A Hua He Inoa: Calling Forth a Name
Astronomy has a deep-rooted history in Hawaiʻi, beginning with the ancient Polynesian wayfinders who brought the science of celestial observation with them to the islands when they first journeyed here across the vast Pacific Ocean. We had hundreds of names for the stars that fill the night sky, as well as names for other astronomical objects and concepts. Led by ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, the A Hua He Inoa program honors that legacy and the contemporary contributions of today’s Hawaiʻi-based astronomers. A Hua He Inoa offers the work of the Maunakea Observatories as a platform for the next generation of naming practitioners and students of the stars to learn about these traditions and set the new narrative about these scientific discoveries - ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi - for the world.
People now know the names of fascinating objects like ‘Oumuamua and Pōwehi, but not everyone knows how this collaboration was born. A Hua He Inoa was created after John De Fries approached the Kahu Kū Mauna advisory council in 2017 about using Hawaiian language names when discoveries made by Hawaiʻi-based observatories are officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). From there, Doug Simons was asked to participate in early planning conversations after receiving a memo from John De Fries describing his proposed Hawaiian Celestial Nomenclature concept. Doug and John teamed up to advance the concept within the Maunakea Observatories, where it was warmly received. Then, recurring meetings hosted by ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and Ka Haka ‘Ula o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo involving Hawaiian community members, experts in Hawaiian culture, deep sea navigation, ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi, and astronomy led to the co-creation of a new program hosted by ‘Imiloa called A Hua He Inoa (calling forth a name).
Kaʻiu Kimura, executive director of ʻImiloa, saw the importance of the opportunity and the potential within this kind of collaboration.
“When I first heard John and Doug’s vision for establishing a naming practice rooted in our Hawaiian language and cultural worldview, I knew this had the potential to be something transformative—not only for our community but for science communication globally. ʻImiloa’s mission has always been to bridge Indigenous knowledge and contemporary science, and A Hua He Inoa was a perfect embodiment of that. It offered a way for our people to actively shape the narratives of discovery coming from our own mauna.”
This call for grounding Hawaiʻi’s scientific discoveries in Indigenous practices was heeded, and in October of that year, the first known interstellar object was discovered by the University of Hawaiʻi’s Pan-STARRS observatory. Dr. Larry Kimura, a renowned cultural practitioner and Hawaiian language expert, suggested the name ‘Oumuamua, or “a messenger from afar arriving first.” This name, which was a vast departure from typical astronomical naming practices, was rapidly adopted by the astronomy community, media, and public.
The A Hua He Inoa program then took off, bringing together Hawaiian language experts, educational leaders, top astronomers from the state’s observatories, and Hawaiian language students. The goal: create a pathway for naming astronomical discoveries through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, grounded in community collaboration and Indigenous worldview. With their collaboration, A Hua He Inoa is making strides toward integrating indigenous perspectives and western astronomical work. A Hua He Inoa celebrates and shares traditional knowledge, language, and culture, and is a beacon of true place-based scientific research.
Through A Hua He Inoa, six objects have been given Hawaiian names.
Leleakūhonua
Pōniuāʻena
ʻOumuamua
Pōwehi
Kamoʻoalewa
Kaʻepaokaʻāwela
The program has continued to evolve over the years, growing with internship cohorts, in-depth research initiatives, and exhibit design, to share manaʻo with the public.
“It’s been incredible to witness how A Hua He Inoa has evolved into a dynamic space where ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers and Hawaiʻi-based scientists come together to co-create. Over the years, the program has grown to include internship cohorts that work closely with local astronomers, wayfinders, and ontologists—engaging in deep research and dialogue. What’s powerful is that these students have a real stake in the content being developed. The knowledge they help generate doesn’t stay in the classroom—it’s translated into exhibits and experiences that are shared with visitors from around the world at ʻImiloa. While we continue to contribute Hawaiian names to new discoveries and astronomical objects, the heart of the program is this place-based, collaborative process that makes space for ʻōpio to shape how Hawaiʻi’s stories are told.”
