The construction of a $1.4 billion telescope on land considered sacred by some Native Hawaiians will resume Wednesday, according to the nonprofit company behind the project.
Henry Yang, chairman of the Thirty Meter Telescope Observatory Board, in a statement said the board decided to move forward after more than two months of consultations.
“Our period of inactivity has made us a better organization in the long run,” Yang said. “We are now comfortable that we can be better stewards and better neighbors during our temporary and limited use of this precious land, which will allow us to explore the heavens and broaden the boundaries of science in the interest of humanity.”
The telescope is planned for the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s Big Island. It would be one of the world’s largest telescopes.
The company suspended construction in April after law enforcement arrested protesters for blocking the road to the summit and refusing to leave the construction site.