Join ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo for a fun family day as it welcomes its teenage years.
‘Imiloa invites the community to come and celebrate during its 13th Birthday Pa‘ina from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 24). Sponsored by KTA Super Stores, admission is free for the whole family.
“As in the past, this special event also salutes the cornerstone role which KTA Super Stores has played in supporting ‘Imiloa’s educational and cultural outreach throughout our 13-year history,” said ‘Imiloa executive director Ka‘iu Kimura. “We are very grateful to KTA Super Stores for sponsoring this event and allowing the center to be open free of charge on this fun-filled day!”
To welcome the start of its teenage years and in anticipation of the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s proposed bachelor of science in aeronautical degree program, “aviation” is the theme for this year’s birthday celebration.
“We are so thrilled to partner with various organizations across the community, such as Maunakea Observatories, Hawaiian Airlines, Civil Air Patrol, STARBASE Hawai‘i, UH-Hilo and many others, to help celebrate the beginning of our teenage years and to support the growth of UH-Hilo’s degree programs,” Kimura emphasized.
State Sen. Kai Kahele, a pilot with Hawaiian Airlines, has flown more than 10,000 hours (military and civilian) and is well versed with the high demand for pilots.
“There’s an estimated worldwide shortage of 600,000 pilots over the next 15 years,” Kahele said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Hawaii students to pursue careers as pilots and in the aviation-related professions.”
‘Imiloa’s birthday offerings will include complimentary birthday cake to the first 1,000 visitors. Indoor and outdoor activities include live presentations/demonstrations by pilots and professionals in the aviation industry, flight simulation demos, hands-on “make-and-take” activity stations, full-dome presentations on aeronautics-related topics, aviation data visualization talks in the Exhibit Hall, scavenger hunt, drone flying demonstrations and more.
KTA Super Stores will staff a food tent with food and beverage options available for purchase throughout the day.
“Happy 13th birthday, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center!” said Toby Taniguchi, president and chief operating officer of KTA Super Stores. “Thirteen years of ground-breaking, leading-edge discoveries have enriched our Hawaii Island community and inspired generations of explorers and innovators. KTA Super Stores is delighted to support such an advanced cultural and science center focused on life-long learning.”
As a special birthday gift to the community and for one day only, ‘Imiloa will offer $10 off all levels of membership for new and renewing members. This will be reserved for memberships purchased on-site Sunday. Current members are welcome to take advantage of this discount and renew their memberships early.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii is a world-class center for informal science education. The center is located at 600 ‘Imiloa Place, off of Komohana and Nowelo streets at the UH-Hilo Science and Technology Park.
For more information, visit ImiloaHawaii.org or call 932-8901.
