Maunakea - the highest and most sacred mountain in Polynesia - is located on Hawai'i Island. The Thirty Meter Telescope has chosen Maunakea for its construction site and, while providing many scientific benefits, TMT would be detrimental to the environment, spirituality, and political process of the people of Hawai'i.
The project has been protested since the beginning. Several standoffs with authorities culminated in a massive roadblock, many arrests, and a moratorium on construction in 2015. Watching these actions of the Hawaiian nation inspired this song.
Now, in 2019, TMT is again hoping start to construction. Pushback has been even greater than in the past, drawing worldwide attention and support. This time the Hawaiian people have created a place of refuge at the base of the Maunakea access road, simultaneously blocking TMT from beginning construction and providing free education, food, and simple medical services to protectors. More:
www.facebook.com/puuhuluhulu/.
This is the indigenous rights movement of our lifetime. It's a privilege to watch a people rise to such greatness in the face of oppression.
released March 31, 2015
Brad Bordessa: 'Ukulele and vocals
Noa Eads: Drums
Alan Ku: Bass and engineering
Lanakila Mangauil: Chanting and spoken