Jennifer Sinco Kelleher

Associated Press

In this July 14, 2019, file photo, the sun sets behind telescopes at the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The cost to build a giant telescope that's unpopular among many Native Hawaiians is now estimated to have ballooned by a billion dollars. 'While an exact updated project cost will depend on when and where on-site construction begins for the Thirty Meter Telescope, the latest estimate for the TMT project is in the range of $2.4 billion in 2020 dollars,' Gordon Squires, TMT vice president, said in a statement this week. Construction of one of the world's largest telescopes on Hawaii's tallest mountain, Mauna Kea, has been stalled by foes of the embattled project who say the telescope will desecrate land held sacred to some Native Hawaiians.

Giant Hawaii Telescope Estimate Increases to $2.4B

The cost ballooned by $1 billion.

This photo shows some of the hundreds of shark fins seized from a Japanese fishing boat.

Japanese Charged with Smuggling Shark Fins

The 1,000 shark fins are worth about $58,000 on the black market. They were found in the crew's luggage by airport security.

This July 4, 2001, file photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense shows U.S. Navy Commander Dave Kapaun, right, with Republic of Singapore Navy Major Danny Tan, left, and Republic of Singapore Major H .C. Lim at a reception on board the U.S. Navy dock landing ship USS Rushmore during the seventh annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise. Retired U.S. Navy Commander Kapaun,who pleaded guilty to lying about his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor nicknamed 'Fat Leonard' is facing sentencing.

Ex-Navy Commander Sentenced

David Kapaun will do federal prison time for lying about his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor nicknamed "Fat Leonard."

This undated file artist rendering made available by the TMT Observatory Corporation shows the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope, planned to be built atop Mauna Kea, a large dormant volcano in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii in Hawaii. The $1.4 billion project to build one of the world's largest telescopes is up against intense protests by Native Hawaiians and others who say building it on the Big Island's Mauna Kea mountain will desecrate sacred land.

Natives Protest Large Telescope

Protesters say the $1.4 billion project would desecrate sacred land.