Photos: 2026 AstroDay! UH Hilo physics/astronomy students, profs engage island keiki in science

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UH Hilo physics and astronomy department enthralled keiki with infrared camera, metronome experiment, and demo on resonance in nature.

Keiki gather around booth.
At the UH Hilo Department of Physics and Astronomy booth, keiki learn about the infrared camera display (at far left), metronome demonstration (center, with lecturer Daniel Berke and student Harleigh Phillips-Cardon) and coloring station (right, with computer science student Minami Torikoe, staff Joben Sasis, and physics/astronomy student Atlas Syncatto). (Photo: Physics and Astronomy Dept/UH Hilo)

By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.

The 24th Annual AstroDay, a free science and astronomy event put on for the public and geared toward keiki, was held on May 2 this year at the Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo. The event, sponsored by the Maunakea Observatories and coordinated by the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, brought together more than 30 organizations from around the state offering hands-on astronomy, robotics, and live science activities for hundreds of keiki and adults.

UH Hilo’s Department of Physics and Astronomy always participates with an info booth and interactive displays.

“This year we had several exhibits, including an infrared camera and a demonstration of the concept of resonance in nature using synchronization of 16 metronomes all ticking at once on a movable platform,” says Pierre Martin, professor of physics and astronomy and chair of the department.

“Most exhibits were handled by physics and astronomy students and we interacted with hundreds of attendees again this year, mostly numerous young minds,” he says.

Professor having so much fun watching keiki at the display.
AstroDay is for the keiki! Professor of Physics and Astronomy R. Pierre Martin (left) is amused by this little fellow who was completely enthralled by the metronome experiment. (Photo: Physics and Astronomy Dept/UH Hilo)
Student holds up hands while thermal image shows on computer screen.
UH Hilo students Dylan Hively (left) and Aaron Fernandez experiment with a thermal infrared camera, a very popular exhibit for the attendees. (Photo: Physics and Astronomy Dept/UH Hilo)
Keiki gathered around info table listening to person seated at table.
From the UH Hilo Department of Physics and Astronomy, at right, lecturer Daniel Berke and student Harleigh Phillips-Cardon explain the concept of resonance in nature to a group of attendees. (Photo: Physics and Astronomy Dept/UH Hilo)

Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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