Ohana Stargazing Event Inspires Keiki to Reach For The Stars – Big Island Now

September 10, 2022, 12:00 PM HST

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then looking through a telescope into the depths of space and the twinkling stars staring back at you while imagining all the possibilities is priceless.

Keiki and their families had the opportunity to do just that during the first Ohana Stargazing event Aug. 27 at Mookini Heiau in Kohala. The event, meant to inspire children to reach for the stars, was hosted by Ohana Kilo Hk, a Native Hawaiian nonprofit organization that supports astronomy and space programs in Hawaii.

Ohana Stargazing shares traditional and modern methods of Hawaii astronomy including storytelling and telescope viewing. The event at Mookini Heiau featured guided tours through the heiau, Hawaiian star compass demonstrations, a question-and-answer session with a Native Hawaiian panel of astronomy and space science professionals, storytelling about Hawaiian sky lore and Mookini Heiau, star tours including Polynesian Voyaging Starlines and international constellations, interactive space themed activities and telescope viewing.

Under a sea of stars, including Mauis fish hook on the horizon and the great dark fish of the dusty Milky Way above, the event closed by honoring two individuals Ohana Kilo Hk founding director and Imiloa Astronomy Center navigator in residence Kalepa Baybayan and Paul Coleman, the first Native Hawaiian astrophysics professor who treasure Mookini Heiau and continue to be guiding lights in perpetuating the practice of Hawaii astronomy.

The mission of Ohana Kilo Hk is to cultivate and support children who have or hope to have a relationship with the study of the skies above. Through Ohana Stargazing, the nonprofit hopes to engage families in fun events, where everyone can be inspired by Hawaiian and international star stories.

Ohana Kilo Hk seeks to inspire keiki, especially Native Hawaiian keiki, by bringing them Native Hawaiian role models who perpetuate the culture of celestial navigation and natural observation through contributions to the study of space, astronomy and the stars. For more information, click here.

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Ohana Stargazing Event Inspires Keiki to Reach For The Stars - Big Island Now