ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi

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Kaʻiu Kimura, Executive Director (kkimura@imiloahawaii.org)
Project Office: (808) 969-9700
www.imiloahawaii.org

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi, part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, opened in 2006. The Center brings renowned Mauna Kea with its world-famous astronomical observatories within the reach of Hawaiʻi’s communities and every visitor to the Big Island of Hawaii. The Center is located in the Science and Technology Park within the UH Hilo campus, off Komohana and Nowelo Streets.

ʻImiloa (meaning to explore or to pursue profound knowledge) offers a uniquely Hawaiian journey through time and space, beginning with a simulated ascent up Mauna Kea. This experience includes the Kumulipo chant, depicting the Hawaiian account of the origins of life, as well as astronomers’ insights into the origins of the universe from a scientific point of view. All exhibits are in both Hawaiian and English, reflecting the Center’s commitment to Hawaiian language and culture. A life-size re-creation of a local Hawaiian language immersion school brings visitors into a close encounter with the movement to restore the Hawaiian language to normalcy. Regularly scheduled dramatizations and presentations bring to life Hawaiian legends and cultural understanding. Annual events include ʻImi Naʻauao, a Wayfinding Skills workshop in partnership with ʻOhana Waʻa and the Wayfinding and Navigation Festival. This workshop celebrates the historic feats of Pacific navigators along with current efforts to revive and expand celestial navigation skills.

ʻImiloa, a place of gathering, inspiration and connection, has a 16-meter domed planetarium that is the world’s first full dome planetarium with true 3D stereoscopic capability. In 2009 ʻImiloa debuted the first of a new series, “Awesome Light” which takes viewers into the observatories and features current research endeavors in 3D. Other planetarium experiences include live star shows featuring astronomers from Mauna Kea observatories, as well as evening music and entertainment programming

The innovative landscaping around the Center, winner of the 2009 Hawaiʻi Island Landscape Association Award for Environmental Stewardship, features over 70 endemic, indigenous and “canoe” plants brought to the islands by early Polynesian explorers. Tours are offered on a pre-arranged basis.

ʻImiloa offers internship opportunities to UH Hilo students and works closely with the UH Hilo College of Hawaiian Language and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as well as with the observatories on Mauna Kea. ʻImiloa also has the Bank of Hawaiʻi museum gift store and the Sky Garden Restaurant.

Ahu kupanaha iā Hawaiʻi ʻimi loa!
The Hawaiian value of pursuing new knowledge brings bountiful rewards