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 Lamakū: Week 6
July 7 - 11, 2025
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
Join ʻImiloa for Session 6: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This one-week program offers an in-depth exploration of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, where keiki will discover the unique marine life, diverse land organisms, and the extraordinary geology of the monument to gain a deeper understanding of this natural wonder. Registration for Session 5 closes on June 24 at 8 a.m.
Hawaiian Ecoscapes: A Journey of Land and Sea is a series of one-week summer programs designed to connect students with the natural beauty and diverse ecosystems of Hawaiʻi. Through hands-on learning, art projects, and team-building activities, students will explore the rich landscapes of the islands, from the vibrant marine life of Papahānaumokuākea to the fascinating world of wildlife, snails, and more. Each week offers a unique theme that will inspire creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Partner Event: Hālau ʻŌkupu: Mahina, Earth’s Moon
July 28, 2025
Session 1: 9:00a - 11:00a
Session 2: 12:00p - 2:00p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
Join ʻImiloa for Hālau ʻŌkupu 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. Explore the mysteries of the night sky with Hālau ‘Ōkupu Play and Learn program theme, Mahina: Earth's Moon! Venture into the celestial realm with your young astronomer as we unravel the secrets of Earth's moon. Join ‘imiloa as they journey into the night sky and experience the magic of Mahina, Earthʻs moon.
Partner Event: Seeing The Invisible: Dr. Andrea Ghez
July 29, 2025
5:30p - 6:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
Join ʻImiloa on Tuesday, July 29, for an evening with Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Andrea Ghez as she shares groundbreaking insights into the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. Through more than two decades of high-resolution observations, her work has reshaped our understanding of gravity, stellar motion, and the mysterious forces shaping galaxies.
You’ll also learn about new developments in the study of supermassive black holes. Through the capture and analysis of twenty years of high-resolution imaging, the UCLA Galactic Center Group has moved the case for a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy from a possibility to a certainty and provided the best evidence to date for the existence of these truly exotic objects.
Doors open at 5p. Talk begins at 6p. Admission is $5 for ʻImiloa members and $10 for general public.
AstroBash
August 2, 2025
10:00a - 1:00p
Thelma Parker Memorial Public Library
Join us at this family-friendly, out-of-this-world event as we celebrate the end of our summer reading challenge and the beginning of a new school year! Explore and learn about our solar system, galaxies, and the universe at space stations hosted by our NASA@MyLibrary and community partners, including the Maunakea Observatories, NASA Solar System Ambassadors, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum, Waimea Arts Council, and more! Bring a towel and get foamed by a giant (environmentally-friendly) foam cannon and check out our space-themed face painting and balloon stations! Be there and be a star!
Tanabata Block Party 2025
August 30, 2025
North Aʻohōkū Place, Hilo
4:00p - 9:00p
Mauka of ʻImiloa
Join the Maunakea Observatories at the 2025 Tanabata Block Party on August 30 for an evening of free, family-friendly fun! Come out and enjoy science activity booths, Japanese cultural performances, ʻono food, and stargazing after dark (weather permitting). You can also take a look around the Gemini, Subaru, Submillimeter Array, and Institute for Astronomy base facilities, which will be partially open to the public.
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.
