Opinion ID: 6494573
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Kilakila’s motion for disclosure

Text: On March 30, 2012, Kilakila filed a motion for disclosure of BLNR’s communications regarding the ATST. Kilakila’s motion sought: [T]o have each member of the BLNR disclose any and all communication (written, electronic and oral) that mentioned or related to the University’s proposed Advanced Technology Solar Telescope except for (a) communications between board members; (b) communications between any board member and the Board’s counsel; (c) any board meeting when the ATST was a subject matter of the agenda. The request included “any and all communication with Senator Inouye or his staff, the Governor or his staff, politicians, union leaders and members and construction industry representatives that mentioned or related to the [ATST].” In support of the motion, Kilakila cited hearing officer Jacobson’s statements regarding the ex parte communications, as well as testimony from a former superintendent of Haleakalá National Park who also noted pressures from Senator Inouye’s office regarding the ATST: While serving as superintendent, I was well aware of Senator Inouye’s displeasure with my statements/eomments against the construction of the ATST. His staff assistant, James Chang placed heavy pressure on me to mute objections that the National Park Service had regarding the impacts of the ATST. For example, in a meeting with Mr. Chang, he strongly encouraged me to go along with the construction of the ATST project. When I stated it was my job to guard against such extreme impacts to this majestic national park, he indicated that he would go to the Secretary of the Interior to override my objections. UH opposed Kilakila’s motion, arguing that the request was a “fishing expedition” with no factual or legal basis. In reply, Kilak-ila asserted that it was aware of at least one ex parte communication between a member of BLNR and the Governor’s office. Kilakila attached emails obtained pursuant to a records request from the Governor’s office, which provided evidence of a meeting on March 21, 2012 between the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, Senator Inouye’s office, and BLNR Chairperson William Aila to discuss the ATST. These include a March 21, 2012 email between Bruce Cop-pa, the Governor’s chief of staff, and another staff member. The staff member informs Coppa, “Jennifer [Sabas, Senator Inouye’s chief of staff,] requested a meeting today at 3 p.m. to discuss the telescope, hearings officer and funding issue. AG will be coming in and Chair Aila is pending.”