"The issue of Mauna Kea desecration has been raised each year for the last six years at the U.N. Mauna Kea has been identified by others as one of the most egregious global examples of failure to protect a cultureal site," Trask testified. "The university has not done the work to protect the sacred sites. We need an approved management plan before a permit is issued."
IFA director Kudritzki kept shifting responsibility to the Office of Mauna Kea Management, founded in 2000 after an official state audit criticized the mountain's management. Clarence Ching grilled the IFA director, "IFA is the applicant. But it is not responsible for much that happens on the mountain. Can those responsibilities really be transferred?" Kudritizki and colleagues proved to be masters at passing the buck.
"I am a native practitioner on the mountain," Ching said. "Every morning I gaze at the mountain and compose myself. The view of the mountain has been marred. These people have a different religion than mine; they call themselves scientists." Ho added, "There is a new religion on this planet and its temple is Mauna Kea. The new religion is science."
IFA director Kudritzki kept shifting responsibility to the Office of Mauna Kea Management, founded in 2000 after an official state audit criticized the mountain's management. Clarence Ching grilled the IFA director, "IFA is the applicant. But it is not responsible for much that happens on the mountain. Can those responsibilities really be transferred?" Kudritizki and colleagues proved to be masters at passing the buck.
"I am a native practitioner on the mountain," Ching said. "Every morning I gaze at the mountain and compose myself. The view of the mountain has been marred. These people have a different religion than mine; they call themselves scientists." Ho added, "There is a new religion on this planet and its temple is Mauna Kea. The new religion is science."