why? Uprising of indigenous people in Hawaii
Hawaii is a popular tourist destination for Japanese people.
Did you know that there is a big controversy that bisects the Hawaiian society now? This controversy has a big relationship with the Japanese. (Los Angeles branch director Jun Oikawa)
The stage of the controversy is "Sacred Mountain"
I went to the Island of Hawaii in August to cover this issue.
Hawaii Island is the largest island in Hawaii. Locally, the name is also called Big Island. Direct flights from Japan also fly, and Kona, famous for its coffee, and the mountain called Mauna Kea are the main tourist destinations.
Mauna Kea is the stage of the controversy.
The altitude is 4205 meters.
It is a sacred mountain for the indigenous people called “Hawaiian”, but as you climb up the paved road by car, you will see a group of buildings that shine pure white in the vicinity of the summit. This is an astronomical observation facility established by each country.
Hawaii is said to be one of the most suitable places for astronomical observation in the world because it is surrounded by the sea, has many sunny days, and has little atmospheric fluctuation.
There are currently 13 telescopes.
One example is the "Subaru Telescope" installed by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
TMT looking for "second Earth"
The construction of a large telescope called TMT is planned near the summit. TMT stands for “Thirty Meter Telescoupe”. A telescope with a diameter of 30 meters.
TMT is a joint project of Japan, the United States, Canada, China, and India, with a construction cost of 180 billion yen. The project started about 15 years ago.
Toshifumi Usuda, Director of the TMT Promotion Office at NAOJ, who participates in the project, says that one of the purposes of TMT is to search for a “second Earth”.
“You may be able to observe planets outside the solar system to see if there is anything essential to the existence of life, such as oxygen and water. Then, how life has been born on Earth It ’s also useful for solving the mystery.
TMT suspended, opponents formed base
The “second Earth” is an exciting story, but the TMT construction plan has been rapidly intensified by local opposition, and construction has been suspended.
When I reached Mauna Kea's fifth station, at an altitude of about 2000 meters, the road was blocked and I could not climb up from there. People who are against the construction have tents to prevent construction vehicles from passing. And this is now the base for opposition activities.
The opposite center is "Hawaiian"
Who is against construction?
The center of activities is the people of the indigenous people "Hawaiian".
Rituals in accordance with indigenous traditions are held three times a day at the activity base.
Dance called hula is also performed, but it is very different from the hula with a relaxed atmosphere that many people imagine. I felt it was more powerful, sometimes more harsh and religious.
I talked to one of these ceremonies, Mr. Kakehi Kearii Kanakaole (52).
Mauna Kea is said to be the gods and ancestors of Hawaiians and himself. He is angry that the mountain has been developed against his will.
“We will not move here until we cancel TMT's plan. We do not want to fight, but we want to protect the beautiful mountains that are irreplaceable for us.”
We are Hawaiians
Near the summit of Mauna Kea, telescopes from around the world have been built one after another. However, this time, the anti-construction movement is spreading differently.
why is it.
One of the keys to elucidating the reason is a change in the awareness of the younger generation in Hawaii. In Hawaii, there was a time when Hawaiian was banned as part of the assimilation policy to the mainland, but in the last 30 years there have been an increase in schools teaching Hawaiian.
In the United States, there are schools that have introduced a method called “Immersion Education” that teaches in multiple languages and raises them bilingually since elementary school. There are English and Spanish “Immersion”, and some schools offer English and Japanese “Immersion”.
And in Hawaii, some schools have introduced this “Immersion” in English and Hawaiian.
As a result of these efforts, there are now over 10,000 people who speak Hawaiian, which have almost disappeared for a while. And among young people, there is a growing awareness of pride as an indigenous Hawaiian.
SNS accelerates exercise
Also pay attention to the speed at which the opposition movement has expanded in a short period of time.
The factor of youth is also involved here.
The turning point of the opposition movement was that in July, Hawaiian elders were arrested by police authorities when they blocked the road leading to the summit to prevent the construction of TMT.
The young people who were angry about the abuse of power over Hawaiian culture spread the video of the arrests on SNS. The young people who responded to this, and even adults, gathered in the middle of Mauna Care and formed a base in a short period of time.
Furthermore, the power of SNS is not limited to this.
Hawaiian singer Bruno Mars and actor Leonardo DiCaprio also expressed support. Maunacare now has young people who express support for the opposition from Europe and other countries.
The National Astronomical Observatory is puzzled
TMT was originally scheduled for construction in July, but was postponed after all.
The people concerned are perplexed by the plan change just before the start of construction.
Mr. Usuda, the manager of TMT, is one of them.
Ms. Usuda, who has been conducting observations and research in Hawaii for many years, met locals with her family and children were studying Hawaiian. And so-called on-site classes at local schools have come.
“I thought I had a good relationship with the locals. To be honest, it ’s a shame that there has been a massive opposition movement so far.”
The balance between science and culture
How to balance science development with respect for local culture.
With the growing trend of advocating respect for identity not only in Hawaii but around the world, it is likely that the search for a balance will continue.
Jun Oikawa, Director General of Los Angeles
In 1994, he joined the Department of Political Affairs and the United States General Administration (New York) and moved to Los Angeles from June.