AMOS STAR: The Only Acceptable Action is “No Action”

This month I am sharing a condensed version of my testimony regarding the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction/operation of the proposed Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research (AMOS STAR) Facility at Haleakalā, Maui.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) acknowledges the Department of Air Force’s (DAF) notice regarding the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research (AMOS STAR) facility on Haleakalā, Maui.

The EIS will assess the environmental impact of constructing and operating up to seven dome-enclosed telescopes on a 0.878-acre site, including a No Action Alternative, as required by environmental regulations.

OHA was established in 1978 to address the challenges faced by Native Hawaiians and to protect their rights and culture. The U.S. government, however, has a long history of harmful practices in Hawaiʻi, including military activities that have devastated lands and disrupted traditional practices.

The apology resolution of 1993, passed by the U.S. Congress, acknowledged the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1893, but has yet to result in meaningful reconciliation. Instead, the U.S. military continues its activities, causing further harm to Native Hawaiian communities and sacred lands.

The AMOS STAR project would involve significant construction at the summit of Haleakalā, a site of profound cultural and religious significance to Native Hawaiians. The summit is considered a “wahi pana” (legendary place) and “wao akua” (realm of the gods), where Native Hawaiians have conducted religious ceremonies, prayers, and burials for generations. The summit is also home to endangered species, including the ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian Storm Petrel), and construction could threaten these delicate ecosystems.

Moreover, DAF is responsible for a 700-gallon diesel spill on Haleakalā in January 2023, raising concerns about future environmental risks associated with the AMOS STAR project. The spill highlights the potential for further destructive impacts on the sacred site and its fragile environment.

OHA strongly objects to the proposed AMOS STAR project, emphasizing that no mitigation can offset the negative and irreversible impacts on traditional and cultural practices, as well as the sacredness of Haleakalā. The construction of the AMOS STAR facility represents a continuation of the U.S. government’s disregard for Native Hawaiian rights and cultural heritage, a legacy that began with the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

OHA calls for the DAF to honor the wishes of the Native Hawaiian community and to consider the profound cultural, historical, and environmental significance of Haleakalā. The organization asserts that the only acceptable course of action is the No Action Alternative, meaning that the AMOS STAR project should not proceed. Furthermore, OHA stresses the need for proper consultations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and underscores that the summit area is a historic property with deep religious and cultural significance.

OHA reserves the right to provide further comments on any draft EIS and to pursue all necessary actions to protect the rights and cultural heritage of Native Hawaiians. The organization reiterates its strong opposition to the AMOS STAR project and calls for the U.S. government to engage in the long-overdue reconciliation process with the Native Hawaiian people.