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.
January 2026
DEIS Publicly Released
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released, triggering a formal 45-day review period.
Late January 2026
Section 106 Gap Revealed
Air Force Cultural Resource Manager Lawton admits formal NHO consultation only began in 2026, contradicting prior claims.
17–18 February 2026
Public Hearings
80+ testifiers across two nights in Kīhei and Pukalani. Near-unanimous opposition reaffirmed.This is where we are now.
The Ambition
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.
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.
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.