Thursday / 23 February 2006 | ||
World-Class
Public Astronomy Education Facility Opens to Public in Hawaii Tomorrow.
Despite being home to what promoters
have labeled "Clearly the Best" astrophysics observing location in
the world -- the summit of Mauna Kea, and having a steadily climbing
support population of over 160,000, Hawai‘i Island's best public
space education facility was the small Astronaut
Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center at the Kona International Airport
at Keahole. The Onizuka Center may seem even smaller to students
visiting
on school field trips
starting
tomorrow. That's because they can visit the nine-acre ‘Imiloa Astronomy
Education Center of Hawai‘i in Hilo, which opens its doors at
09:00. It
features
the
world's largest native Hawaiian plant garden as well as the latest
in interactive educational technology. Visitors can journey with
the
ancient Hawaiians as they discover, explore and settle the Hawaiian
Islands by way of celestial navigation. ‘Imiloa tries to connect
that history to today by showing how
astronomers
using Mauna Kea are also exploring and focusing on the stars.
Many on Hawai‘i are completely against any development on
Mauna Kea, which is sacred, but most understand the benefits gained
from astronomy and approve of beneficial, considered development.
As the ‘Imiloa website says, "Ahu kupanaha ia Hawai`i `imi loa! --
The Hawaiian value of
pursuing new
knowledge
brings
bountiful
rewards." These values extend to the Moon, the centerpiece of
the ‘Imiloa logo, which features the mountains
Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai. Hours
are 09:00 to 17:00 on Tuesday through Sunday. Children
under four get in free. Island resident admission is
US$10 for adults and $5.50 for children, but
$14.50 and $7.50, respectively, for island visitors. Info www.imiloahawaii.org.
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