Hawaii Supreme Court denies telescope construction

HONOLULU (AP) -- The Hawaii Supreme Court is invalidating a permit awarded for the construction of one of the world's largest telescopes on a mountain many Native Hawaiians consider sacred.

The court ruled Wednesday that the state Board of Land and Natural Resources should not have issued a permit for the telescope before it held a hearing to evaluate a petition by a group challenging the project's approval.

The ruling sends the case back to the board for a new hearing.

A group of universities in California and Canada plan to build Thirty Meter Telescope with partners from China, India and Japan.

The group suspended construction at Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island after protesters blocked the road to the summit.