MKOs and community come together for Tanabata Block Party
Photo Credit: Subaru Telescope
On August 17, Maunakea Observatories celebrated the Tanabata Star Festival along with 25 years of astronomy discoveries from Gemini North and Subaru telescopes. The block party, held on North Aʻohōkū Place adjacent to ʻImiloa, brought the community together for food, crafts, bon dance, and lots of STEM activities for keiki.
The Tanabata Festival is a Japanese tradition that celebrates the meeting of two lovers represented by the stars Vega and Altair who are separated by the Milky Way and only get to meet on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year. This year’s Tanabata Block Party honored the Japanese roots of the festival featuring lively performances by Taishoji Taiko, Hilo High Taiko, Hilo Daijingu, and Hilo High Japanese Club, with bon dance, taiko drumming, and a lantern making activity.
Along with lots of STEM activities from building circuits to controlling the PISCES rover outdoors, Gemini, Subaru, SMA, and IfA facilities also hosted open houses and indoor activities. Gemini did tours of its control room; Subaru Telescope showed a short video commemorating its 25th anniversary since its first observation in 1999; and IfA provided facility tours offering local families a special glimpse into the work that these organizations do. With Gemini and Subaru both celebrating 25 years of science, this year’s Tanabata festivities had special significance and attracted hundreds of guests for a night of fun, culture, and sharing about the work MKOs have the privilege of doing in this community.
Mahalo to Gemini/NOIRLab, ʻImiloa, Keck, CFHT, Subaru Telescope, IfA, PISCES, EAO, SMA, Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum, Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum, TMT, Center for Maunakea Stewardship, Waiakea Water, and Kōkua Initiative for coming together to create this fun and free event for the community!
