HONOLULU (AP) — Builders of a giant telescope are taking construction equipment down from a Hawaii mountain after the state Supreme Court invalidated the project's permit.
Protesters had been calling for the machinery to be removed.
Thirty Meter Telescope officials say the equipment will be removed from Mauna Kea sometime Wednesday. Telescope spokesman Scott Ishikawa says mechanics went to the site Tuesday to do vehicle maintenance and repairs.
Equipment has sat idle since construction stalled in April amid protests from those who say building the $1.4 billion telescope will desecrate land held sacred by Native Hawaiians.
The state Supreme Court recently invalidated the project's permit to build on conservation land. The court sent the matter back for a new contested case hearing.
Telescope officials haven't indicted whether they will pursue a new hearing.