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Government & Politics

Mauna Kea is the only possible site for the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope, after an alternate site in the Canary Islands has reportedly been nixed.

, sources within Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities confirmed that the TMT International Observatory has rejected a bid by the Spanish government to have the long-planned telescope built on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.

The news comes little more than a month after TMT itself 

 that Spain had proposed a “financial framework” to build the observatory on La Palma, a proposal involving multiple Spanish government agencies and the European Investment Bank. That proposed framework 

 up to €1 billion (about $1.1 billion) for the project. 

, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities announced the rejection on Friday, but the reasons for that rejection were not publicly disclosed.

While Mauna Kea has always been the primary site planned for TMT, La Palma had been proposed as a potential alternative. The island hosts several telescopes at its Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, as its height and equatorial position makes it well-suited for astronomy in the same way that Mauna Kea is.

 of TMT by the National Science Foundation noted that the La Palma contingency was not developed to the same level of detail as the Mauna Kea plan. 

With La Palma seemingly out of the picture, TMT’s only remaining potential site is, once again, Mauna Kea. 

But the future of the project remains murky. In 2024, the NSF named both TMT and the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile as potential linchpins of a “U.S. Extremely Large Telescope” project, but also that only one could feasibly be funded, putting the two telescopes in competition with each other. 

 a budget request that mentioned that it was no longer considering TMT for the Extremely Large Telescope project, wiping about $1.6 billion in federal funding off the table for TMT.

 earlier this year stipulating that NSF continue to consider both TMT and the Giant Magellan Telescope through its final review process, although no funding for either project was guaranteed in that bill. 

Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Green and the state’s Congressional delegation have 

 TMT to consider building the observatory in the footprint of a previously existing telescope on Mauna Kea, rather than on untouched summit land. TMT project manager Fengchuan Liu told the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority in April that this could be feasible.

[{"type":"text","text":"Aloha State Daily has requested comment from TMT."}]

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<title>TMT reportedly rejects Spanish bid to build on Canary Islands</title>

A €1 billion proposal to build the Thirty Meter Telescope in La Palma has reportedly fallen through.

TMT reportedly rejects Spanish bid to build on Canary Islands

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Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

A 1.8-acre estate in Hualālai Resort that once belonged to former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz sold in late July for $36 million, the highest residential sale in the Hawai‘i Island resort's history. The previous record was $30.2 million, which was set in October 2021.

[{"type":"text","text":"Hualālai Realty's Rob Kildow represented both the buyer and seller."}]

Located at 72-103 and 105 Lau‘eki Place, the property features eight bedrooms, nine-and-a-half baths and eight structures, with a total of 15,427 square feet under roof and 11,250 square feet of interior living space, according to information provided to Aloha State Daily. 

 that this was an off-market sale. The house was last sold for $25 million in 2015 to Schultz, the provided information noted.

The eight structures sit on two adjoining parcels that total nearly 79,000 square feet, Kildow told ASD in an emailed response to questions, noting, too, that the parcels overlook the eighth fairway and green of the Ke‘Olu golf course and that the property offers views of the Pacific Ocean, Maui, the Kohala mountains and Hualālai.

More than 7,400 square feet of elevated Ipe decks surround and connect the structures with a series of pathways and bridges, and there are "extensive" water features throughout the property, he says, adding that the interior of the home of has Ipe floors, clear cedar interior walls and clear hemlock vaulted ceilings.

"reinforces that Hualālai remains one of the most sought-after resort communities in Hawai‘i and beyond. Interest remains high regardless of price in any available residence at 

[{"type":"text","text":"There are currently only four residences for sale at Hualālai, he says."}]

"As reported, this was the highest sale since the resort opened," Kildow told ASD. "That said, there are homes that would sell for more if they were ever to come to the market. In 2025, there were a number of sales between $10.5 million and $22 million."

Hualālai Resort is an 865-acre oceanfront residential resort community on the Big Island's Kona-Kohala Coast, offering a mix of single-family custom homes, townhouses, homesites and villas, according to a fact sheet provided by Kildow. 

Membership to the private Hualālai Club is available only to resort property owners, and members have access to the members-only Ke‘olu Clubhouse and Ke‘Olu Golf Course, the Hualālai Canoe Club, unlimited golf and tennis, the amenities at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, including beach and pool service, and more, the info notes.

Among other features and amenities, the resort also has two golf courses: the 

-designed Ke‘Olu Course and the Hualālai Golf Course, which is the first Jack Nicklaus Signature design in Hawai‘i, and home to the PGA Tour Champions "Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai" event since 1997, according to the provided fact sheet.

 of BDT & MSD Partners, the billionaire businessman who also serves as chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies. The resort was originally developed by The Athens Group.

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<title>This $36M sale is the highest residential sale in Hualālai Resort history</title>

The house last sold for $25 million in 2015 to former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

This $36M sale is the highest residential sale in Hualālai Resort history

Aloha Spirit

The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center on Friday said it has treated more than 1,000 native seabirds during the ongoing, and record, seabird fallout season.

Seabird fallout season typically spans roughly 

 each year. It’s the time of year when young seabirds — like fledging ‘ua‘u, or Hawaiian petrels, and ‘ua‘u kani, or wedge-tailed shearwaters — taking their first flights from their burrows to the ocean can become disoriented by artificial lights and fall to the ground, making them vulnerable to predators and cars.

HWC —  one of two organizations permitted by state and federal wildlife agencies to provide medical treatment and rehabilitation care to native winged wildlife, including native bird species and the Hawaiian hoary bat — often cares for these downed birds.

In an announcement Friday, the Hawai‘i Island-based nonprofit says more than 1,000 native seabirds were rescued between September and December and that the 1,441 patients so far this year have surpassed last year’s patient count of 1,028.

HWC Development Director Rae Okawa told Aloha State Daily in an email that the numbers fluctuate somewhat year-to-year.

“Even though we handle hundreds of birds each year, we were still surprised [by the uptick in patients this year],” she says, noting that the previous fallout season record was 712 birds in 2023.

Among the factors Okawa says could be contributing to that increase is a greater public awareness.

"We had a lot of people come to the drop-off tent or call our office expressing that they would see these downed seabirds every year, but didn't know what they were or that they needed help," she said. "The public played a huge role in the success of this year's response and we want to send our kudos and gratitude to everyone!"

Other factors that could contribute to the increase also include that ‘ua‘u kani populations are doing better because conservation efforts; and that the peak of fallout season aligned with the new moon, which is when the sky is at its darkest and there’s no moonlight to compete with urban lights, Okawa noted.

HWC says the surge this year was supported by a longstanding partnership with the Kailua-based Feather & Fur Animal Hospital, an intake location that receives downed seabirds around-the-clock. The organization's O‘ahu-based staff are set up there to assess incoming birds and administer care, the announcement noted.

“In November alone, during the height of fallout season, 983 ‘ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) were admitted, including 102 in a single day,” the announcement noted. “Quick action by the public, dedicated volunteers and close collaboration with Feather & Fur contributed to the successful release of nearly 800 seabirds to date, a number that is expected to grow as additional patients complete rehabilitation.”

Earlier in the season, HWC treated its 6,000th patient — an ‘ua‘u that was found on the water off Lāna‘i and ultimately released on Nov. 3, as ASD previously reported.

HWC said Friday that to recognize the milestone, Gov. Josh Green proclaimed Dec. 15 as “Bird and Bat Day in Hawai‘i.," and to mark the achievement, 

Tim Richards and state Rep. David Tarnas both visited the center's Big Island headquarters.

“This year’s record numbers remind us how vulnerable our seabirds are and how powerful our community can be in helping to ensure they receive appropriate care and rehabilitation,” Linda Elliott, president and founder of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center, said in the announcement. “2025 has been a pivotal year for HWC, and the recognition from Governor Green affirms how important this work is for Hawai‘i’s native wildlife. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us this season.”

HWC’s main facility is located in Kapa‘au on Hawai‘i Island but it has satellite operations on O‘ahu and Lāna‘i and partner projects throughout the state, its 

. That includes a clinic at the Honolulu Zoo.

ASD previously spoke with Elliott about the HWC, its work and what you should do if you find a downed seabird. You can 

Uau kani Wedge tailed Shearwaters1

<title>Seabird rescues reach record levels</title>

The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center says more than 1,000 native seabirds were rescued between September and December, which is seabird fallout season.

Seabird rescues reach record levels

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Corey Idleburg

Permit reform is a supply problem. What Hawaiʻi has is a price problem.

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Several states and regions have created multidimensional poverty measures tailored to their specific contexts. Hawaiʻi could do the same.

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Corey Idleburg is the founder and executive director of The Learning Observatory, an independent Hawaiʻi nonprofit that translates research, data, and policy into clear explanations for public understanding. TLO focuses on helping Hawaiʻi residents understand complex issues, including veterans' services, housing affordability and public safety, through nonpartisan educational resources.

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