A Native Hawaii commuity group protesting against the construction of a giant telescope on a sacred mountain are shocked at how police forcibly removed them from the site.
Kāko'o Haleakalā is an indigenous group set up specifically to protect the mountain on Maui, but the construction of a US$340 million solar telescope is expected to be the world's largest when it is completed.
But during a peaceful protest on the mountain last week, police arrested several people and one person was almost run over by a truck.
Charges laid included disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway, failing to obey a police officer and or resisting arrest.
Group member Tiare Lawrence told Sara Vui-Talitu that many indigenous Hawaiians feel passionately about protecting the sacredness of this mountain that this won't stop.
Listen
Haleakalā Photo: Flickr/ Peak Shadow