First there was Maunakea, the tallest mountain on Earth. Then came the early Hawaiians whose chants and legends gave soul to the mountain. Many years later, astronomers and scientists from throughout the world climbed to the summit and set about building the planet's largest collection of astronomical observatories.
Now comes the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, an extraordinary facility where the volcano and its telescopes meet indigenous Hawaiian culture and language to—at last—articulate the intriguing link between the secrets of the stars and the ancient path of Hawaii's native culture.
The $28-million facility, located on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, houses a state-of-the-art planetarium complex and an exhibition hall dedicated to Maunakea. The 120-seat planetarium theater is constructed with a 52-foot full planetarium dome and features cutting edge stereoscopic 3D theater technology. The new technology not only lights up the universe for planetarium audiences but it has become a resource for scientists working in astronomical observatories on the summit of Maunakea.
The exhibition hall features more than 300 displays and is accessed through an indoor koa forest. The exhibits, many of them interactive, are bilingual, presented in both Hawaiian and English languages. The centerpiece of the Voyages hall is the 'Imiloa, a one-fifth model of a voyaging canoe. Other exhibits explore the history of hula, the renaissance of the Hawaiian language, and the astronomical contributions made by the scientists who work and live at the Maunakea observatories.
Free headsets for self-guided audio tours are available at the front desk upon admission. The tours, provided in both English and Japanese, are designed to enhance exploration of the exhibits.
"Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky" is the planetarium's signature show. It explores the connections between Hawaiian culture and astronomy and is available Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. An ongoing evening show and regular special features are included on the planetarium calendar.
The center is landscaped with nearly 50 varieties of indigenous Hawaiian plants. The 72,000-square-foot gardenscape is the largest collection of Hawaiian plants in the world. Tours are available.
The 'Imiloa Astronomy Center is easily recognized for its distinctive architecture. It is designed around three titanium-covered cones, representing the Big Island volcanoes of Maunakea, Maunaloa and Hualalai, and is composed of 75 percent recycled material. An airy café, the Sky Garden Restaurant, provides a sweeping view of Hilo Bay. Built on a 9-acre parcel at 600 'Imiloa Place, the center is 1.5 miles west of downtown Hilo and is open to the public every day except Monday.
