Decision on New Mauna Kea Leases Postponed

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources today took up a request to issue new leases for astronomy facilities atop Mauna Kea but adjourned without making a decision.

Meeting in Honolulu, the land board heard from dozens of testifiers before postponing the matter because it lacked a quorum, a spokeswoman for the Department of Land and Natural Resources said.

The board agreed to take up the request at its next meeting scheduled for Dec. 13.

The land board has been asked by the University of Hawaii to cancel the existing leases for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, and the property under the Hale Pohaku Mid-Level Facility, and to issue new ones.

The new leases would extend the UH’s control over the science reserve for another 65 years.