URGING THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO CEASE PLANS RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAUI OPTICAL AND SUPERCOMPUTING SITE SMALL TELESCOPE ADVANCED RESEARCH FACILITY ATOP HALEAKALĀ.

SR143

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

143

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

URGING THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO CEASE PLANS RELATED
TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
MAUI OPTICAL AND
SUPERCOMPUTING SITE SMALL TELESCOPE ADVANCED RESEARCH FACILITY ATOP HALEAKAL
Ā.

����
WHEREAS, the United
States Air Force has proposed the construction and operation of the Air Force
Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site Small Telescope Advanced Research
Facility, or AMOS STAR, atop Haleakal
ā;

and

����
WHEREAS, the United
States Air Force states AMOS STAR would provide for dedicated satellite
tracking and communication capability to allow for the characterization,
cataloging, and tracking of objects in space and to enable advanced research
that expands the Department's understanding of objects in the Pacific Theater;
and

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WHEREAS, the
summit of Haleakal
ā is a
sacred and culturally significant site, holding deep spiritual, genealogical,
and traditional importance
; and

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WHEREAS, the
cumulative development of telescopes, domes, military infrastructure, and
restricted federal facilities at Haleakal
ā's summit has significantly altered the natural and
cultural landscape
; and

����
WHEREAS, the
proposed AMOS STAR project would support space surveillance and defense-related
missions that extend beyond purely scientific research, with such military
space-tracking systems raising concerns about further militarization of Hawai
ʻ
i and the long-term
land use trajectory of conservation and culturally sensitive lands; and

����
WHEREAS, AMOS
STAR is planned to occupy 0.87 acres of property and include as many as seven
telescopes; and

����

WHEREAS, Haleakal
ā lies within a State
Conservation District, where preservation of natural resources, fragile
ecosystems, and cultural practices should take precedence over industrial,
scientific, or defense-related uses
; and

����
WHEREAS, culturally
and environmentally appropriate alternatives for space surveillance
infrastructure may exist beyond sacred summit environments; and

�

����
WHEREAS,
community members have expressed strong opposition to the project, noting
concerns such as transparency, oversight, environmental impacts, and the
potential to limit public access and traditional cultural practices; and

����
WHEREAS, opponents
also argue the project's environmental impact statement does not include
sufficient strategies for mitigating negative impacts on cultural and
environmental resources and that federal officials have not done enough to
incorporate feedback from the local community; now, therefore

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the United States Air Force is urged to cease the
development of the proposed Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site
Small Telescope Advanced Research (AMOS STAR) Facility; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Department of the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Haleakal
ā
; AMOS STAR Facility;
U.S. Air Force