The ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER OF HAWAI‘I is an extraordinary facility where the volcano and its telescopes meet indigenous Hawaiian culture and language to articulate the intriguing link between the secrets of the stars and the ancient path of Hawai‘i’s native culture. The 40,000-square-foot complex, located above the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo campus, houses a state-of-the-art planetarium complex and an exhibition hall dedicated to Mauna Kea. The 120-seat planetarium theater is constructed with a dome that features cutting-edge 3D theater technology. Planetarium visitors choose from a full schedule of shows including its signature attraction, “Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky,” which explores the connections between Hawaiian culture and astronomy.
Visitors will learn about the Hawaiian and scientific beliefs and practices via a myriad of exhibits that are told in two sections: “Origins” and “Explorations.” The Origins section covers the beginnings of life in the universe and on planet Earth, while the Explorations area showcases Hawaiian voyaging canoes how they enabled human exploration as well as how telescopes aid in astronomical discoveries. ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER 808-932-8900
