Dwayne Johnson supports Hawaii telescope protests: 'It's about respecting culture'

By Michael Rothman

If you're protesting a billion-dollar telescope project at the top of Hawaii's volcano, Mauna Kea, who's the person you want most on your side?

Yep, Dwayne Johnson. Lucky for the folks in Mauna Kea, the icon and actor stopped by Wednesday to support the local people and their rich culture.

Hawaii News Now was at the protest, which is entering its 11th day Thursday, and got a minute with the "Hobbs & Shaw" actor.

Johnson hugged and spoke with the hundreds of protesters and watched proudly as they performed native ceremonies and dances, before telling the media, "It's beautiful, it's inspiring ... it’s the culture."

He said the protest is much bigger than a telescope.

“It is our people, Polynesian people, who are willing to die here to protect this land," he added. "Protect this very sacred land that they believe in so powerfully.”

You can hear one of the protest leaders asking people in attendance not to crowd the superstar, but "just sit and enjoy the moment. Sit and enjoy the honor" of having "The Rock" support them.

Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP

"The Rock" Johnson talks to opponents of the TMT telescope during a visit to the protest site blocking the construction of the giant telescope on July 24, 2019, at the base of Mauna Kea on Hawaii Island.

"Mauna Kea represents all of Hawaii, all of the islands," he said, adding that a "greater leadership has to step in" after so many people are protesting this project.

Johnson spoke about living in Hawaii for a long time and having some of his ancestry stem from the islands, even spreading his grandfather's ashes there in respect to his family's beliefs.

"There needs to be leadership with empathy, progress through humanity ... It's not about stopping progress, it's about respecting culture and people," he said."[This] is a sign that something has to be done."

The telescope project is part of a new planned observatory funded by companies and schools around the globe to see further than ever out into space. Since the protests began earlier this month, there have been arrests on Mauna Kea, while civilians try their best to stop construction of this massive telescope project.