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
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 2025
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.
UH Telescope on Maunakea Earns Global Honor
By University of Hawaiʻi News
The University of Hawaiʻi’s 2.2-meter (88 inch) telescope on Maunakea has been recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as an IEEE Milestone, a significant honor spotlighting innovations that changed the world. Innovations developed or tested by the UH88 have shaped astronomy worldwide and include breakthrough digital imaging, adaptive optics and the HAWAII near-infrared detectors used on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope’s MegaCam Helps Discover 128 New Saturnian Moons
The Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) played an integral role in discovering 128 new moons of Saturn, which were recognized by the International Astronomical Union on March 11, 2025. CFHT was able to collect this data thanks to MegaCam, a wide-field-of-view imager. Dr. Heather Flewelling, a CFHT instrument scientist, provided a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and process behind the discovery.
Maunakea Scholars Students Go to the International Science Fair
Every spring, students from around the world gather for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. This year’s fair took place on May 10-16th in Columbus, Ohio. Among the Hawaiʻi students participating was Kai Greenlee, a senior at Kealakehe High School.
All Hands on the Mauna: MKO's Coordinate Safety Plans with Local Agencies
While being on the summit may feel isolating at times, there is an entire village of first responders just a call away to ensure that Maunakea personnel are safe 24/7. On April 4, observatory personnel attended a convening at Hale Pōhaku to discuss the collaboration and coordination between the Maunakea Observatories, Maunakea Rangers, and first responders.
Overall Winner of the 2025 Maunakea Coin Contest Announced
The overall winner of the 2025 Maunakea Coin Contest was announced at AstroDay on May 3. Ros Haleyah Mari Asuncion Ganot, an 11th grader at Pāhoa High and Intermediate School, took home first place with her incredible design.
UH Student Applies Engineering Skills to W. M. Keck Observatory Project
Kaʻala Deitch, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is finding his path at the intersection of science, culture, and service. A graduate of Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, Kaʻala’s early education in Hawaiian language immersion gave him more than just fluency. It grounded him with a strong sense of place and purpose. In 2023, Kaʻala joined the W. M. Keck Observatory through the Akamai Workforce Initiative, which places local students in STEM internships across Hawaiʻi.
23rd Annual AstroDay Brings Science and Discovery to Hilo
The 23rd annual AstroDay lit up Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo on Saturday, May 3, 2025, with hands-on exploration and out-of-this-world excitement. This year’s event, themed “Expanding Your Universe,” welcomed families from across Hawaiʻi Island for a free day of space, science, and technology.
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.
Space science bill helps students soar
By Gail Takai for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser
As an advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in Hawaii, I have seen firsthand how transformative opportunities to explore careers in these fields are for youth. House Bill 563, a bill being considered by the Hawaii Legislature, presents a pivotal opportunity for our state to invest in the future of our youth and economy by expanding workforce development programs.