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INDEX
VOL. 47, NO. 176
18 PAGES
VIRGINAWINS
COLLEGE
WORLD SERIES
SPORTS, 1B
DLNR talks with TMT protesters at one of many blockades Wednesday that started at the Mauna Kea visitors center stopping TMT construction vehicles
from driving up to the summit of the mountain.
PHOTOS BY HOLLYN JOHNSON/
HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD
SUMMIT SHOWDOWN
TMT PROTESTERS BLOCKWORK CREW’S
ACCESS TO MAUNA KEA
Mauna Kea Access Road
remained closed Wednesday
evening after opponents of the
Thirty Meter Telescope again
halted construction of the $1.4
billion observatory following a
highly coordinated protest.
About 300 protesters used
their bodies and large rocks
to prevent construction crews
from travelling more than
a mile past the Mauna Kea
Visitor Information Station,
and about a dozen continued
to block access above Hale
Pohaku after the group claimed
victory for the day.
Twelve arrests were made
by Hawaii County police and
state Department of Land and
Natural Resources conserva-
tion officers. Some of the offi-
cers wore ti leaf lei given to
them by protesters.
Mike McCartney, Gov. David
Ige’s chief of staff, said in a
press release that construction
of the state-of-the-art telescope
will remain on hold until fur-
ther notice. The project faced
a nearly three-month timeout
following arrests of 31 protest-
ers April 2.
McCartney said the arrests
Wednesday were unfortunate
but acknowledged that pro-
testers have a right to peace-
fully assemble. Ige was in
Washington, D.C., for an ener-
gy forum.
“We are disappointed and
concerned that large boulders
were found in the roadway
leading to the summit of Mauna
Kea,” McCartney said. “This
action is a serious and signif-
icant safety hazard and could
put people at risk.
“Because of this, we are mak-
ing an assessment to determine
how to proceed.”
McCartney said the road
will be cleared of obstructions
today.
Dan Meisenzahl, a spokes-
man for University of Hawaii,
which manages the Mauna Kea
Access Road and Mauna Kea
Science Reserve, said protest-
ers later pushed aside boulders
covering 2 miles of the access
road but kept three rock walls
in place about 3 miles past the
visitor center.
BY TOM CALLIS
AND CHRIS D’ANGELO
HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD
Hoffmann, Ruderman
consider mayor’s run
Census: younger, faster and more diverse
As rumors swirl about who will
and won’t be on the ticket in 2016,
two Big Island figures have con-
firmed they are considering a run
for mayor.
Former Kohala Councilman Pete
Hoffmann and Puna Sen. Russell
Ruderman both say it could be
months before they make a final
decision. Candidate filings open Feb.
1, 2016.
Hoffmann, 74, said he has been
approached by community members
We’re growing faster,
younger andmore diverse.
The
Big
Island
continues to lead Hawaii
in the rate of population
growth, according to
the U.S. Census Bureau,
which late Wednesday
released
county-level
estimates of population,
sex, race and age for 2014.
Between 2013 and
2014, Hawaii County
added
2,781
new
residents, a growth rate
of 1.45 percent, bringing
the island’s population to
194,190. That compares
to an increase of 1.39
percent on Maui, 1.14
percent on Kauai and
0.48 percent in Honolulu.
Statewide,
10,574
people were added to the
population, a 0.75 percent
increase.
There are slightly more
men than women on
Hawaii Island, with 97,157
men and 97,033 women
living here in 2014.
In contrast to most
states,
Hawaii
was
one of five states that
experienced a decline
in median age between
July 1, 2013, and July 1,
2014. The others were
North Dakota, Montana,
Wyoming and Iowa.
While the state’smedian
age is steadily decreasing,
the number of residents
65 and older is increasing,
a paradoxical trend that
most struck Eugene
X. Tian, administrator
for the Research and
Economic
Analysis
Division of the state
Department of Business,
Economic Development
and Tourism.
“There’s
been
an
increase in younger
population, but we’re still
one of the oldest states,”
Tian said.
The state’s median
BY BRET YAGER
WEST HAWAII TODAY
BY NANCY COOK LAUER
WEST HAWAII TODAY
SEE
TMT
PAGE 8A
SEE
CENSUS
PAGE 7A
SEE
MAYOR
PAGE 7A
Hoffmann
Ruderman
The Big Island continues
to lead Hawaii in the
rate of population growth.
“
“
A TMT protester chants as he is arrested by DLNR officers.
