Behind every astronomical discovery are the stories and experiences of the people who made it possible. Explore the latest from across the Maunakea Observatories.
STORIES
Hawaiian Skies: Makaliʻi 2025
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. Leilehua Yuen takes us through these stories and more in her Hawaiian Skies series, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations. During the Hawaiian month of Makaliʻi (November 22 - December 20), Leilehua is sharing the story of Makaliʻi, the great navigator, diving into the many names given to the stars above us and their possible origins, and more.
James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Helps Discover 13 Distant, Dusty Galaxies
Utilizing the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Maunakea and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers confirmed the existence of 13 new strongly lensed, distant dusty galaxies — nearly an order of magnitude fainter than any detected before.
Gemini’s New Fall Journey Week Brings Hawai‘i Astronomy to Classrooms
This fall, more than 1,800 students across the Hilo-Waiākea School District learned about outer space and astronomy from 20 volunteer educators during Fall Journey Week. This weeklong educational series is the newest addition to the yearlong “Journey through the Universe” program led by the international Gemini Observatory, a program of NSF’s NOIRLab and the Department of Education Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area.
Pathways to the Cosmos: Mutuality in Astronomy
For the October edition of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach series, "Pathway to the Cosmos," Christine Matsuda, from the Maunakea Observatories, and Kelly Blumenthal, Director of the Office for Astronomy Outreach, sat down for a conversation titled "Mutuality in astronomy: Transforming astronomy through community."
Residents and Maunakea Observatories Staff Connect at the Tanabata Block Party
More than 700 people braved rainy weather to attend the second annual Tanabata Block Party at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Science & Technology Park. Attendees enjoyed facility tours, Japanese cultural performances, and appearances by special guests. The tours were a major highlight, allowing nearly 200 visitors to step inside the “office” of Hawai‘i’s astronomers.
Maunakea Shared Services: Making MKO Science Possible, Behind the Scenes
The Utilities and Food & Lodging teams of Maunakea Shared Services (MKSS) work tirelessly to provide services to the scientists who work and stay on the mauna each day. Their work is essential, but it is not something people necessarily see.
Hawaiian Skies: Welehu 2025
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. During the Hawaiian month of Welehu (October 22 - November 20), we can see stories like that of Polo-ahilani, a chief who lost his vision, come to life above us. Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident, shares this story and more, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations.
Maunakea Observatories Join UH Mānoa College of Engineering for Career Expo
The Maunakea Observatories joined the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa College of Engineering’s Career Expo in Honolulu. For the MKOs, the Career Expo is an important opportunity to connect with UH Mānoa Engineering students, raising awareness of the diversity of technical jobs within the observatories.
Hawaiian Skies: ʻIkuwā 2025
The Hawaiian month of ʻIkuwā (September 22 - October 21) has begun, its name meaning “noisy, clamorous, loud-voiced,” which is a fitting description for the weather we can see in our skies. As we transition from Mahoe Hope to ʻIkuwā, that same sky is full of stars that served as important navigational aids, as well as omens, portents, and signs. Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident, is sharing their stories and guiding us through the moʻolelo of the ʻIkuwā constellations.
Surprising New Images of Pōwehi Black Hole Unveiled
A series of three images of the supermassive black hole Pōwehi, taken in 2017, 2018, and the newest in 2021, shows surprising changes in the polarization patterns surrounding Pōwehi. Geoffrey Bower, Director of James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Maunakea, breaks down this discovery and gives a peek into what comes next.
Keck & CFHT Join Community Effort To Feed Keiki
This summer, W. M. Keck Observatory served as a hub of community care each Monday. Over 40 staff from both W. M. Keck Observatory and Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) came together once again to pack and distribute meal kits for children as part of the Kaukau 4 Keiki program, an initiative that has become a lifeline for many families across Hawaiʻi Island.
Hawaiian Skies: Māhoe Hope
The night sky is full of stories, lessons, and wisdom that have been passed down for generations. During the Hawaiian month of Māhoe Hope (August 24 - September 21), we can see stories like that of Humu, a hoʻokele (steersman), and his two sons come to life above us. Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident, shares this story and more, guiding us through the moʻolelo of the constellations.
Keck Observatory’s Ilihia Gionson Named to Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40
Ilihia Gionson, Chief Public Affairs Officer at W. M. Keck Observatory, has been named to Pacific Business News’ 2025 40 Under 40 list, which honors Hawai‘i’s emerging leaders for their professional excellence, leadership, and service to the community. The Maunakea Observatories team joined him at the August 14 awards dinner to celebrate this recognition.
Welcome Leilehua Yuen, Gemini Observatory’s Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident
The International Gemini Observatory and NOIRLab are honored to welcome Leilehua Yuen as their first Hawaiʻi Culture and Language Resident to share cultural insight and strengthen community connections.
Kaʻala Deitch Named to Pacific Business News’ Inno Under 25
Kaʻala Deitch, an engineering student who has contributed to both technical projects and community outreach at W. M. Keck Observatory, was recently named one of Hawai‘i’s top young innovators by Pacific Business News. The annual Inno Under 25 awards recognize those under 25 in the tech space and entrepreneurs across various sectors.
Maunakea Observatories Participate in Hawaiʻi Island Summer Fun Programs
Every year in support of ʻohana and keiki during summer vacation, the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation hosts the Summer Fun Programs, providing recreational opportunities for keiki at public parks and gyms across Hawaiʻi Island. For over ten years, the International Gemini Observatory, along with other Maunakea Observatories, has had the great pleasure of working with the Summer Fun Programs and coordinating a variety of educational activities and visits.
Waipahu High School Students Honored by Maunakea Scholars
Eleven students from Waipahu High School were recognized this year by the Maunakea Scholars program for their original astronomy research proposals, earning the opportunity to access Hawaiʻi’s world-class telescopes. The annual awards ceremony celebrated their accomplishments and marked the beginning of the transition from proposal to discovery.
Maunakea Observatories Join the Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum for Kaʻū Career Day
The Maunakea Observatories (MKOs) joined the Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum (HSTM) for the very first HSTM Career Day at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary. Career Day is a workforce-development and career-focused event for high school students that brings hands-on activities, information, and opportunities to local communities.
The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Initiates Decommissioning of UKIRT
The University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy (IfA) has officially initiated the decommissioning process for the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) on Maunakea. UKIRT is the third telescope to be decommissioned, reaffirming UH’s commitment to responsible stewardship and restoration of these sites on Maunakea.
W.M. Keck Observatory Represents Maunakea Astronomy at the 2025 Hawaiʻi On The Hill
W.M. Keck Observatory was proud to participate in its very first Hawaiʻi On The Hill, an annual week of advocacy for local businesses and organizations in Washington, D.C., organized by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi. This marks the ninth year of the advocacy week, and the first year that astronomy has been represented.