March for Science in Hilo on April 21 and 22

March for Science Hilo organizers, clockwise from top left: Jason Adolf, Mihaela Ryer, Heather Kimball, Roseann Michaud, Topaz Collins, Angela Beck. Not shown: Jim Beets, Erin Busch. Photo courtesy of Angela Beck.

March for Science Hilo will celebrate the scientific process, mai ka lewa lani i luna a ka papakū i lalo loa (from the heavens above to the earth below), by marching in downtown Hilo on April 21 and 22.

Parents, keiki, teachers, scientists and all members of the community are welcome to the event in support of local science.

“Our goal is to build awareness in the community of what our local scientists are doing,” said Angela Beck, the event’s outreach coordinator. “We hope this march will highlight the value of both Western and indigenous science and underscore the importance of funding science.”

The event will begin with a kickoff rally on Friday, April 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bayfront soccer fields pavilion in Hilo. Guest speakers from the local science community will present a teach-in followed by a twilight march. Participants are asked to bring their own illumination to “light the way for science.” All marchers are asked to park in the commuter lots makai of Kamehameha Avenue.

On Saturday, April 22, marchers will gather at 8:30 a.m. to join the Merrie Monarch parade which is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., starting and ending at Pauahi Street.

For more information or to find out how you can help, contact Organizing Committee Chair Heather Kimball at hkimball@hawaii.edu or (808) 333-1535, or Outreach Coordinator Angela Beck at atbeck@hawaii.edu or (808) 345-3097.

Information is also available on Facebook (@MarchforScienceHilo) and Twitter (@March4Sci_Hilo). March for Science Mission and Principles can be found online at http://marchforsciencehawaii.info/principles/.

This is a drug and alcohol free event.

The March for Science Hilo is part of an international, non-partisan movement joining over 400 marches worldwide on Earth Day, April 22, 2017.