‘Imiloa Astronomy Center 10th Anniversary Celebration

Photo courtesy of ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center is on the brink of celebrating its decade-long anniversary.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, the astronomy center will host a 10^th Anniversary Celebration, featuring food and free activities centered around the “imiloa” theme, which is exploration.

“As ‘Imiloa prepares to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of our 2006 opening, we are privileged to have sponsorship from KTA Super Stores, which itself is observing a big 100^th anniversary this year,” said ‘Imiloa Executive Director Ka’iu Kimura. “KTA has played a cornerstone role in supporting ‘Imiloa’s educational outreach over our first decade, and it is thanks to their leadership and that of our other community supporters that ‘Imiloa is here today, proud to be launching our second decade.”

The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. Included in the free event is complimentary access to ‘Imiloa’s interactive exhibit hall, where visitors can tour through the recently installed World Wide Telescope.

Thirty-minute planetarium experiences, as well as the opportunity to meet crew members from the ‘Ohana Wa’a and the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage, are among the special programming slated for the event.

Science activity stations that will offer hands-on experiences will be available throughout the center.

“Inven10 Lab” will be open, where children can create their own Cosmic Clay and mold it into their own dream exhibit, which would help guide ‘Imiloa’s future exhibit redesign as it enters into the next decade.

Birthday cake will be available for free to the first 1,000 ‘Imiloa visitors and KTA Super Stores will have food options for purchase.

Do-it-yourself ice cream will also be available at a homemade ice cream booth.

Stepping outside of the center, “Cotton Candy Galazies,” inflatable holua slide, and “Maunakea Animal Adventure” train rides will take children on an expedition through ‘Imiloa’s native garden landscape.