Conference Clarifies Next Steps in TMT Appeal

Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura. File photo by Dave Smith.

A status conference was held on Thursday to outline the next steps for all sides in the battle over the Thirty Meter Telescope project atop Mauna Kea.

Judge Greg Nakamura held the conference. He ruled back in May 2014 that the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ process that led to the issuance of a construction permit for TMT was valid. Last December, however, the State Supreme Court sided with Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, which is comprised of Clarence Kukaukahi Ching, Deborah J. Ward, the Flores-Case Ohana, Paul K. Neves, and KAHEA: The Hawai’i Environmental Alliance.

The State Supreme Court found that the process of issuing a permit while an appeal to the decision was in progress was not valid.

Nakamura instructed the attorneys for Mauna Kea Anaina Hou to put together an order that would vacate his earlier ruling, bringing TMT’s request for a permit back to the BLNR.