HONOLULU — The Hawaii Supreme Court is temporarily suspending a permit that allows a giant telescope to be built on a mountain many Native Hawaiians consider sacred.

The court on Tuesday granted telescope opponents’ request for an emergency stay of the effectiveness of the permit until December 2, or until another court order.

The ruling comes as protesters are gathering on Mauna Kea in anticipation of blocking telescope work from resuming. Work has been stalled since April amid the protests.

Telescope officials announced recently crew would return to the site this month to do vehicle maintenance work but they wouldn’t specify a date.

Representatives for the project and the state attorney general’s office didn’t immediately comment on the ruling.