Kilolani Masthead
Pepeluali (February) 2017
Volume 12, Issue 2
Gardens at 'Imiloa

Emily Peavy Speaks at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station (VIS)
Maunakea VIS
Please join Emily Peavy, 'Imiloa's Planetarium Support Facilitator & Technician, at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station (VIS) when she presents "Perspectives of Astronomy" Saturday, February 4 at 6:00 pm. More information >
Maunakea Coin Contest
2016 Maunakea Coin
All Hawai'i Island K-12 students are invited to enter the 2017 Maunakea Coin Contest now through March 10, 2017 at the island's KTA Super Stores locations. Visit the coin contest website for the the entry form and additional information.
Available in the
Bank of Hawaii
'Imiloa Store
Modgy Luminaries
Set the mood with Modgy Luminaries, a luminary collection that expands with water and illuminates any gathering with the included flameless, water-activated floating LED candles. Inquiries? Call our store at (808) 932-8903. Don't forget to ask for your 10% member discount. You will also receive Member Loyalty Credit for additional savings!
Welcome to our New Corporate Member!

Ka Haweo Member

Ke Ola Magazine logo 

........
 
Mahalo to our

Corporate Members!
Ka Ho'okele Member
kta_logo

Matson logo

Ke Kapena Members
Big Island Candies logo
HPM logo
 
Kamehameha Schools logo

Ka Haweo Members

Ke Ola Magazine logo


 
Oceanic TWC logo

PGV Ormat logo
  Corporate 'Ohana



Mahalo
Mahalo for your support of our programs. Please send your comments and feedback to our Membership Office at membership@imiloahawaii.org or call (808) 932-8926.

This Month's Articles at a Glance
Bday'Imiloa's 11th Birthday Celebration
kta_logo
'Imiloa invites the community to our 11th Birthday Celebration with a free family day sponsored by KTA Super Stores on Sunday, February 26, 2017 from 9 am to 4 pm. The day's theme is "Earth, Sea & Sky" and offerings include complimentary access to 'Imiloa's exhibit hall and planetarium, hands-on science activity stations, flight simulation by STARBASE Hawai'i, a scavenger hunt, and much more. For hungry visitors, KTA will offer food options like hotdogs, chilidogs, teri pork sandwiches, portobella mushroom sandwiches, and Yum Yum Goody Goody. Free birthday cake will be served to the first 1,000 visitors. More information is to come so please visit our website calendar for updates and keep an eye on your in-box!
 
We will also be offering $10 off all levels of 'Imiloa membership, whether you are new to 'Imiloa or renewing your membership. This discount will be reserved for memberships purchased on-site on Sunday, February 26. Even if your membership isn't about to expire, you are welcome to take advantage of this discount and renew early! And if you aren't a member yet, Become a Member ...and Make Every Day a Free Day!
2017 Imiloa Bday logo
ScienceFair'Imiloa to Host Hawai'i District Science Fair

You are invited to experience the wonders of science through the eyes and ingenuity of our local youth at the 31st Annual Hawai'i District Science and Engineering Fair. Judging of more than 100 varied projects completed by local students in grades 6-12 will take place at 'Imiloa on Saturday, February 18th. (Last year 145 students were selected to participate, out of a pool of over 1,000 students who took part at the school level.) Local scientists and engineers will spend the day reviewing projects and interviewing the students, selecting 40 to go on to the State Science Fair in Honolulu. An awards ceremony follows at the UH Hilo Campus Center at 7:00 pm. 

2016 Hawaii District Science & Engineering Fair

Science Fair exhibits will be available for free public viewing on Sunday, February 19th, and the following Tuesday through Thursday, February 21-23. (Science Fair participants will begin collecting their projects at 11 am on Friday, February 24.)

The 2017 Hawai'i District Science and Engineering Fair is jointly sponsored by the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, the State and Hawai'i District Department of Education, the Hawai'i Academy of Science, UH Hilo Sigma Xi Chapter, 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i, the Robert and Alice Fujimoto Foundation, and many other generous sponsors who make this fair happen each year.

Teachers are encouraged to schedule a school field trip during Science Fair; please contact Punawai Rice, School Field Trip Coordinator, at (808) 932-8924 or price@imiloahawaii.org. Regular field trip rates apply, but please ask how to qualify for free bus transportation.

If you would like to support 'Imiloa's Field Trip Support fund, you may do so online. Or contact Margaret Shiba, Director of Institutional Advancement, at (808) 932-8921 or mshiba@imiloahawaii.org
MKSMaunakea Skies, February 17 at 7 pm

2017 Feb MKS courtesy Meg Schwamb
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Schwamb
February's Topic:
Exploring Mars with 150,000 Earthlings


Speaker:
Dr. Meg Schwamb, Gemini Observatory

Host:
Emily Peavy, 'Imiloa


The Red Planet of Mars is a dynamic world. Its icy south pole is sculpted by the never-ending cycle of freezing and thawing carbon dioxide ice, causing materials to travel through hundreds of thousands of dark fans. When observed from orbit, these fans appear as long dark streaks that are thought to be jets of material erupting from the Martian surface. By studying these unique features we can better understand Mars' climate and how it differs from Earth, opening up a whole new wealth of knowledge. Learn more about Mars exploration at 'Imiloa's Maunakea Skies talk on Friday, February 17 at 7:00 pm with Dr. Meg Schwamb, Assistant Scientist at Gemini Observatory. Read more >

'Imiloa's monthly Maunakea Skies planetarium presentations are held on the third Friday of each month. Each presentation begins with a tour of the current night sky, featuring stars, constellations, and planets visible to the unaided eye, in our stunning Hawai'i Island skies. Following this, a special guest representing one of Maunakea's world class observatories presents on a topic of his/her choosing. After the presentation, audience members are able to ask their own astronomy questions during a Q&A with the special guest presenter.

Member ticket pricing is $8 for UHH/HawCC Student, Kupuna, Individual, Dual, and Family Members; $6 for Patron Members; Free for Silver, Gold, and Corporate Members. General admission tickets are $10. Pre-purchase tickets at the 'Imiloa front desk or by phone at 932-8901. 
GraceIntroducing Grace Acob

Amerfil Grace Acob has recently joined 'Imiloa as a Membership Market Research Intern. A senior at UH Hilo, she is majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. She was born in the Philippines and moved to Kaua'i in 2009. While attending college she has been working at the UH Hilo Cashier's Office as accounting and fiscal student assistant. And when she returns home to Kaua'i she works at Jojo's Anuenue Shave Ice and Kaua'i Chocolate Factory. In her Amerfil Gace Acob free time Grace enjoys going to the beach, planning reunions, baking, and she loves exploring Hawai'i Island and admiring nature.

As a student intern at 'Imiloa, Grace will be arranging and conducting member focus groups as well as proposing recommendations as to how 'Imiloa's membership program can be improved. If you get a call from Grace this month we hope you'll agree to participate in one of the focus groups she will be organizing in March. If you would like to express your interest please call 808-932-8926 or email membership@imiloahawaii.org.
PlanetariumScheduleNew Planetarium Show Lineup

February 1 - February 28


Tuesday - Sunday
12 pm     Skies Above Hawai'i (3D live show)
1 pm       Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky
2 pm       Asteroid: Mission Extreme (3D)
3 p m       Origins of Life

Saturday Keiki Show
10 am     Legends of the Night Sky:
              Perseus & Andromeda 


Friday Evening Programming at 7 pm
February 3      Led Zeppelin
February 10    Led Zeppelin
February 17    Maunakea Skies
February 24    Stargazing Live

Visit our planetarium webpage to see our schedule.

Asteroid show poster
Origins of Life
Perseus & Andromeda
ImageImage of the Month

Exploring an Enigmatic Fast Radio Burst

2017 Feb Image FRB
Image Credit: Gemini Observatory/AURA/NRC/NSF/NRAO

The phenomena of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) have perplexed astronomers since their discovery in 2007. These sudden rapid explosions of energy usually last only a few milliseconds and create a multitude of questions for astronomers. Only 17 FRBs have been confirmed, but in November 2012 an FRB was discovered to repeat. This allowed astronomers to watch for it and study it in a way that had not been done before. With the help of observations with the Gemini Observatory we know that the repeating radio burst, FRB 121102, is hosted in a small dwarf galaxy whose mass is only 1% that of the Milky Way. This raises perplexing questions regarding how such an energetic phenomenon could originate from such a small unassuming galaxy.

Read the press release >
Logo_2color UH Hilo logo
'Imiloa's mission is
to honor Maunakea by sharing  
Hawaiian culture and science  
to inspire exploration.