‘Tis that time of the year again.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center proudly presents its 2018 Holiday Tree, featuring an authentic, unique, fun and beautiful collection of paper sea creatures, expertly folded by origami artists from around the world. The models were originally created for display on a holiday tree at the Japan Airlines counter at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in 2009 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii statehood.
This collection was generously donated to ‘Imiloa in 2015 by the project organizer, Alvin Miyatake, a longtime JAL staff member with ties to Origami USA, the organization that has created an annual origami holiday tree at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for more than 40 years.
Among the many different origami models swimming around the ‘Imiloa tree are yellow tangs, sea urchins, jellyfish, crabs, clownfish, sea horses, sea snails, crabs, baby kumu fish, angelfish, sharks, a humpback whale, a barracuda, lots of turtles and even Hawaii’s state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua‘a. The public is invited to visit, view and enjoy taking photos of this special, one-of-a-kind holiday tree, which also showcases eight non-sea creatures found in or near the ocean.
Folding was done throughout the U.S. mainland, Europe and South America, as well as in Hawaii. Artists included some of the leaders of the modern origami movement including Michael LaFosse and Richard Alexander of Origamido in Massachusetts, and Sok Song of New York City. The Kusudama star on the top of the tree was folded locally for ‘Imiloa by Julien Lozi, senior optical scientist at Subaru Telescope, from a pattern designed by Ekaterina Lukasheva.
Origami is more than an art form. Its principles and techniques have been applied to the sciences, including space technology. From time to time, ‘Imiloa hosts origami-themed programs including folding workshops and presentations about the intersections between paper folding and the sciences.
The Holiday Tree is on display now through Jan. 13 in the atrium of the astronomy center, located at 600 ‘Imiloa Place in Hilo. The center is open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
For more information, visit www.imiloahawaii.org.