Charles Dudoit, center, is hugged by fellow protestors Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at the Maunakea Visitors Center in Hilo, Hawaii. Construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope is set to resume Wednesday after a nearly two-month delay in construction. Protesters oppose the project because it will be built on land held sacred by many Native Hawaiians. (Jamm Aquino/The Star-Advertiser via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES (The Associated Press)
HONOLULU – 12:55 p.m.
A man protesting construction of a giant telescope on a Hawaii mountain says demonstrators erupted in cheers when crews advancing up Mauna Kea turned around and headed back down.
Hundreds of people flocked to the mountain Wednesday to keep workers from resuming construction on the Thirty Meter Telescope on land many Native Hawaiians hold sacred.
Construction has been on hold for about two months after 31 protesters were arrested on the mountain in April.
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12:45 p.m.
Protesters say people are being detained on a Hawaii mountain as hundreds block workers from resuming construction of a giant telescope on land many Native Hawaiians hold sacred.
Protester Kainoa Stafford says he saw authorities from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources putting plastic cuffs on demonstrators. He didn't know exactly how many were detained.
Hawaii County Assistant Police Chief Henry Tavares says at least one man was arrested Wednesday.
A governor's office spokeswoman says she's waiting to hear how many were detained.
Attempts to contact authorities for an exact count weren't immediately successful.
Hundreds of protesters flocked to Mauna Kea Wednesday to prevent construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope from resuming.
Work has been on hold for about two months after 31 protesters were arrested on Mauna Kea in April.
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