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
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.
