Astronomy Rebuilt Hawai’i Island’s Economy After 1960 Tsunami 

Three years following the 1960 tsunami that destroyed much of Hilo, the governmental and economic center for Hawai’i Island, the economy still had not recovered.  Mitsuo Akiyama, Executor Director of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, was bound and determined to help rebuild the island’s economy.

Looking for something to spur the economy, Mr. Akiyama learned of the clear skies and astronomical possibilities of Maunakea from Howard Ellis, who in the early 1960s headed the weather observatory on Mauna Loa.  Encouraged by that informative conversation, Mr. Akiyama wrote to a number of U.S. and Japanese universities and other research organizations suggesting Maunakea as an astronomical site.

Mr. Mitsuo Akiyama

Several months later, Akiyama received a reply from University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Director Gerard P. Kuiper, expressing keen interest. Dr. Kuiper, who had recently completed his evaluation of Haleakala on Maui for telescope sites, noticed the peaks of Maunakea and Maunaloa rising above the cloud layer.

In the words of Mr. Akiyama, “When Dr. Kuiper … became interested in Maunakea and recognized it as the best site in the world for astronomical research, I assisted him in every way I could.”

Elected state and county officials supported the start of astronomy on Maunakea. The Hawaii State Legislature passed concurrent resolution (SCR 16) affirming: “State of Hawaii and its citizenry are most desirous and willing to cooperate and aid the promotion of our nation’s space program and research to the benefit of County of Hawaii, the state and the nation.”

It was further resolved urging Governor John A. Burns to set aside and establish an appropriate area on the summit of Mauna Kea for the installation and operation of a telescope observatory and astronomical activities.

In 1964, a Honolulu Advertiser headline read, “Burns Urges Science Group to Push Job Opportunities.”

Governor Burns believed research and science areas held the “highest promise of employment opportunities for our sons and daughters.”  Industries of the future would be attracted to a pool of skilled technicians and scientists and less by manual labor.  He noted that Hawai’i had great natural advantages in the area of scientific research, in particular oceanography and space science and thus he called upon the University, the industrial community and all levels of state and local government to capitalize and utilize Hawaii’s resources.  The state’s limitations are only “those we impose on ourselves”, Governor John A. Burns.

In 2012, the economic impact of astronomy in the State of Hawai’i was over $167 million and generated 1,400 jobs in addition to the 500 plus observatory related jobs. The greatest impact was felt on the Island of Hawai’i – $91 million based on direct expenditures of about $59 million on the island alone, while generating an additional 800 jobs.

Governor Burns’ vision has come to fruition.

Astronomy atop Maunakea has pioneered scientific innovation, invested over $1 billion in capital infrastructure and greatly enhanced the State’s reputation as being the center for global astronomy through the successes achieved by the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawai’i.

Collectively, the observatories on Maunakea are the world’s most scientifically productive telescopes in the world today.  Once the Covid-19 crisis passes, the Maunakea observatories stand ready to help Hawai’i Island get back on its feet.