<p class="title">Officials say 33 people were arrested for blocking the road to the summit of Hawaii's tallest peak during ongoing protests against the construction of a giant telescope.</p>.<p class="bodytext">State spokesman Dan Dennison says all 33 were given citations and released Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Protest leaders say those arrested were kupuna, or elders, who were prepared and willing to be taken into custody.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Transportation officials said they decided to close the highway leading to the protest site because of motorists and pedestrians in the roadway. Hawaii</p>.<p class="bodytext">County Managing Director Wil Okabe says the road was also closed to allow a convoy of trucks to pass.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hours later, the convoy didn't arrive and police in riot gear left the protest area. The highway was later reopened.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Okabe estimates there were 2,000 people gathered.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The project has been delayed by years of legal battles and demonstrations. Last year, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that telescope officials had legally obtained a permit, clearing the way for construction to begin.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Telescope opponents last week filed another petition in court, saying the project must post a security bond equivalent to the construction contract cost before starting to build.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Doug Ing, an attorney for the Thirty Meter Telescope, said the latest lawsuit has no merit and is another delay tactic.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The company behind the project is made up of a group of universities in California and Canada, with partners from China, India and Japan.</p>
<p class="title">Officials say 33 people were arrested for blocking the road to the summit of Hawaii's tallest peak during ongoing protests against the construction of a giant telescope.</p>.<p class="bodytext">State spokesman Dan Dennison says all 33 were given citations and released Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Protest leaders say those arrested were kupuna, or elders, who were prepared and willing to be taken into custody.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Transportation officials said they decided to close the highway leading to the protest site because of motorists and pedestrians in the roadway. Hawaii</p>.<p class="bodytext">County Managing Director Wil Okabe says the road was also closed to allow a convoy of trucks to pass.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hours later, the convoy didn't arrive and police in riot gear left the protest area. The highway was later reopened.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Okabe estimates there were 2,000 people gathered.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The project has been delayed by years of legal battles and demonstrations. Last year, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that telescope officials had legally obtained a permit, clearing the way for construction to begin.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Telescope opponents last week filed another petition in court, saying the project must post a security bond equivalent to the construction contract cost before starting to build.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Doug Ing, an attorney for the Thirty Meter Telescope, said the latest lawsuit has no merit and is another delay tactic.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The company behind the project is made up of a group of universities in California and Canada, with partners from China, India and Japan.</p>