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Protesters block construction of giant Hawaii telescope

Hilo police face off with protestors Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at the Maunakea Visitors Center in Hilo, Hawaii. Construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope is set to resume Wednesday after a nearly two-month delay in construction. Protesters oppose the project because it will be built on land held sacred by many Native Hawaiians. (Jamm Aquino/The Star-Advertiser via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES Hilo police face off with protestors Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at the Maunakea Visitors Center in Hilo, Hawaii. Construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope is set to resume Wednesday after a nearly two-month delay in construction. Protesters oppose the project because it will be built on land held sacred by many Native Hawaiians. (Jamm Aquino/The Star-Advertiser via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES

By Associated Press June 25, 2015 4 min read

HONOLULU (AP) – Hundreds of protesters on a Hawaii mountain road erupted in cheers Wednesday after construction crews turned around and retreated from the site for what would be one of the world’s largest telescopes.

The billion-dollar project has drawn intense opposition from Native Hawaiians who say the 18-story observatory on the Big Island’s Mauna Kea would desecrate land they consider sacred.

Work on the Thirty Meter Telescope has been stalled for months after a large group blocked access to the mountaintop in April, a demonstration that led to 31 arrests.

Protesters said they were ready to adopt similar tactics and go to jail if necessary to make their point Wednesday.

Hawaii County police arrested one man, while state Department of Land and Natural Resources police arrested 11 others, officials said.