Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at College 9/JRL Multipurpose Room

We warmly invite you to join us for our remaining special series events (May 5 and May 6) on the long struggle of Native Hawaiian people and other kia‘i (“protectors”) in protecting Mauna Kea. One of the most sacred Native Hawaiian sites, Mauna Kea is the piko (umbilical cord) connecting the islands to the heavens, the dwelling place of deities, and a place of worship. This sacred landscape faces ongoing expropriation for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)—a project in which UC Santa Cruz is profoundly implicated.

Wednesday, May 6, 4-8 pm at College 9/JRL Multipurpose Rm.: Standing Above the Clouds

• A public screening of a documentary film that focuses on mothers and daughters from three Native Hawaiian families that have dedicated their lives to protecting Mauna Kea from destruction. A Q & A with visiting Mauna Kea Protectors will be facilitated by Kanaka Maoli/Native Hawaiian professors, Drs. Iokepa Casumbal-Salazar and Nicole Furtado. Food will be served, including vegan options.

The series features visiting Mauna Kea protectors from Hilo, Hawai‘i: Hāwane Rios, an award-winning singer, songwriter and a celebrated haku mele (song and chant composer); Hopoelehua Pa’a Makakau, a Kanaka ‘Ōiwi cultural bearer, aloha ‘āina (land protector), hula practitioner, and skilled multi-disciplinary hana no’eau (cultural) artist. It also will feature Amber Espinosa-Jones, the award-winning producer of the feature film Standing Above the Clouds and respected teachers and members of the Santa Cruz hula community, Kumu Mehana Thomas and Kūhai Hālau O Mehanakealohakalaua’eikapoli Pā ‘Ōlapa Kahiko.

All events are free and open to the public. Please share this announcement and the attached flyers widely.

Enormous thanks to our cosponsors:

Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource Center

Center for Reimagining Leadership

Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

Film and Digital Media/Social Documentation

Mauna Kea Protectors at UC Santa Cruz

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Rachel Carson College 

Student Union Assembly Office of Diversity and Inclusion