Transcript
Now into their second week of blockading Mauna Kea, protesters say they will never back down.
But with the government maintaining the $US1.4 billion telescope will go ahead, the mountain's future is unclear.
Construction on Mauna Kea - considered sacred to many Native Hawaiians - was due to begin a week ago, following a Supreme Court ruling.
Protest leader, Kaho'okahi Kanuha, says the number of people turning out in opposition to the Thirty Metre Telescope, or TMT, is growing by the day.
"I look forward to the coming days and the coming weeks, when we show the world how strong aloha 'aina is, how strong kapa aloha is, and I look forward to the day that TMT packs their bags, and heads back home."
Organisers believe about 2,000 people are blocking the mountain's access road, where a makeshift camp has been created.
Mr Kanuha says the protest movement has been strengthened by people rallying across the world.
On Monday, dozens of people rallied in New Zealand, as Māori came out to show solidarity for the Mauna Kea protests.
In Auckland's Aotea Square, protesters wore red and yellow and clutched Hawaiian flags, among them Mera Penehira.
"I think it's really important that as people of Polynesia, that as Māori, we come out and we support Kanaka Maoli on these kinds of issues. It's critical in this day and age, that as indigenous peoples we band together globally to support each other and the protection of our sacred lands."
University of Hawaii associate professor Noelani Goodyear-Kaopua says the cause has resonated around the Pacific.
"All over the world in all kinds of ways we're having to say enough is enough. If we don't protect places that sustain us, then we're not going to be here anymore."
Still, in Hawaii's closely-knit society, some families have been divided, with police and protestors often related.
Dozens of protesters were arrested on Friday as the governor warned police would have more freedom to move equipment up Mauna Kea.
But Noelani Goodyear-Kaopua, who also attended the protests, says many police are playing a reluctant role.
"For the law enforcement officers, they really have to do a lot of soul searching about why they're on the side that they're on and I know, many of them have expressed privately that they really don't want to be there."
Meanwhile, Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor Josh Green arrived on Mauna Kea on Tuesday morning to meet with protesters and police.
He says over the weekend he saw and treated families at a hospital who were "beyond exhaustion" from their time on the mountain.
