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.
PARTNER EVENT: ʻOhana Stargazing at Poliahu Heiau
March 22, 2025
7:00p - 9:30p
Poliahu Heiau
Join ʻOhana Kilo Hōkū and NOIRLab partners, the Kauaʻi Educational Association for Science & Astronomy (KEASA), the Institute for Astronomy, and Gemini Observatory for an evening of fun under the stars. Kumu Leileihua Yuen and Aunty Sabra Kauka will share moʻolelo (stories) while telescope enthusiasts from KEASA and the Institute for Astronomy will have various telescopes available to view astronomical bodies.
PARTNER EVENT: Dinos at Dusk - Sip & Roar! (Ages 21+)
March 27, 2025
5:30p - 7:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Discover the magic of the museum exhibits after dark with our enhanced evening experience on select Thursdays. Enjoy after-hours access to the exhibits, unique activities and crafts, and programs tailored to elevate your adventure.
Enjoy a fun night of live music, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and dino trivia with “Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep” exhibit. Step into the Disco Dino Lounge in the planetarium, where you can dance, sip, and explore at your own pace. It’s the ultimate after-hours hangout with drinks, bites, and prehistoric vibes!
PARTNER EVENT: Paleo Lab: Unit 3: Dinosaur Domains - Explore the World of Dinosaurs
April 2, 2025
3:00p - 4:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Join ʻImiloa for an exciting after-school program where keiki (grade K-5) dive into the ancient world of fossils and prehistoric life. Through hands-on sessions, keiki will learn how fossils form and uncover what they reveal about life millions of years ago.
Travel back in time and discover the incredible diversity of dinosaurs! In this action-packed session, kids will explore the different types of dinosaurs, how they lived, and what their habitats were like. Campers will learn about dinosaur adaptations and create their own "design-a-dino" while uncovering the mysteries of how dinosaurs lived in various environments.
PARTNER EVENT: Dino at Dusk - Dinomite Glow-Up!
April 3, 2025
5:30p - 7:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Discover the magic of the museum exhibits after dark with ʻImiloa’s enhanced evening experience on select Thursdays. Enjoy after-hours access to the exhibits, unique activities and crafts, and programs tailored to elevate your adventure.
Experience the magic of “Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep” with glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunts, luminous crafts, and prehistoric excitement for the whole family.
PARTNER EVENT: Paleo Lab: Unit 1: Fossil Explorers - Dive into Fossil Formation
April 9, 2025
3:00p - 4:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Join ʻImiloa for an exciting after-school program where keiki (grade K-5) dive into the ancient world of fossils and prehistoric life. Through hands-on sessions, keiki will learn how fossils form and uncover what they reveal about life millions of years ago.
Uncover the mysteries of fossils and how they tell the story of life millions of years ago! In this hands-on session, kids will learn how fossils form and what they reveal about prehistoric creatures. Campers will not only explore the fascinating world of Dinosaurs but also learn how archaeological discoveries on Hawaiʻi Island help us connect to the distant past. From creating their own fossils to exploring the science behind fossil formation, this is the perfect adventure for future paleontologists.
IfA Mānoa Open House
April 13, 2025
2680 Woodlawn Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822
11:00a - 4:00p
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.
PARTNER EVENT: Paleo Lab: Unit 2: Oceans of the Past - Dinosaurs of the Deep
April 16, 2025
3:00p - 4:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Join ʻImiloa for an exciting after-school program where keiki (grade K-5) dive into the ancient world of fossils and prehistoric life. Through hands-on sessions, keiki will learn how fossils form and uncover what they reveal about life millions of years ago.
Did you know that some dinosaurs lived in the ocean? This theme dives into the world of aquatic dinosaurs, like the long-necked Cryptoclidus and the fearsome Mosasaurs. Kids will explore how these unique creatures adapted to life in the water and how they survived in prehistoric oceans. They’ll also create their own prehistoric ocean ecosystems, complete with ocean-dwelling dinosaurs.
PARTNER EVENT: Dinos at Dusk - Sip & Roar! (Ages 21+)
April 17, 2025
5:30p - 7:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Discover the magic of the museum exhibits after dark with our enhanced evening experience on select Thursdays. Enjoy after-hours access to the exhibits, unique activities and crafts, and programs tailored to elevate your adventure.
Enjoy a fun night of live music, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and dino trivia with “Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep” exhibit. Step into the Disco Dino Lounge in the planetarium, where you can dance, sip, and explore at your own pace. It’s the ultimate after-hours hangout with drinks, bites, and prehistoric vibes!
PARTNER EVENT: Hālau ʻŌkupu - Dinosaurs - Giants of the Past
April 28, 2025
12:00p - 2:00p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Step back in time with Dinosaurs: Giants of the Past! Journey with your young paleontologist through the ancient world of dinosaurs, both on land and in the sea. From towering T-Rex to ocean giants like plesiosaurs, keiki will explore the lives of these fascinating creatures through hands-on activities and imaginative play.
PARTNER EVENT: Paleo Lab: Unit 3: Dinosaur Domains - Explore the World of Dinosaurs
April 30, 2025
3:00p - 4:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Join ʻImiloa for an exciting after-school program where keiki (grade K-5) dive into the ancient world of fossils and prehistoric life. Through hands-on sessions, keiki will learn how fossils form and uncover what they reveal about life millions of years ago.
Travel back in time and discover the incredible diversity of dinosaurs! In this action-packed session, kids will explore the different types of dinosaurs, how they lived, and what their habitats were like. Campers will learn about dinosaur adaptations and create their own "design-a-dino" while uncovering the mysteries of how dinosaurs lived in various environments.
PARTNER EVENT: Dino at Dusk - Dinomite Glow-Up!
May 1, 2025
5:30p - 7:30p
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii
Discover the magic of the museum exhibits after dark with ʻImiloa’s enhanced evening experience on select Thursdays. Enjoy after-hours access to the exhibits, unique activities and crafts, and programs tailored to elevate your adventure.
Experience the magic of “Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep” with glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunts, luminous crafts, and prehistoric excitement for the whole family.
AstroDay 2025
May 2025
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.
