Categorized | Sci-Tech

Imiloa Astronomy Center celebrates fourth birthday Sunday (Feb 28)

MEDIA RELEASE

Family Science Day – Journey through the Universe with ‘Imiloa and KTA

Hilo, Hawai‘i – Mark your calendar for Sunday, February 28 when ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center will celebrate it’s 4th birthday. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of KTA Super Stores, this celebration will be offered free to the community. This year, ‘Imiloa partners with “Journey through the Universe”, a program offered to communities across the nation to provide an authentic window on science as a human endeavor, using sustainable programming designed to both inspire and educate. Special programming and a Family Science Day are planned as part of the annual celebration.

This free Family Science Day starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. The day ‘s special programs will include short planetarium s experience for this special day starting at 9 a.m. and will be offered every 20 minutes to accommodate the expected large numbers. Audiences will be treated to a night sky presentation, and a “sampling” of ‘Imiloa shows. Astronomy talks coordinated by the “Journey through the Universe” team on the hour starting at 9 a.m. Astronomy professionals Scott Fisher, Kevin Caruso, Kevin Grazer, Inge Heyer, and Tim and Stephanie Slater will have inspiring presentations for visitors. Cultural practitioners will demonstrate Hawaiian traditional arts outside under the lawn tent. Hands on activities for the kids throughout the day.

‘Imiloa’s mission is to “Celebrate Hawaiian culture and Maunakea Astronomy, sharing with the world an inspiring example of culture and science, united to advance knowledge, understanding and opportunity.” Annual events like the Community Birthday Bash offer the community the opportunity to see ‘Imiloa’s mission in action and help to celebrate this unique presence in Hilo.

“We have appreciated the support of the local community these past four years, and want to say ‘Mahalo’ and invite the public to the Center. The local community has supported ‘Imiloa’s presence in a way that we never imagined and we are incredibly grateful for their loyalty and belief in our mission. Opening our doors free to the community is our way of showing gratitude for that support, made possible by the generosity of the KTA Super Stores ‘ohana,” said Ka’iu Kimura, interim executive director of ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i, of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

The Sky Garden Restaurant will open early for breakfast at 7 a.m. and remain open until 4 p.m. with its daylong breakfast menu, selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups, and weekend lunch buffet. The Center will have outdoor benches and tables available for outdoor enjoyment and picnics. Sky Garden Restaurant will also stay open late for Sunday dinner starting at 5:00 p.m.

Hilo’s “Journey through the Universe” is a full week of cosmic exploration, star-studded space and science education, and will run Thursday February 25 through March 5, 2010. The program engages local communities of students, teachers and parents in a whirlwind of activities and learning. Gemini Observatory and the Department of Education Hilo/ Laupahoehoe/ Waiakea Complex Area have sponsored “Journey through the Universe” in Hilo since 2004. The Hilo site has been nationally recognized as the flagship “Journey” program in the nation. Visit www.gemini.edu/journey for more information.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i opened in February 2006. The world-class destination intertwines the Hawaiian cultural and navigational understanding of the stars with real-time information direct from Maunakea’s world-famous astronomy observatories. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (closed Mondays). For more information, visit the Web site at www.imiloahawaii.org or call (808) 969-9703.

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