians were killed in battle, by introduced diseases, and through Christian missionary efforts. Half of Hawai’i’s endemic species have been exterminated since European contact. The minds of Hawaiian children were attacked when the illegal Republic of Hawai’i outlawed the Hawaiian language in Hawaiian schools in 1896. The bodies of these Hawaiian children were attacked when they were beaten for speaking their native tongue.
A genocidal program of desecration was initiated as well. Hale O Pa’pa and the Kanaka burials there were paved over by highways while Kahoolawe was bombed to hell by the American military – and that’s just to name a very few of the sites desecrated. Now, the TMT project wants to dynamite an eight acre patch of Mauna Kea’s hallowed summit to clear the way for their telescope.
***
Rumors are swirling that the TMT (Thirty Million Telescope) project is poised to break its self-imposed moratorium on construction and send its equipment up the mountain with an armed escort. We have heard that Gov. David Ige is willing to send the national guard against the Mauna Kea protectors.
In the midst of these rumors, it is not uncommon to hear people say they hope the situation on Mauna Kea will not turn violent. The problem with expressing this hope is the situation on Mauna Kea is violent, has been violent for a long time, and will remain violent so long as those in power remain in control of the land.
Before you object to this, consider the bombs and rifle fire I am listening to as I write this.
Consider that the first time construction equipment tried to force a way over the objections of the Hawaiian people, it came with men carrying batons and pistols. These men carrying batons and pistols put 31 peaceful protectors in handcuffs, carried them to the Hilo jail, extracted 250 dollars from each one of them, and now force them to appear at a series of of court dates under threat of jail time.
Consider that David Ige, as I wrote earlier, has stated that he is willing to call in the national guard to clear the way for the TMT. Speaking of war, the national guard is an organization of soldiers. They will come with rifles instead of the police’s pistols.
This is violence.
I didn’t even mention the violence already done to Mauna Kea to build and maintain the 13 telescopes that already exist on the summit. These 13 telescopes required their own dynamite and 38 feet have been cut from the height of Mauna Kea’s summit already. There have been 7 reported mercury spills on the mountain that contains Hawai’i Island’s largest freshwater aquifer.
Plants, animals, and insects that live on Mauna Kea are murdered by this mercury and its more than likely that humans – especially children and the elderly – are harmed by this mercury, too.
Kanaka Maoli are genealogically related to Mauna Kea – it is literally a family member – so to do this kind of violence to the Mauna is to attack an older sibling.
Again, this is violence.
Mauna Kea
***
I anticipate that some may accuse me of encouraging an atmosphere of violence by using words like war to describe the violent reality facing Mauna Kea, facing Kanaka Maoli, and facing the long, necessary road to Hawaiian independence. Describing reality, however, is not the same thing as encouraging violence. I want this violence to stop and the first step to a cure is the proper diagnosis.
As a haole, I understand that when push comes to shove the State will crack down much harder on people of color than they will white people, and I do not want to provoke this crack down. I do think, though, that we need to be prepared to react when the State does not treat the protectors with the kapu aloha that the protectors will show those who come to destroy Mauna Kea.
Those who deny we are at war are wrong. Maybe, they cannot recognize the war because war has become so utterly pervasive. The wars of the past led to the rape of women. The war we’re fighting now causes one in six women to be raped in her lifetime worldwide. The wars of the past were fought to beat armies, to eradicate cultures, and to topple nations. The war we’re fighting now causes the extinction of whole species – 200 species a day, in fact, day after day after day.
Maybe, they cannot recognize the war because they are privileged enough not to confront the reality of this war. I think Palestinians understand this war. I think Catholics in Northern Ireland understand this war. I think Afghanis and Iraqis understand this war. I think hammerhead sharks, California condors, mamane trees, and ahinahina understand this war. They have to, because their survival depends on it.
Maybe, those who deny the war is happening think they can avoid the war’s dangers by ignoring it. It might be possible to avoid bullets, gas, and bombs by agreeing and cooperating with the cops as they place you in handcuffs, but you are just as susceptible to the environmental toxins the dominant culture unleashes on us every day. Denial saves no one from cancer.
Yes, Hawai’i with the rest of the world, is at war. This war – more than any other – is a war that we absolutely must win. If we lose, we lose life on this planet. To win a war, you must destroy your enemy’s ability to make war. The battle on Mauna Kea against the TMT is a mini-war in the larger war on life. The surest way to win this war is to undermine the TMT’s ability to build their telescope.
There are many strategies currently being employed to win this war – to undermine the TMT’s ability to build their telescope – but the weakness of most of these strategies is that they rely on our enemies to do the right thing. The countless sign-waving events conducted in support of Mauna Kea are designed to persuade the public of the justness of our movement. The incessant social media campaign we are waging is geared towards changing the hearts and minds of the world. The court cases challenging the TMT project, for example, rely on a judge to agree with the arguments made by our lawyers.
And why do we appeal to the courts to protect Mauna Kea? The answer is simple. If the judge rules in our favor, the decision will be backed with the full force of the State. The judge’s ruling and it’s enforcement will be backed with an organized group of men carrying guns – the police, or another organized group of men carrying bigger guns – the national guard. If we were to win in court and the TMT tried to build it’s telescope, it would be them and not us for once, who would be staring down the barrels of rifles. Of course, we do not trust the courts to do the right thing.
That’s why we stand on the Mauna Kea Access Road at this occupation.
Another way to say all this is: the State can, will, and already has used violence against us and our relations in the natural world. We must understand this in order to be effective. We must understand that writing really clever essays might not stop them. We must understand that hugging cops when they come to arrest us might not stop them. We must understand that we may not have an opportunity to place leis around the necks of national guardsmen when they point their guns at us.
I hear many people within the movement state confidently, “We will stop the TMT project.” But, if we do not understand the violence the State is capable of I feel like what we are really saying is “We will stop the TMT project as long as the police or the national guard agree to what we think are the rules.” I am not writing these things to cause despair. Rather, I am writing these things to encourage the deepest levels of commitment to protecting Mauna Kea.
Of course, those who think I am calling for violence demonstrate their own belief that only violence will stop the destruction of Mauna Kea, the destruction of Hawai’i, and the destruction of what is left of the world. I do not claim to know what will stop the destruction of Mauna Kea, but I do know that we must understand the way the State frames our tactics for us before we even begin. Once we understand this, we must ask tough questions.
I’ll walk my talk and begin: If the police or national guard overwhelms the protectors on the Mauna Kea Access Road, what do we do next?
Will Falk
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I think it’s safe to say Israelis understand this war to since you mentioned Palestinians.
too, not to.
Yes, sometimes the oppressed fight back – especially when they have no other choice. The scale of violence – Israelis killed vs. Palestinians killed – is simply not comparable.
The Israelis have better fire power so of course they are going to use it. Will doing so make the situation better? Obviously not but regardless, Hamas who was democratically elected into power. While all Palestinians may not feel this way, Hamas as an organization would like to wipe every Jew off the face of the planet. My personal opinion is both sides are guilty of killing innocent people but I will side with Israel right to protect itself.
https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/videos/10153008648736939/?pnref=story
I keep wondering- if the TMT does get built ( and I hope that it does not), will it be worth the level of resentment and ramifications of same that will follow ?
They don’t seem to care, they are self-serving.
Davi Lge, are you really going to bring in the National Guard on my People? I voted for you…so is this how you are going to treat the people who voted for you…by attacking their families??? Yes…my Family is on the Mauna…you harm them & I will tesify against you in a UN court for War Crimes against a peaceful people!!!!!
Our governor is doing the right thing, the radicals on Mauna Kea are trying to stop construction of something that LEGALLY can be built. Even if the national guard does go up there it ain’t there going to gun anyone down so there not attacking anyone’s family. An the UN won’t intervene in United States internal problems that’s actually funny to even think.
Why don’t you post your name instead of a pseudonym? Are you afraid that someone will oppose you?
I do not care “opposes me” I support the TMT an I also support the United States Marine Corps an our whole Military. Everything that is occurring with the land either the TMT or the training sight is legit an a lot of people are grumbling about it…..would be irritating right if you were leasing land to build a house an your neighbor blocked you off an tried telling you that you don’t have the right to build even though you do…same situation with the TMT.
They don’t have the “right to build”. That is where your belief is straight up WRONG. This issue is to appear before the state Supreme Court in August because they haven’t done things “legally” and yet they push forward like its a done deal. It isn’t.
50th state = NOT
Get educated, obviously you are not.
What the fake state of Hawaii continues to do is treason. Illegal occupation with big guns does NOT create legal reason to take what is not theirs to take. Anyone cannot lease land that is not theirs to lease. Wake up. These islands do NOT belong to USA Inc.= never did. STOP believing the lies that we all have been told.
Wow. I’m retired military myself (Navy). You come off as one of those kinds of service members that would whine and cry if you got slapped around by some locals and get livid if no charged are brought on by the perpetrators.
“livid if no charged are brought on by the perpetrators.”
Err I meant you would get livid if no charges are brought against the perpetrators.
I agree with those who say post your name or stay out of the conversation….only a person who knows they are in the wrong hides behind a pseudonym.
Actually Hawaii was taken illegally so none of this is “legit” so stfu.
That is a good analogy, 50th State. To take it a step further, what if your bulldozers got passed those neighbors and you started building, spending about a half billion dollars for your dream home, and midway through the project you find out your landlord’s title to the property was forged and your lease is now worthless? Now the lease you thought was “legal” becomes illegitimate. That’s the situation on Mauna Kea. The state is not a rightful owner and the University of Hawaiʻi, who is leasing the land to TMT, are slumlords charging $1 a year – leaving the property vulnerable to the abuse of the TMT tenants. At $1 a year do you really think these tenants will respect the property?
Get the facts. Maunakeaandtmt.com
Fighting to keep Our Life Sustaining Fragile Eco-Systems intact.
The Koch Bros and the Fossil Fuel Industry, have spent Millions on Legislators, Regulators, and the Judicial System, to continue Poisoning Our Air, Water, and Soil.
The Global Warming, Sea Level Rising, Fossil Fuel Energy Policies, that Globally emitted 40 – 50 Billion Toxic Tons of Carbon, of that the United States emitted 6.8 Billion Toxic Tons, and leads the charge to Frack the Globe.
Right Now we have 404 parts per million of carbon in our atmosphere.
The Jet Stream of Old, is Gone.
There is No Carbon Budget, each Toxic Ton we emit, is Warming the Planet.
The past Five years have Global record temps steadily increasing.
Northwest Pacific Ocean, 3 – 6 degrees Warmer than Normal,
“At just 0.80C of Global Warming, the World is Already experiencing Climate Change.
West Antarctica and Greenland Calving.
Arctic 75% gone and melting, with severe consequence for the Future Stability of the Permafrost, and Frozen Methane Stores, as Ice Sheets retreat the Earrths Reflective Power Decreases.
In reality 2C is the boundary between Dangerous and Very Dangerous Climate Change and a 1C is warmer than any Human Civilization has Experienced” David Spratt
In the 1850s parts per million of carbon was 260 – 280.
Whales, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Starfish, Die Off along the Western Coast of the Pacific Ocean over the past year . Ocean Acidity levels climbing, Mercury 3x more than the start of the Century.
“Ice sheets contain enormous quantities of frozen water. If the Greenland Ice Sheet melted, scientists estimate that sea level would rise about 6 meters (20 feet). If the Antarctic Ice Sheet melted, sea level would rise by about 60 meters (200 feet).” National Snow and Ice Data Center.
When will Sea Level Rise to 220 – 300 Feet ? 2020 ? 2025 ? ?
California emitted 459 Toxic Tons of Carbon Dioxide in 2014.
Gov Browns call to reduce this to 1990 levels so we can continue to emit over 400 million Toxic Tons a year, will not help us stop or slow down Global Warming and Sea Levels Rising.
“Updates to the 2020 Limit.
Calculation of the original 1990 limit approved in 2007 was revised using the scientifically updated IPCC 2007 fourth assessment report (AR4) global warming potentials, to 431 MMTCO2e. Thus the 2020 GHG emissions limit established in response to AB 32 is now slightly higher than the 427 MMTCO2e in the initial Scoping Plan.” Ca. Gov. Data
We Need 100% Renewable Energies .
No Twin Tunnels, Save the Delta, this Fragile Eco-System is a measurement of our commitment to bring in Sustainable Energy Policies.
Cap and Trade Phased Out.
75% Airport reduction in Carbon emissions.
Close Diablo (All) Nuclear Power Plant, and relocate All Nuclear Waste above 2,000 feet.
Ban Fracking
Close All Golf Courses, Unless on Gray Water
Close all 108, for profit, Water Bottling Plants in California
Implement a California Residential and Commercial Feed in Tariff.
California Residential Feed in Tariff would allow homeowners to sell their Renewable Energy to the utility, protecting our communities from Poison Water, Grid Failures, Natural Disasters, Toxic Natural Gas and Oil Fracking.
Our California Residential Feed-In Tariff should start out at 16 cents per kilowatt hour, 5 cents per kilowatt hour to the Utility for use of the Grid, 11 cents per kilowatt hour going to the Home Owner.
A California Commercial FiT in Los Angeles, Palo Alto, an Sacramento Ca. are operating NOW, paying the Business Person 17 cents cents per kilowatt hour.
Sign and Share this petition for a California Residential Feed in Tariff.
http://signon.org/sign/let-california-home-owners
We should be rallying by the thousands up and down the Mauna and make it hard. Yes Ige how dare he make threats against the very people who voted for him. My family did and my family is also up there. I will seek out Kahuna anana if anything happens to them. At least the spirit world moves faster in getting things done then the mortal world.
The governor is betraying the very heart of his people. What kind of human being does that, and a governor “for the people”, to boot!
Unfortunately you are describing pretty much everyone who chooses that line of work.
Sister Nicole, you are right in that the spirit world, our ancestors realm, is far wiser and stronger. The Mauna will seek recompense rest assured! We here in the Mariana Islands are engaged in the same fight against proposed US military activities to turn sacred lands and entire islands into live bombing ranges not unlike Kaho’olawe! They’ve destroyed the Bikini Islands and our brethren Marshallese’s island way of life and they persist in this dogma of destruction in the name of national security! Because we are people of color and because we are a dwindling number in the face of the global populace does not give the US military or the TMT to unilaterally dispense with our cultural tradition and beliefs! Are we lesser citizens and therefore expendable??? When people in the Mariana Islands became US citizens, many thought and believed that it was for the better! And now, well one need only do the math . . . We will impart your fight with our guela yan guelu (equivalent to Hawai’ian ancestors) and remain in solidarity with you! We look to Native Hawai’ians as brothers and sisters and we include you in our efforts to draw the world’s attention to the annihilation of indigenous cultures for this is tantamount to the annihilation of Mother Earth!
I voted for Ige and I want the TMT built! I was born in Hawaii and most of you are trash-talking. The facts are jobs for Hawaii’s people, construction and educational. The TMT pores Millions of $ into Hawaii Island. Get real. This is the 50th state.
What jobs are you talking about? American, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Canadian astronomers? Only 1 Kanaka in the world has/or is working on an astronomy PH.D…There’s been 7 reported mercury spills on Mauna Kea associated with the telescopes. There’s no jobs on a dead island. Only the insane would poison their own drinking water to “create jobs.” …and that money you are talking about is poured into a system that teaches native Hawaiians to hate themselves. That’s genocide.
So Kevin, you should know you were born in a foreign country stolen by the United States Inc. Illegal occupation for over 120 years, pretending to have legally obtained the rights to destroy your peoples’ homelands. IF you don not know these things, then you have been brainwashed like I and all other Americans. Time to wake up, and realize, the relatively few jobs and money for students to study dangled before us as carrots is so little that they should be embarrassed to think Hawaiians are so desperate to settle for any offers they have presented.
It would be good for you to research Hawaiian History, and get the real story, because what we’ve been taught through the brain washing schools has been lies. The truth is being exposed. Listen to the real truths and they will set us all free of the enslavement to the 1%.
Just curious, if and when built (if ever) how many people will it permanently employ and how many people will come to visit/work there?
Aloha Will. Just found your MK stories. Nice deep analysis. As you well know, this wednesday the shiz will hit the fan again, this time at a much bigger scale. pls contact me a jjkauai AT gmail.com I will be doing my bi-weekly community affairs radio show this thurs 4-6pm HST on Kaua`i Community Radio. Perhaps you can call in w/ a live report/update?
[phone numbers redacted] eds note: sorry. not a good idea in the internet
Aloha no, jonathan jay
Regardless of why how Hawaii became a state it IS now a state and it’s never not going to be. While I personally do not want this project to go through, the question is, what do most residents of Hawaii want? Or more specifically, what do the residents of the Big Island want?
“what do the residents of the big island want?” answer: sov·er·eign·ty
/ˈsäv(ə)rən(t)ē/
noun
noun: sovereignty
supreme power or authority.
“how can we hope to wrest sovereignty away from the oligarchy and back to the people?”
synonyms: jurisdiction, rule, supremacy, dominion, power, ascendancy, suzerainty, hegemony, domination, authority, control, influence
“their sovereignty over the islands”
•the authority of a state to govern itself or another state.
“national sovereignty”
synonyms: autonomy, independence, self-government, self-rule, home rule, self-determination, freedom
“the colony demanded full sovereignty”
•a self-governing state.
plural noun: sovereignties
Bang, bang, bang on your thick skull. Hawaii still is not a state legally. Proof on paper has been found. Lies by the rich who wanted this land 122+ years ago, continue to this day by the USA Inc. The world courts have recognized the truth. Judge in Hawaii has confirmed that Hawaii is still a sovereign nation. There is proper protocol. USA did not, and has not followed the laws concerning the illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This truth cannot be swept under some rug. Shame on the USA Inc. for continuing this farce so it can have military control of the Pacific. USA Inc, with its big guns will only be seen as a bigger bully than ever, if it continues to play this nasty game.
I,too,am against the construction of the TMT. But, as usual with all media, sensationalism sells. But I guess if you mentioned that the howitzer and gunfire was actually from Pohakuloa Training Area, it wouldn’t have had the same desired affect. Just report the situation as it stands. This is Hawaiian land and what happens should be dealt with by Hawaiian people, not foreigners who care nothing about the Aina. David Ige is NOT Hawaiian. He c should have no say so even if he is governor. He has no right
The land does not belong to our people, our lands was given away in the annexation by the republic of Hawaii. Technically being hawaiian doesn’t always mean being Polynesian. People need to remember that. Our governor has the right to do what he feels is necessary due to the fact he Is our governor an we are the ones who gave him the power.
There was no annexation. (Show us the treaty.) There was an internationally illegal joint resolution that said Hawai’i was now a territory of the US, but Congress refused to sponsor annexation because it couldnt get the consent of Hawaiians. The joint resolution took an existent internationally recognized nation and forcibly made it a territory of the US. The USA could not do that to Canada today without making it an act of war and when the USA did it to Hawai’i it was – based on any definition – an act of war.
There were two treaties that were written out by Hawaii’s government so technically a treaty of annexation does exist. It was up to the United States to use whatever document they decided to use to adopt the treaty a joint resolution can be used sense hawaii was the one seeking annexation. The legit government of Hawaii signed the document to relinquish the country to the United States. You also need to remember this was 1898 things were a lot different back then, then the present day
Regardless of why how Hawaii became a state it IS now a state and it’s never not going to be. While I personally do not want this project to go through, the question is, what do most residents of Hawaii want? Or more specifically, what do the residents of the Big Island want?
( I meant to post this down here)
Bang, bang, bang on your thick skull. Hawaii still is not a state legally. Proof on paper has been found. Lies by the rich who wanted this land 122+ years ago, continue to this day by the USA Inc. The world courts have recognized the truth. Judge in Hawaii has confirmed that Hawaii is still a sovereign nation. There is proper protocol. USA did not, and has not followed the laws concerning the illegal occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This truth cannot be swept under some rug. Shame on the USA Inc. for continuing this farce so it can have military control of the Pacific. USA Inc, with its big guns will only be seen as a bigger bully than ever, if it continues to play this nasty game.
Priceless.
The National Guard should be protecting you and the land. Period. The continual onslaught of development is insanity. Maniacs rule the world. I pray that soon these forces will be deployed to serve and protect our heritage and our home: Earth.
I believe the Pacific Command is supposed to uphold the laws of an occupied foreign country in the Pacific. So why aren’t they upholding Hawaiian Kingdom laws and protecting her people from USA Inc.?
USA Inc. is in place illegally, continuing to enforce their agenda. Those who work for them or the fake state of Hawaii are committing treason and war crimes. (I sure wouldn’t want to be the governor of fake State of Hawaii right now, to face the charges he is committing.)
The polls say 78% support TMT. PERIOD! The small amount of protestors have loud mouths.
A link please. I don’t claim to know how most Hawaiians feel about this project but I’m curious as to which poll says 78% percent and who conducted it and what method was used and who was asked?
Don’t know what polls you find. BUT = petitions signed
NO TMT = over 60,000 +
Yes TMT = over 7,000
hmmmmm
That doesn’t look like 78% for TMT now does that?
According to the three polls below, taken by Hawaiʻiʻs largest newspaper, the people DO NOT support TMT:
http://poll.staradvertiser.com/honolulu-star-advertiser-poll-archive/page/51/
http://poll.staradvertiser.com/honolulu-star-advertiser-poll-archive/page/72/
http://poll.staradvertiser.com/honolulu-star-advertiser-poll-archive/page/85/
I would consider this more reliable than what ever it is Kevin make come up with, which he hasn’t yet.
May, not make.
there is a simple reason why the polls end up that way. i’ve been watching, when the polls are first released, TMT typically has more support from the general public. but what happens is the protestors go to large social media groups and tell everyone to vote. TMT has no such group, mostly because it’s supporters are not exactly “activists”.
Alrighty, then. I’m gonna end the comments thread here. Seems like the same things keep getting said over and over again. And the tone has taken a turn for the worst. (Yes, we know, Will’s not from there and some of you think that makes him not worthy.)
It’s our sandbox…. (Fear not, there will be more stories in this series, so you’ll get another chance)