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.

The annual Maunakea Coin Contest is open to all Big Island students in grades K to 12, including homeschooled children. Students are asked to make a drawing for a design that can go on a collector’s coin. The winning design will be available as a bronze coin at the First Light Bookstore at the Visitor Information Station on Maunakea, while aluminum versions will be available at Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee (MKAOC) events throughout the year. The designs submitted for each year’s contest may represent Maunakea and include different aspects of this majestic mountain including its natural resources, astronomy, and culture. 

The 2025 Maunakea Coin Contest opens on Saturday, November 2, 2024. The deadline to enter is Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Maunakea Coin Contest 2025

November 2, 2024 - February 1, 2025

CFHT Winter Star Party

December 7, 2024

6:00p

Join us on the lawn in front of CFHT for stargazing, food, and holiday crafts. This event happens concurrently with the Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade, so come early and dress warm!

CFHT, 65-1238 Mamalahoa Hwy

Makahiki Stargazing

December 8, 2024

6:00p - 12:00a

Pōkaʻi Bay

Gemini/NOIRLab partners with ʻOhana Kilo Hōkū and the Royal Order of Kamehameha to offer stargazing during the season of Makahiki at Pōkaʻi Bay. Attendees will enjoy makahiki games, traditional ceremony for welcoming the seasonal shift and stargazing and storytelling from a navigational heiau.

PARTNER EVENT: Māhilu Wreath Workshop

December 14, 2024

8:30a - 12:00p & 12:30p - 4:00p

600 Imiloa Pl.Hilo

Join ʻImiloa on Saturday, December 14, for a special holiday wreath-making workshop!

In this hands-on workshop, participants will create their own beautiful wreath using native species foliage, while learning about sustainable picking practices and native plant identification. You’ll discover where and how to gather foliage and get tips on storing materials to preserve their beauty.

This unique workshop will be offered in two sessions. Reserve your spot starting Thursday, November 7 and bring a touch of Hawaiʻi’s natural beauty into your home for the holidays!

Garden Enchantment

December 23 & 24, 2024

9:00p - 12:00a

Enjoy the holidays with ʻohana at the annual Garden Enchantment at Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo, Hawaiʻi hosted by the Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens. The Maunakea Observatories and other community partners will light up and decorate different areas of the park for visitors to enjoy the nighttime views. The MKOs will also host telescopes for stargazing and free goodie bags on a first come first serve basis. We hope to see you there!

Liliʻuokalani Gardens

PARTNER EVENT: Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon

December 27, 2024

5:00p - 6:45p

600 Imiloa Pl.Hilo

Don’t miss the FINAL showing of Pink Floyd’s "The Dark Side of the Moon” at ʻImiloa's state-of-the-art planetarium!

This immersive experience combines the iconic music of Pink Floyd with stunning visuals, creating a mesmerizing journey through sound and space. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering this legendary album for the first time, this show promises to be a captivating experience like no other.

Tickets are on sale now, so be sure to reserve your spot for this unforgettable cosmic event!

2025 Submillimeter Array Interferometry School

January 6-10, 2025

Hilo, HI

This series of lectures focusing on fundamentals of radio interferometry, with a special emphasis on the Submillimeter Array (SMA) interferometer and its new capabilities will extensively utilize the SMA, located on Maunakea, providing experience with performing observations, with data reduction training utilizing projects proposed by school participants.

The school application portal will open in August 2024. More details about the application process can be found on the registration page. Some travel support for early-career researchers will be available as needed for participation.

ʻOhana Stargazing

February 1, 2024

9:00p - 12:00a

Liliʻuokalani Gardens

Kick off the 21st annual Journey Through the Universe week in Hilo, Hawaiʻi with stargazing at Liliʻuokalani Gardens! In partnership with ʻOhana Kilo Hōkū, Gemini/NOIRLab and other Maunakea Observatories will host a night of stargazing and story telling for the whole ʻohana to enjoy.

IfA Mānoa Open House

April 2025

2680 Woodlawn Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822

This free interactive event includes talks, crafts, games, "ask an astronomer," and more. Hosted by the UH Institute for Astronomy, this is a great opportunity on Oʻahu to learn more about astronomy and specifics about UH's program.

AstroDay 2025

May 2025

Hawaiʻi Island

Family friendly AstroDay events will be held across Hawaiʻi Island. Stay tuned for more details!

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.