SpaceX received FAA permission to detonate rockets near Mokumanamana, a sacred site to native Hawaiians. This site is considered a boundary between darkness and light, where souls of the deceased travel. The FAA expanded SpaceX's splashdown area significantly, allowing potential debris fallout around the island and across Hawaii's main islands. Local activist Lynda Williams expressed concerns that local officials were not consulted about these plans, urging residents to voice their opposition.
William Aila, the former chair of Hawaii's land and natural resources department who now runs the island state's housing department, told The Guardian that in Native Hawaiian spirituality, Mokumanamana sits at the boundary between 'pō,' the darkness, and 'au,' the light. When a Native Hawaiian dies, their soul travels up near Mokumanamana, and after meeting their ancestors there, they potentially get to advance into the great beyond with them in the dark waters west of the island.
Despite that island's spiritual importance, the FAA gave Musk and SpaceX permission to expand its so-called 'splashdown area' - the wide swath of water where it's allowed to litter exploded rocket parts - into the Pacific, making its marine junkyard whopping 75 times larger.
The FAA not only allowed Musk to rain schrapnel down near Mokumanamana, but also granted SpaceX the ability to do so around Hawaii's eight main islands, potentially impacting homes and property.
Hawaii-dwelling activist and former physicist Lynda Williams learned of Musk's plans - which she claims were rammed through without any consultation with local officials - and urged her fellow Hawaii residents to speak out.
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