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First Stop: Visitor Information Station.
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Summit hours: 30min before sunrise;
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Maunakea Stewardship

Decommissioning

CSO under decommissioning The University of Hawaiʻi is committed to the removal of five telescopes on UH-managed lands on Maunakea, followed by restoration of each site to its original state, to the greatest extent possible. Decommissioning of the first two telescopes is tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2023.

The 2010 Decommissioning Plan for the Maunakea Observatories (pdf), a sub-plan of the Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan (pdf), describes a 4-step decommissioning process for observatories to follow when preparing a Site Decommissioning Plan (SDP) for removal of an observatory followed by site restoration.

  1. Notice of Intent (NOI)
  2. Environmental Due Diligence, including:
    • Hazardous Material Assessment
    • Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
    • Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment – if needed
    • Remedial Action Plan – if needed
  3. Site Deconstruction & Removal Plan
  4. Site Restoration Plan

The Center for Maunakea Stewardship (CMS) coordinates the overall process as well as communicate with the State of Hawaiʻi and Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR). The respective observatory is responsible for preparing the Site Decommissioning Plan (SDP), completing compliance and permit documents, and implementing decommissioning.

All components of each SDP shall be approved by Maunakea Management Board followed by approval by the UH President. The Department of Land & Natural Resources - Office of Conservation & Coastal Lands reserves the right to request modification of the SDP and require a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP).

UH-Approved Decommissioning Documents

Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO)

The physical decommissioning of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory(CSO) from Maunakea on Hawai’i Island was completed, July 2024. In fall of 2023, the telescope was removed and during the spring and summer of 2024, all buildings on the site were removed, the foundation demolished, and active restoration of the site was undertaken in accordance with approved plans and permits.

For detailed information on the decommissioning, visit the CSO website for all documents and related compliance materials.

UH Hilo Hoku Kea (Hoku Kea)

The decommissioning of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Hōkū Keʻa Observatory was completed in May 2024, and the area will be monitored over the next three years to assess species population and diversity. This was a historic milestone as it was the first observatory to be decommissioned on Maunakea.

UH Institude for Astronomy UKIRT telescope (UKIRT)

The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is officially initiating the decommissioning process for the UH-owned UKIRT telescope on Maunakea, formerly known as the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope. This marks another important milestone in UH’s long-term commitment to responsible stewardship of the mauna.

UKIRT will be the third Maunakea observatory to be decommissioned under UH’s Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan.

The State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Land & Natural Resources - Office of Conservation & Coastal Lands also provides access to astronomy-related documents, including decommissioning.