Remember all that flack regarding Mount Graham a few years ago? First it was some tribes claiming the place to be "sacred", then environmentalists said it would disrupt some species of squirrel that lives on the mountain. I believe threats and vandalism was involved.
Im the end the observatory was built, the squirrels did not die off (or even seem to notice), and it kept a ski resort from being built in its place.
Now I ask you, which facility do you think not only preserved the mountain environment but also did a better job contributing to the knowledge base of humanity?
As for Hawaii, a bare mountain where noone usually goes and certainly no one lives on can well afford an observatory, which I consider to be a sacred place as much as anything. Plus the astronomers who work there tend to like the place being pretty much pristine and undisturbed.
Space/Science » in reply to The natives appear to be restless.
Would they rahter have an observatory or a ski resort?