Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority

The Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority was established by the Hawaii Legislature to take over management of Mauna Kea from the University of Hawaii, with a mandate to balance astronomy, cultural rights, and conservation on the mountain. It develops a comprehensive management plan, sets rules for telescope operations and cultural access, and oversees the decommissioning of older observatories. The authority has broad decision-making power over one of the most contested landscapes in Hawaii.

The authority's decisions on telescope permitting, cultural access, and environmental protection directly affect Native Hawaiian practitioners, the astronomy community, and all residents with a stake in how this sacred mountain is governed.