The Record
Three Narratives. One Mountain.
The Spills
Documented contamination and environmental failures at the summit.
1980's
First diesel spill, Butler Building
First documented contamination event at the AMOS facility. Never publicly disclosed until community testimony in 2026.
~2010
MSSS chiller coolant spill
Second documented contamination. No public disclosure. No formal remediation record available to community.
~2015
Generator coolant spill, soil removed
Third event. Soil excavation required. No public notification.
January 2023
700+ gallon diesel spill, AMOS site
The spill the public was told was caused by a lightning strike. Insider testimony reveals: preventive maintenance failure. Leak detection equipment was not installed despite requests. Remediation still open.
The Resistance
Mass arrests, legal challenges, and the struggle for due process.
2010
Kīlakila Challenges BLNR
Kilakila ʻO Haleakalā challenges the Board of Land and Natural Resources decision to allow DKIST construction.
2013
Supreme Court Landmark Ruling
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court rules that BLNR should have held a contested case hearing. A landmark victory for due process.
2015 & 2017
Summit Arrests & Resistance
Dozens of protectors are arrested at the Haleakalā summit during mass demonstrations attempting to prevent DKIST heavy equipment transport.
2019
Mauna Kea Kūpuna Arrested
The TMT standoff continues. Kupuna arrested on their own sacred land, galvanizing the Pacific Indigenous rights movement.
May 13–15, 2023
Public Scoping Overwhelmingly Aʻole
Scoping meetings in Kahului, Pukalani, and Kihei see hundreds of community members testify in near-unanimous opposition to AMOS STAR.
2024
Resolution 24-103
Unanimous 9-0 Maui County Council vote opposing AMOS STAR. MayorʻS Office and Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Hulu Lindsey follow with formal opposition.
Late January 2026
Section 106 Gap Revealed
Air Force states formal NHO consultation began in 2026, contradicting prior claims.
17 February 2026
Powerful Testimony in Kīhei
Community members pack the Kīhei Community Center for the first AMOS STAR EIS public hearing. Testifiers deliver powerful opposition testimony.
18 February 2026
Massive Turnout at Pukalani
The second public hearing at Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani draws an even larger crowd. 80+ testifiers across both nights reaffirm near-unanimous opposition.
20 February 2026
Informal Information Request (Letter)
Informal information request letter submitted to the State Historic Preservation Division seeking records related to AMOS STAR consultation and compliance.
11 March 2026
Hanohano ʻO Haleakalā
Community hosts an evening of education, testimony, and solidarity at UH Maui College. The Air Force is invited to hear community manaʻo directly.
7 September 2026
UIPA #1 Official Information Request
Official request filed under the Uniform Information Practices Act for records related to the AMOS STAR project and consultation process.
15 September 2026
Wailea Protest at AMOS Conference
Community members gather at the entrance to Wailea Beach Resort for a peaceful stand as the annual AMOS Conference convenes, bringing together DoD and defense industry partners.
23 September 2026
UIPA #1 Response Received
Response received to the UIPA information request regarding the AMOS STAR project and consultation process.
25 September 2026
Memorandum of Agreement Discovery
A draft Memorandum of Agreement between the Air Force, ACHP, and State Historic Preservation Officer is discovered. The MOA cites a list of Native Hawaiian Organizations invited to consult but the list is not included in the document.
29 September 2026
Confirmation: Fixed Military Sites Are Targets
Analysis of Space Warfighting Environment 2040 reveals that fixed military sites are explicitly identified as targets in a contested space domain, raising direct questions about the strategic vulnerability of permanent infrastructure on Haleakalā.
29 September 2026
UIPA #2 Request to BLNR
Second UIPA request concerning Ka Paʻakai Analysis, land title clarity regarding Executive Order parcels, previous HEPA triggers and consistency of interpretation.
12 October 2026
SISL Data Center Exposed
Coalition publishes analysis of the Secure Integration Support Laboratory (SISL) at Maui Tech Park in Kīhei. A 56,000 sq. ft. facility including a data center, more telescopes, and remote operations for the summit. The EA was pushed through in 2022 with no community input. AMOS STAR cannot operate without it.
22 October 2026
Board of Regents Approves MHPCC Lease 11-0
The UH Board of Regents votes unanimously to approve MHPCC lease agreements at Honolulu Community College. Questions about AMOS STAR data ties, community benefit, and 20+ years without environmental review are not addressed. The County Council’s opposition resolution is not discussed.This is where we are now.
The Military Timeline
Expanding military industrial complex and the “Ambition Gap.”
2006
AMOS Conference: 102 Papers
The militaryʻS technical infrastructure on the summit enables stable academic and DoD research output.
2013
99 Research Papers
Infrastructure continues to serve global satellite tracking and laser ranging research.
2017–2019
Capability Threshold
Papers climb to 128 (2017) then normalize to 90 (2019). The technical foundation for next-generation surveillance is solidified.
2019–2022
The Ambition Gap
Research output nearly doubles to 193 papers by 2022. This surge coincides with internal AMOS STAR planning, conducted entirely without community consultation.
2022
SISL Facility EA
The Air Force pushes through an Environmental Assessment for the Secure Integration Support Laboratory (SISL) at Maui Tech Park in Kīhei. The 56,000 sq. ft. facility includes a data center, more telescopes, and remote operations equipment. No community input was sought.
2023
Peak Technical Output: 209 Papers
Peak paper count occurs in the same year as the 700-gallon diesel spill. The technical ecosystem flourishes while environmental safety measures fail.
2025
Post-DEIS Industry Momentum
164 papers. The AMOS conference in Wailea remains a primary hub for DoD and industry partners, even as local opposition reaches a fever pitch.
January 2026
DEIS Publicly Released
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released, triggering a formal 45-day review period.
15 April 2026
US Space Command: Objective Force 2040
The Chief of Space Operations releases “Objective Force 2040,” outlining the future operating environment and force structure for space dominance.
27 July 2026
Space Warfighting Environment 2040
US Space Command releases “Space Warfighting Environment 2040,” a strategic framework document defining the contested space domain and capabilities required through 2040.
September 2026
AMOS Conference Wailea
The annual AMOS Conference convenes at Wailea Beach Resort. DoD, defense contractors, and industry partners gather to discuss expanding space domain awareness capabilities while community members stand in protest at the entrance.
September Annually
The Parallel Reality
Industry and DoD gather a few miles away in Wailea to discuss expanding capabilities on a mountain where the community has said aʻole for decades.Parallel to community life.