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HONOLULU (AP) — The latest on the Hawaii Supreme court invalidating a permit for the construction of what would be the world’s largest telescope (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

The nonprofit company building the Thirty Meter Telescope on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea says it is “assessing our next steps” after the state Supreme Court invalidated its construction permit.

TMT International Observatory Board of Directors Chairman Henry Yang says in a statement that the group respects the court’s decision.

The high court on Wednesday ruled that the state land board 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 contested case hearing.

Construction near the summit of Mauna Kea has been suspended since April amid protests from those who consider Mauna Kea sacred.

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3:45 p.m.

A longtime opponent of what would be one of the world’s largest telescopes is hopeful that a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling invalidating its construction permit will lead to project officials abandoning plans for the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope.

Kealoha Pisciotta says she’s grateful to the heavens, the court and the people for Wednesday’s ruling. The court says the state land board 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.

Construction near the summit of Mauna Kea has been suspended since April amid protests from those who consider Mauna Kea sacred.

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