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Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Big Island, Hawaii
The beautiful, state-of-the-art Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii is located
on a hillside above the town of Hilo and it features a planetarium and
exhibits telling the story of the Maunakea Volcano as it relates to astronomy
and the Hawaiian culture.
Photo Credit: Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
More Photos of the Imiloa Astronomy Center
The center is located on the grounds
of the nine acre University of Hawaii at Hilo.
The center is collaborative effort between Mauna Kea's cultural and scientific
communities and it showcases the works of both groups.
The facility opened in 2006, it is funded primarily by NASA, and it is
directed by Peter B Giles, former director of the Tech Museum of Innovation.
The center has an exhibit hall, a planetarium, a cafe, a gift shop, and two rooms
that can be used for lectures or booked for private special events.
History of the Imiloa Astronomy Center
The idea for the Imiloa Astronomy Center was developed
by a group of educators, scientists, and community leaders
in the 1990's and the actual design phase began in 1999.
Construction of the state-of-the-art, $28 million facility
began in 2002, was completed in November of 2005, and the
center opened to the public at a ribbon cutting ceremony on
February 20, 2006. Peter B Giles, former director of the
Tech Museum of Innovation, was hired as the director
of the center in August of 2005. Originally the
Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii was called the
Maunakea Astronomy Education Center, but the name was changed
before the center opened.
The center is funded primarily by NASA and
U.S. Senator from Hawaii Daniel Inouye was key in securing federation
funding from the planning through the construction stages.
About Imiloa's Unique Main Building
The conical shape of the three titanium covered domes over
the 42,000 square foot main building represent the three
volcanoes and largest mountains on the Big Island of Hawaii,
Maunakea, Maunaloa, and Hualalai. The images on the fourteen
foot tile mosaic over the entrance represent the ocean, a
voyaging canoe, Mauna Kea, and the Manaiakalani constellation.
The building was designed by Mel Choy of Durrant Media Five
and Russel Oda of Oda-McCarty Architects. It was built
by the Taisei Construction Corporation under the management
of Benett Bolek. Landscaping was done by Randall Monaghan.
Planetarium, Cafe, and Gift Shop
The full dome planetarium has 5.1 audio surround sound and
a show schedule is published on the center's Web site. The
cafe has floor to ceiling glass walls providing panoramic
views of Hilo Bay and the landscaping around the center.
The cafe serves sandwiches, soups, and light entrees.
The center's gift shop features books, gifts, educational
toys, and unique artwork. Two rooms are available for
special events such as meetings, seminars, and dinners,
a 2400 square foot Moanahoku Hall (aka Ocean of Stars Hall)
and a 910 square foot classroom.
Hours and Entrance Fees
The center is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to
4:00 pm. It is closed every Monday and also on Christmas,
Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day. It is open on all other
holidays. Entry fee is $14.50 for adults and
less for children.
See also:
Mauna Kea Observatories
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaiian Volcanoes Photo Gallery
Introduction to Hilo Town
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Related Links
Hawaii Island - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
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