Hawaiis Relationship with Technology

People all over the world use technology, becoming more and more dependent on it over the
years. Yet, we never seem to realize how it changes our society and our world. Hawaii to westerners is
often described as an underdeveloped state. Although its a place full of historical and cultural artifacts
located in every city and town, it manages to keep up with the fast pace technology and the rest of the
world. One example is the Thirty Meter Telescope, which is a telescope being built to create pictures of
the atmosphere that would tell us more about other planets and stars. Blueprinted to be about 18 stories
tall, its said to create a better, sharper image than the Hubble Space Telescope. Having plans of being
built on the Big Islands Mauna Kea, it stirs a lot of controversy, being that the mountain is well revered to
the Native Hawaiians for being the home of multiple deities, and the root of the creation of the Hawaiian
Islands. On the other side, windmills are a source of renewable energy that can be used to power homes
in Hawaii. Energy in Hawaii is extravagant because each island has to generate their own electricity.
Theres no toxic emissions, and doesnt contribute to climate change. Windmill farms are located in
places such as Oahus North Shore & Mauis Maalaea Mountain (one of the largest in the state) and can
help us reach the goal of having 40% of our energy come from renewable sources by 2030. Technology
advances in Hawaii can be controversial, such as the Thirty Meter Telescope in Mauna Kea (which would
ruin the sacred, cultural image of Hawaii), or the windmills that can provide a positive, eco-friendly
alternative to Hawaiis growing population.
The Thirty Meter Telescope is deteriorating Hawaiis culture and our unique image. According to
HuffPo Hawaii, many Hawaiians believe that Mauna Kea is where the Hawaiian Islands originated from.
Theres a burial site near the peak, and the mountain is home to many sacred rituals. Ever since Captain
Cook arrived on the islands, westerners changed the self-efficient Hawaii. Because of this, Native
Hawaiians didnt have a strong voice on what comes and goes on their homelands. This telescope, if
being built, will diminish a huge part of Hawaiis unique culture. Kelly Slater supports this cause, stating
The newly planned telescope is seen as a continued desecration of that land and culture by many who
love this place. Concerned citizens and native Hawaiians are worried that burial grounds and other sacred
venues along with the underground, freshwater aquifers will be damaged or altogether forgotten about in
the crossfire. There is also a concern that the same thing could happen in Hawaii as in Chile where a
huge number of telescopes became obsolete and were shut down due to the changes/advancements in
technology causing job loss at unused sites. Not only does the telescope sit on sacred sites, it gives a
big risk on ruining Hawaiis freshwater sources. If the TMT results in a flawed telescope, its going to be a
waste of money and a waste of land, because it could potentially be another telescope that becomes
abandoned. Our state motto is Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono, so we need to be righteous about this
situation and whats happening on this volcano.
On the positive side, the windmills gives a bright light to Hawaiis eco-friendly future. Laura
Peterson, a writer of The New York Times, evidently proves that ... The wind power and transmission
cable will help protect Hawaiians from rising oil prices by securing electricity costs at or below today's
rates, which are currently the highest in the United States at 20.54 cents per kilowatt-hour (the national
average is 9.83 cents per kilowatt-hour). Windmills give a cheaper, alternative source for Hawaii. Without
harnessing natural resources, thousands of homes would pay a lot more because of the imported oil. Bill
DiBenedetto informs us Hawaii is small and benefits from strong, prevailing winds. Wind power there is a
natural. But the state is aggressively taking advantage of the situation. Its mandates on clean energy and
local renewable sources. Senator Daniel Akaka also compliments the new energy source, exclaiming
Renewable electricity production makes our islands more energy self-sufficient, environmentally
sustainable, and secure, which is critically important now and for future generations. Windmills in Hawaii
sets a good example for other states and nations to start using renewable energy to help both the people
and the environment. Rather than using oil which is detrimental to the environment, something safe as air

is more eco-friendly for us to use. Windmills provide a great alternative of renewable source of energy for
Hawaii, since the winds are prevailing and strong here.
Technology seems to be Hawaiis greatest opponent when it comes to building them, since every
place is cultural and significant to the Hawaiian people and their history. However, technology such as the
windmill gives a lot of benefit and helps both the people and the planet. Mauna Kea is a sacred site to
Hawaii, where a lot of deities are known there, and destroying it with the Thirty Meter Telescope defeats a
lot of the Hawaiian culture, with most of it already depleted since the overthrow of the Hawaiian
Monarchy. On the other hand, windmills provide a cheaper price for Hawaiis energy while using what we
were blessed with to our advantage. The telescope provides agony to the Native Hawaiians and the Big
Island people because of the desecration of Hawaiis beginning roots. Windmills provide a pathway to a
sustainable, eco-friendly future for Hawaii. The decisions we make now, regarding the technology that we
build in Hawaii, is important for us to Technology advances in Hawaii can make our break our future, and
its important for us to decide the fate of our state for the future generations.