
Our signature ‘Ohana Stargazing community event returned to SALT at Our Kaka‘ako on Saturday, October 12, offering opportunities to learn about astronomy and the rich wayfinding traditions of Hawai‘i. The evening was buzzing with anticipation from the ground floor to the rooftop! Two floors of activations were connected by an elevator transformed into the interior of a rocket.

The event officially began at 6 p.m., with an opening ‘oli by Leinani Lozi, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator for ‘Ohana Kilo Hōkū. Families enjoyed hearing her share an engaging mo‘olelo of Maui slowing down the sun with his magical lasso.

Ten telescopes of varying sizes and viewpoints were sprawled across the rooftop, manned by experts from both Stargazers of Hawai‘i and the UH Institute for Astronomy. After the night sky darkened by 6:15 p.m., conditions were perfect with minimal clouds and a clear moon. Through the high-powered telescopes, it was possible to see the moon’s gray-and-white patterns, rugged craters and ridges. Other telescopes were pointed at Venus, which shone luminously in the sky, and Saturn, with its distinguishable rings and surrounding moons. Astronomy enthusiasts also looked for the passing of Comet C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, a rare comet making a return visit after passing Earth 80,000 years ago.


Throughout the night, the Nā Hōkū Navigator Challenge offered participants a fun and interactive journey where they could pick up bookmark cards as well as free glow stick necklaces and bracelets for keiki at the registration booth. They set off on an exciting quest, collecting star punches at activity stations along the way. Each stop provided a chance to engage in hands-on experiences celebrating Hawaiian culture and astronomy. Once participants secured all six stars, they returned to the registration table to claim their prize and enter the grand giveaway. The top giveaway prize was an unforgettable Hawai‘i Island adventure for four, including round-trip flights (120,000 HawaiianMiles), a family day pass to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center and a night’s stay at the SCP Hilo Hotel. The second giveaway prize was a year-long membership to Bishop Museum for one lucky family. A heartfelt mahalo to the generosity of sponsors, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, SCP Hotel Hilo and Bishop Museum!


Local vendors Aloha Bites and Tealicious sold sweet treats and delicious refreshments on the rooftop for attendees to enjoy between stargazing sessions. Some drinks were even available in glowing cups, which was a favorite for keiki. Many speakers shared their mana‘o throughout the night at the main tent on the rooftop. Pualani Hao of Kamehameha Schools spoke about the many community partners who made the event a success. Hi‘ilani Shibata of Ka Mahina Project shared mo‘olelo about the moon followed by navigator Kaʻiulani Murphy, who shared about her experiences on the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa. Jonathan Williams from the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy discussed astronomy and the Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy taught attendees how to navigate using the stars.


Downstairs in the Barn, interactive and hands-on learning activities abounded. Hawai‘i Lego Users Group had organized several tables amassed with Legos for keiki to sit down and enjoy. A gigantic Lego creation of a train was also on display, with the train automated to move from one end of the railroad to another. Kilo Hōkū VR offered a virtual reality experience where kids could climb aboard and walk about the Hōkūleʻa. Using the VR controls, they were able to “point” at the stars and learn about constellations.


A highlight of the night was the life-sized wa‘a brought by the Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy with Waipahu High School’s Mauna Kea Scholars Program. Attendees had the opportunity to climb aboard and take pictures inside the craft. Across from the waʻa, there was a table set up where participants learned about the intricate and important rope tying techniques, which were used by voyagers to secure the wa‘a during their journeys. Illustrated on the ground was a colorful star compass that showed how Hawaiians used the skies for wayfinding. The Ka Mahina Project encouraged kids to find and match the phases of the moon and discover their birth moon by scanning a QR code. Students from the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy shared about the astronomy program at UH and used a spectral lamp to demonstrate how light is used to identify different elements in the universe and the varying temperature of stars.

The ‘Ohana Stargazing event was truly a night to remember, bringing together people of all ages to look at the stars and learn about Hawaiian culture through hands-on activities and demonstrations. A big mahalo to all of our sponsors and partners who came together and made this event a success!
Mahalo to Our Sponsors and Partners!











