EVENTS
The Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC) coordinates the collective community outreach and engagement activities of observatories on Hawaiʻi Island. MKAOC offers family-friend events; ʻāina-based events; and educational opportunities to learn about astronomy, science, and Hawaiian culture.
Community Calendar
Join us for Stargazing!
The Maunakea Visitor Information Station offers free stargazing at an elevation of 9,200 feet (2800 meters). Click here for more information.
Partner Event: Hālau ʻŌkupu: Loko Iʻa - Hawaiian Fishponds
'Imiloa's Halau 'Okupu Play and Learn is a unique Place-based and Play-Based Enrichment Program designed for keiki (Ages 1-4) along with a max of 2 caregivers per toddler.
‘Okupu refers to young sprouts or the new shoots of a plant sent out to grow. ʻImiloa invites parents and caregivers to come explore with their young sprouts in an environment that fosters learning through curiosity, exploration, and play! Through a variety of activities, including gross and small motor skill exercises, sensory exploration, dramatic play, movement activities, and arts and crafts, keiki are encouraged to actively engage while developing essential skills. These engaging experiences are specially developed to provide opportunities for keiki and their caregivers to foster stronger connections to their island home and community. Join ʻImiloa on this exciting journey of discovery and growth at Halau 'Okupu Play and Learn!
Member Admission: $20 (includes one child and supervising adult)
General Admission: $30 (includes one child and supervising adult)
Astronomy On Tap Hawaiʻi
Astronomy on Tap Hawai’i is back on November 6th from 7-9 pm at Hilo Town Tavern! We have two new amazing speakers: Felipe Olivares (Institute for Astronomy) and Jasmin Silva (CFHT), who will tell us about the cosmic surf report and how to take apart a 3.6m telescope. Come and join us for a fun night of astronomy and play in our quiz to win prizes!
This event is completely free and open to everyone.
AstroDay Kona 2025
Save the date for AstroDay Kona 2025 on November 8 at Kona Commons Shopping Center! Hosted by the Maunakea Observatories, this FREE ʻohana-friendly science celebration features out-of-this-world activities for all ages. Stay tuned for more information.
Partner Event: Exploring Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Rare Encounter with an Interstellar Visitor
Join the Shadow the Scientists initiative for an exciting special event as Bryce Bolin (Eureka Scientific), Laura-May Abron (Griffith Observatory), and Matthew Belyakov (Caltech) use the Gemini Observatory North to observe comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar object passing through our solar system!
As only the third confirmed visitor from beyond our solar neighborhood, 3I/ATLAS offers an extraordinary opportunity to study material that formed around another star. Ejected from its original system millions to billions of years ago, the comet recently entered our solar system from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, near the Milky Way’s galactic center.
In this special observing session, astronomers will attempt to capture some of the first post-perihelion observations of comet 3I/ATLAS, following its reemergence from behind the Sun. Building on Gemini South data from August, the team aims to detect chemical signatures in the gas it emits to learn about the comet’s composition, physical state, and evolution.
Supported by the Gemini North science and outreach staff and leading experts in comets and interstellar visitors, this event offers one of the closest looks yet of this enigmatic interstellar visitor!
Partner Event: Halloween at ʻImiloa: A Carnival of Bugs
Get ready for a spooky and spectacular time at this year’s Halloween event, where the spotlight is on Hawai‘i’s native, endemic, and invasive insects! Join us for a fun-filled evening of interactive games, creative crafts, and hands-on educational activities that bring to life the vital role bugs play in our island ecosystems. Whether you're crawling with curiosity or just looking for some family-friendly Halloween fun, this event is sure to entertain, engage, and inspire a new appreciation for Hawai‘i’s tiniest – and most important – creatures. Come celebrate the creepy, the crawly, and the crucial this Halloween!
Member Admission: $10 (4 and under free)
General Admission: $16 (4 and under free)
Partner Event: Hālau ʻŌkupu: Halloween Toddler Bug Club
ʻImiloa proudly introduces Halau ʻOkupu Play and Learn, a unique Place-based and Play-Based Enrichment Program designed for keiki (Ages 1-4), along with a max of 2 caregivers per toddler. ʻOkupu refers to young sprouts or the new shoots of a plant sent out to grow. ʻImiloa invites parents and caregivers to come explore with their young sprouts in an environment that fosters learning through curiosity, exploration, and play!
Through a variety of activities, including gross and small motor skill exercises, sensory exploration, dramatic play, movement activities, and arts and crafts, keiki are encouraged to actively engage while developing essential skills. These engaging experiences are specially developed to provide opportunities for keiki and their caregivers to foster stronger connections to their island home and community.
Member Admission: $20 (includes one child and supervising adult)
General Admission: $30 (includes one child and one supervising adult)
Journey through
the Universe
For the past 20 years, Journey Through the Universe has been Hawaiʻi Island’s preeminent astronomy education and outreach program, inspiring students to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the classroom and beyond.
AstroDay
AstroDay is a free community science and astronomy event supported by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC). AstroDay coincides with Astronomy Day, an international grassroots movement to share the joy of astronomy with local communities.
Families and schools are invited to join AstroDay events in both Hilo and Kona for exhibits, demonstrations, activities, and entertainment designed to inspire the next generation of astronomers.
Maunakea
Coin Contest
Every year, Hawaiʻi Island K-12 students have the opportunity to design the Maunakea collector’s coin. From hundreds of entries, one lucky winner’s design is selected by a panel of judges and gets printed on that year’s coin! The bronze collector’s coin is available at the First Light Bookstore at the Visitor Information Station on Maunakea, and aluminum versions of the coin are available at Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee events throughout the year.
Solar System Walk
This annual event transforms Waimea town into a scale model of our solar system and invites Hawaiʻi Island community to enjoy a day of outdoor education and astronomical fun.
