ʻImiloa in Hilo celebrates 20 years of creating space for curiosity, learning, dialogue

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center turns 20 years old today, Feb. 20, and the community is invited to celebrate its Golden Birthday with free admission all day and special activities from 2 to 6 p.m.

The facility has served since opening its doors in 2006 as a gathering place, where ʻike Hawaiʻi, Polynesian wayfinding and the astronomical research on Mauna Kea are explored together.

ʻImiloa during those past 2 decades welcomed thousands of keiki, families, students and visitors with immersive exhibits, planetarium programs and place-based educational experiences rooted in Hawaiian language and local research.

Today’s anniversary celebration will feature hands-on activities, anniversary treats, giveaways and full access to exhibits and the planetarium.

The birthday bash also kicks off a year of monthly anniversary programming throughout 2026.

It’s a milestone that celebrates and reaffirms ʻImiloa’s mission to honor multiple ways of knowing while creating space for curiosity, learning and dialogue.

About ʻImiloa

Sharing Hawaiʻi’s legacy of exploration, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, located at 600 ʻImiloa Place in Hilo, is a world-class center for informal science education serving local and visitor communities through local research, cultural advancement and environmental stewardship.

Its 12,000-square-foot exhibit hall presents science and Hawaiian culture as parallel journeys of human exploration guided by the light of the stars. The visitor experience is amplified through full-dome planetarium presentations and 9 acres of native gardens.

Learn more about this special place and everything it has to offer by visiting the ʻImiloa website.