astronomer andrea ghez is a frequent visitor, here to learn more about the black hole at the center of galaxy. >> i feel like a kid in a candy shop. we've got lots to do, lots of interesting problems that we're working on, that's been enabled with advanced technology and further advances are just going to make that all the better. >> reporter: ghez uses the most powerful observatory here, the keck, which has two ten-meter- wide mirrors. but plans to shed more light on her star quest are stuck in a black hole of resentment and anger. it turns out, what's precious to the scientists is sacred to the native hawaiian culture. >> there's no word for how i feel about that mountain in english. there's no word that would be deep enough to say how i feel about that mountain. >> reporter: pua case is one of the most vocal opponents of the $1.4 billion, 30-meter telescope, the t.m.t. it is the next big observatory on the horizon, and astronomers believe the summit of mauna kea is the ideal place to build it. >> this mountain peaks into the realm of the sky father, to wakea. it's where i go when i