Presenter: Bernard Magrath, Santa Fe Community College
Title: Observing and Photographing Moon Phases with an emphasis on Apollo Landing sites.
Time: Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 4 pm.
Where: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s Planetarium
This talk is Free and open to the public.
The Moon is the most unique, beautiful, and accessible object in the sky. How it dances around the Earth as it displays its personality is a subject that has fascinated humankind as far back as memory goes. Bernard Magrath’s book A Guide to Moon Phases and Nearside Lunar Features, is a guidebook that anyone can use to access Lunar surface features by eye, with simple binoculars, or, in fact, any kind of telescope. For instance say one wanted to see where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed and walked on the Moon. When is the best time to look? What part of the surface would one inspect? This talk answers questions like these. In addition, Magrath will present an innovation of digital photography designed to make astrophotography of the Moon accessible and possible for anyone.
Bernard Magrath is an outdoors-man, entrepreneur, father, student, and observatory professional who graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1988. After a career in Infrared and Optical Observatories in Wyoming and Hawai’i (Wyoming Infrared Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Subaru Telescope) he changed his career path to teaching in 2009. Currently he teaches Astronomy at the Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico where he wrote his own classroom lab textbook on Moon phases. This is the project that he will discuss on June 15th.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i is a cultural science center located on the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo campus. ‘Imiloa is a place of life-long learning where the power of Hawai‘i’s cultural traditions, its legacy of exploration and the wonders of astronomy come together to provide inspiration for generations. The Center’s interactive exhibits, 3D full dome planetarium, native landscape, programs and events engage families and visitors in the wonders of science and technology found in Hawai‘i. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). For more information, visit the website at www.imiloahawaii.org.
‘Imiloa Introduces the Piko ‘ī Theater
Panoramic View of Maunakea’s Grandeur
Visitors to ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center will enjoy a new welcoming experience upon entering into the 12,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall.
Walking into the exhibit hall the visitors are greeted with the mist of Maunakea, entering a realm of contemplation, the Piko ‘ī Theater. The gallery is designed to guide visitors ascent to Maunakea through colorful graphic imagery reflecting Hawai‘i Island’s natural life forms and ecosystems. Journey from Hawai‘i’s deep sea realm, shoreline, forests, upper elevations, and realm of mist to Maunakea’s summit.
Walking through mist created by a fog screen, visitors transition into the darkness and calm of the Piko ‘ī Theatre. 
“Fog screen technology uses ultrasound to create tiny water particles 2-3 microns in diameter that envelop visitors in the fine mist of Lilinoe, a Hawaiian deity that resides on Maunakea,” states Kālepa Baybayan, Associate Director. “The microscopic droplets feel dry to the touch, just like air.”
Once inside the theatre, visitors watch Maunakea’s grandeur unfold as an 8 minute time-lapse film is projected on a panoramic 20 foot screen. The mesmerizing film was produced by Astronomer Jean-Charles Cuillandre with music by Kanoa Withington. Mahalo nui loa to Canada-France-Hawai’i Telescope Corporation who supported the film’s production.
Piko ‘ī refers to our connection to place, where we came from, origins and our environment. For many Hawaiians, Maunakea is the piko, point of connection to the Universe.
Exiting ‘Imiloa’s new Piko ‘ī Theatre begins the journey of discovery of over 100 exhibits that focus on the science and of culture on Maunakea.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i is a world-class informal science education center located on the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo campus. ‘Imiloa is a place of life-long learning where the power of Hawaiʻi’s cultural traditions, its legacy of exploration and the wonders of astronomy come together to provide inspiration and hope for generations. The Center’s interactive exhibits, 3D full dome planetarium, native landscape, programs and events engage children, families, visitors and the local community in the wonders of science and technology found in Hawai‘i. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). For more information, visit the website at www.imiloahawaii.org.
‘Imiloa’s Wayfinding Talk
Sponsored by Matson
Sam Low and Mau Piailug. Photo by Sam Low
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center will host its Summer 2013 Wayfinding Talk on Friday, June 7, 2013 featuring two presentations, one by Author Sam Low followed by Pwo Navigator Nainoa Thompson. The 2013-14 Wayfinding Talks are being sponsored through the generous support of Matson.
Starting at 7 p.m. in the Earl and Doris Bakken Moanahōkū Hall author Sam Low will introduce his new book, Hawaiki Rising. The book is the epic tale of the formation of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, the 1976 and 1980 voyages, and the initiation in 2007 of five Hawaiian men into Pwo, a sacred initiation in the hierarchy of traditional navigators. The story of Polynesian voyaging has fascinated Low most of his life. In 1983, after traveling throughout Polynesia, he produced his award winning film, The Navigators – Pathfinders of the Pacific, shown nationally on PBS and internationally on television venues throughout the world. Hawaiki Rising is available in the ‘Imiloa Store and Sam will be at hand for a book signing.
Nainoa Thompson. Photo by Sam Low
Following Low’s talk, famed Hawaiian navigator Nainoa Thompson will speak on Mālama Honua, the upcoming “Worldwide Voyage.” He will share the ambitious plans to sail two voyaging canoes, Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia, around the planet on a voyage that aims to cover 45,000 nautical miles, visit 26 countries, and stop at over 62 ports.
Born in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Thompson graduated from Punahou School in 1972 and earned a BA in Ocean Science in 1986 from the University of Hawai‘i. Thompson was trained by master navigator Mau Piailug from the Micronesian island of Satawal. Thompson’s first solo, deep-sea navigation was from Hawai‘i to Tahiti in 1980. On March 18, 2007, Thompson and four other Native Hawaiian navigators were inducted into Pwo as master navigators. The ceremony was conducted by Piailug on Satawal.
Sam Low has sailed aboard Hōkūle‘a on three voyages – from Mangareva to Rapa Nui in 1999, Tahiti to Hawai‘i in 2000, and from Chuuk to Satawal, both in Micronesia, in 2007. Sam is the author of many articles on Hōkūle‘a and her meaning to Polynesians. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific from 1964 to 1966 and earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from Harvard in 1975. Nainoa Thompson is his cousin, a relationship that has provided him unparalleled access to the main protagonist of this story.
The Center would like to thank Matson for its exclusive sponsorship of the 2013-14 Wayfinding Talks and the 2013 ‘Imiloa Wayfinding & Navigation Festival scheduled for September 27 & 28.
The Friday night wayfinding program time is 7:00 p.m., with ticketing at $10 for non-members and $8 for members (member level discounts apply.) Tickets may be pre-purchased at the ‘Imiloa front desk or by phone, using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or JCB, by calling (808) 969-9703 during regular business hours. Tickets are non-refundable.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i is located at 600 ‘Imiloa Place in Hilo, off Komohana and Nowelo Streets at the UH-Hilo Science and Technology Park. For more information, go to www.imiloahawaii.org, or call (808) 969-9700.
Title: “The present and future of cinematic rendering”
Presenter: Chris Ford, Pixar Animation Studio
Keynote is open to registrants of the ‘Imiloa Fulldome Film Festival 2013 only.
The decreasing cost of high performance computing has created many new possibilities in photorealistic rendering for directors and artists working in feature film animation, visual effects, ride simulation, and scientific visualization. Previously computationally intensive techniques such as distribution ray-tracing, physically plausible shading, importance sampling, radiosity catching, and path-tracing, are now accessible in production, not only in batch render processing but also through interactive re-rendering.
In his Keynote talk, Chris Ford of Pixar Animation Studio’s RenderMan team, will review the state of the art in cinematic rendering technology, describe the most notable new tools and techniques in development, explain the context through which they are best deployed, and demystify much of the terminology. Also considered will be single-pass hybrid rendering methodologies that integrate global illumination, volume rendering, traditional-scan-line and other methods, all within the context of today’s CG tools ecosystem in which data interchange and post render compositing are equally critical factors.
The Keynote will conclude with a look at what developments in rendering can be expected over the next 3-years, and what based on past experience may or may not happen.
Chris Ford is currently RenderMan Business Director at Pixar Animation Studios (Walt Disney Co) whose photo-realistic rendering software technology is used to create the stunning images in the majority of today’s visual effects and animated feature films. As a Product Manager, Chris has been responsible for many of the most notable computer graphics (CG) software tools used in contemporary feature film visual effects, animation, broadcast, game development, and scientific and astronomical visualization.
Prior to Pixar between 2002 and 2005, Chris was Director of Product Management at Autodesk Inc for all CG entertainment software tools, and between 1997 and 2002 Senior Product Manager at Alias|Wavefront (Silicon Graphics) for Maya, the worlds leading professional CG digital media content creation application. Software solutions managed by Chris have been awarded two Academy Awards for technological innovation and he is credited in eight feature films. Also a long-time amateur astronomer, Chris is both a visual observer and an astro-photographer with a specific interest in applying contemporary media production technologies to visualizing astronomical data in the cause of public outreach, and has lectured on the state of the art at many public events and conferences. Chris is currently President of the Mount Diablo Astronomical Society and serves on the Board of Directors of The Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
For more information on the ‘Imiloa Fulldome Film Festival 2013
Partial Solar Eclipse in Hilo
On Thursday, May 9, there will be a partial solar eclipse starting at about 2:30 p.m. and ending around 5:00 p.m.
The maximum eclipse in Hilo is at 3:47 p.m. with 44% of the Sun in eclipse at that time. If weather conditions allow, members of the UH Hilo Department of Physics & Astronomy will be at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo to view and photograph the eclipse with a solar telescope.
Come join us! Just look for the telescopes on the lawn outside ‘Imiloa’s front entrance. Astronomy volunteers will be available throughout the afternoon to answer questions and to facilitate public viewing of the eclipse through the solar telescope, through ‘Imiloa’s Sun Spotter telescopes, and through hand-held solar viewers.
Please take the precautions and view the eclipse safely. Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye. Special solar filters are required for solar viewing, the best practice is to make a pin hole viewer.
Directions for viewing solar eclipses safely.
Lahaina Noon 2013
It is that time of year when the Hawaiian Islands experience the astronomical phenomenon known as “Lahaina Noon.” That is when the sun reaches its zenith and makes shadows virtually disappear for vertical objects set at a 90 degree angle. Hawai’i is the only state in the nation with this phenomenon, because it only happens in the tropics (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn). It occurs twice a year at every location in the islands.
During Lahaina Noon at ‘Imiloa in Hilo, our 14 foot mosaic “Voyage of the Navigator” will be illuminated when the sun will be directly over the sky light, thus creating a great example of Lahaina Noon. Visitors are welcome to watch as this happens; let’s just hope we have a sunny Hilo day.
Lahaina Noon Dates, Times:
Hilo
May 18 12:16 p.m.
July 24 12:26 p.m.
Kailua-Kona
May 18 12:20 p.m.
July 24 12:30 p.m.m
Kaneohe
May 27 12:28 p.m.
July 15 12:37 p.m.
Honolulu
May 26 12:28 p.m.
July 15 12:37 p.m.
Kaunakakai
May 25 12:24 p.m.
July 16 12:34 p.m.
Lanai City
May 24 12:24 p.m.
July 18 12:33 p.m.
Lahaina
May 24 12:23 p.m.
July 18 12:32 p.m.
Kahului
May 24 12:22 p.m.
July 18 12:32 p.m.
Lihue
May 30 12:35 p.m.
July 11 12:42 p.m.
See our video of the 2011 Lahaina noon event.
Next Maunakea Skies Talk May 17, 2013
Speaker: Mark Chun, Institute for Astronomy
Topic: Our Continued Quest to Untwinkle the Stars
Time: Friday May 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the ‘Imiloa Planetarium
New discoveries in astronomy are driven, even more so than other fields of science, by new techniques and technologies that open new views of the Universe. From Galileo observing through one of the first telescopes the phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter to Edwin Hubble measuring the expansion rate of the Universe, these discoveries have shaped our understanding of our place in the Universe.
In the past two decades a flood of new techniques and instruments have made their way to ground-based telescopes and they have enabled a range of discoveries. These advances will continue into the near future as new telescopes and new instruments bring opportunities to explore regions of space previously beyond our sight. Adaptive optics, a technique to remove the blurring effects of the Earth’s atmosphere, is one of the key technologies enabling this new vision. Pioneered in Hawai’i, many of the first generation adaptive optics systems reside on telescopes, both new and old, on Maunakea. The field of adaptive optics has also grown up over the last two decades and astronomers are now poised to deploy a new generation of systems that will broaden its use and impact. Mark Chun will present how current systems work and then discuss some of the new systems envisioned for telescopes on Maunakea, and how they take advantage of some of the unique characteristics of Maunakea.
Mark Chun is an astronomer working for the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii. His interest in astronomy started at a young age when someone gave him the “Peterson Field Guide to Stars and Planets.” Its endless array of tables and maps competed with his interest in football cards and player “stats.” In the fifth grade he even wrote that he wanted to be an astronomer when he grew up (his mom saved that school assignment for him). He’s been told he also wanted to be a rabbit or a fire truck but evidently neither of those panned out. He studied engineering and physics at the University of Wisconsin and The University of Chicago and that led him to a career building and developing new instruments for the telescopes on Maunakea. His specialty is in adaptive optics, a field that gives him an appreciation for how fish must view the world above the ocean.
Maunakea Skies program will be hosted by Shawn Laatsch, ‘Imiloa planetarium manager. He will provide observational highlights of the current night sky over Hawai‘i, pointing out prominent constellations and stars one can see during this time of year.
The monthly Maunakea Skies planetarium presentations are held on the third Friday of each month. Cost is $8 for Individual, Dual, Kupuna and Family Members; $6 for Patron Members; Free for Silver, Gold and Corporate Members. Non-member rate is $10. Pre-purchase tickets at the ‘Imiloa front desk or by phone at 969-9703.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i is located at 600 ‘Imiloa Place in Hilo, off Komohana and Nowelo Streets at the UH Hilo Science and Technology Park. For more information, go to www.imiloahawaii.org, or call (808) 969-9703.
New Interns at ‘Imiloa
Introducing new Interns at ‘Imiloa
Chelsie Wung. You may have seen Chelsie around at ‘Imiloa in the past. This time, she is here as an Intern developing age-appropriate Educational Guide books.
Chelsie is a sophomore at UH Hilo, studying Marine Science. She enjoys reading, stargazing, and volunteering with the service organization Circle K International.
As a student aspiring to someday be an elementary school teacher, Chelsie is focusing on developing guidebooks for the lower-elementary ages. She conducts most of the work for her internship project off-site.
Jeremy Wigton, a new intern in Exhibits.
Jeremy is from Rhode Island, where he completed degrees in General Business and Communication Studies at URI. He worked as a General Manager and as a DJ at the college radio station. He came to Hawai’i to fine-tune his career path in sound and/or management. He says: “Music consumes my life and I started my own DJ business 8 years ago. Hawaiian music, culture, and nature/outdoors drew me to this magical place where I plan to delve into a new lifestyle to help better appreciate my own, by comparison. I thought ‘Imiloa would be a great place to start this because I am so math/science inclined and interested!”
Cam Wipper, our new Science On a Sphere (SOS) Intern
Cam is a transfer student from Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. He came to Hilo in 2011 to study astronomy. He enjoys hiking, camping, reading, music, basketball, hockey, and cartography. In addition to astronomy, he also has a passion for aviation.
He has already trained on our Magic Planet and helped with our KECK Outreach event, and is busy at work developing a series of presentations on ‘Imiloa’s S.O.S. He will be transitioning into an internship in our Planetarium at the end of spring semester.
Kalehua Ontai, a new Education Intern focusing on Astronomy
She is a Senior at Nawahiokalaniopu’u Hawaiian Language Immersion school. Working under ‘Ahia Dye’s mentorship and using her own training in voyaging astronomy, Kalehua will calculate and compile celestial events for various requests from scientists, schools, and other community organizations.
Here is a little information she has shared with us about her background:
‘O Waiākea ke ahupua’a, ‘o Hilo ka moku. ‘O ka moku nui o Keawe ka ‘āina, ‘o Hawai’i nui ākea ke kulāiwi.
Aloha, my name is Kayla Kalehuahulale‘aikamoana Ontai. I’m the oldest of four children born to Kala‘iokona and Kau‘i Ontai. Hawaiian is my first language and the only language spoken at home. I strongly believe in three things which guide and motivate me in life:
First, “He ali’i ka ‘āina, he kauā ke kanaka.” Our ‘āina provides life to us all, without it, we are nothing. We must mālama our ‘āina (care for our land) as we would our kūpuna and ‘ohana (elders & family). We must treat our ‘āina as we would our gods and ali‘i. We must love it, respect it, and protect it for generations.
Second, “Ola nā iwi.” Mo‘okū‘auhau, or geneology is what defines us as Hawaiian. This saying roughly translates as “The bones live,” and means that our kūpuna live through us, their mo‘opuna. We must never forget where we come from, for they paved the way for us to march on.
And last, “’O ka ‘ōlelo ke ka‘ā o ka mauli.” Language is what strengthens and propels our culture. We must learn our language and speak it with our children so that our future keiki will speak the way our kūpuna did.
These three statements define me. They inspire me to be who I was raised to be: a Hawaiian woman eager to learn and engage in activities and experiences to broaden my horizons, like working here at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.
For information on ‘Imiloa’s Intern program contact:
Justina Mattos
Interpretive Planning Coordinator
Phone: (808) 969-9729
Email: jmattos[at]imiloahawaii.org
Ola Ka Hula 10:00am
Presentation & Hula Performance
More than just a visual art, the importance of hula is in the language through the forms of oli (chanting) and mele (singing). Rich in metaphor and personification, ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) coupled with movement, rhythm and sound is a strong instrument for expressing and imprinting values, teachings and histories, connecting humanity with the past, present and future.
Pelehonuamea Suganuma Harman and Kekoa L. Harman teach hula at Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u in Kea‘au, and at Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Classes at both schools are taught entirely through the medium of Hawaiian language. Both see language as an important vehicle in imparting beliefs and practices to preserve traditional aspects of hula. This presentation is done in celebration of 30 years of Hawaiian language revitalization, and the continuance and preservation of language, and traditional cultural practices.
Aloha Hula 1:00 pm
Talk-story session & Hula Performance
Individual competition for the title of Miss Aloha Hula has long been a tradition of the Merrie Monarch festival since 1971. Each solo performance is a culmination of years of devotion and dedication to hula and is a reflection of the highest level of skill and knowledge handed down from teacher to student.
Sharing her family tradition of excellence in hula is the winner of the first Miss Aloha Hula competition in 1971, Aloha Dalire. Aloha represents a lineage of hula mastery inherited from her mother, Keolalaulani. Joining Aloha are her daughters, all Miss Aloha Hula winners, and their children. Learn about the rich heritage that has been passed down from mother to daughter.
Music entertainment with Lito Arkangel at 9am and Kaini Kahaunaele at noon.
Visit our website for the weeks schedule.
All showcase sessions cover a wide range of hula topics. In order to continue to offer more educational enrichment programs, event program admission is $5 per session for members and $6 per session for non-members. Seating is limited. To ensure a spot for a session, we recommend that you purchase tickets in advance. Ticket are non-refundable. Admission to each session goes toward future enrichment programming at ‘Imiloa. Please call 969-9703 or visit the guest service desk at ‘Imiloa to purchase tickets.
Po‘okela 10:00 am
Talk-story session & Hula Performance
Setting the standard of excellence in hula and defining what it means to be frontline hula dancers are the winners of the Merrie Monarch’s first hula competition in 1971, Hau‘oli Hula Maids, led by famed musician Pauline Kekahuna with choreography by renowned Kumu Hula Vicky ‘I‘i Rodrigues.
Join us for this historic gathering of the Hau‘oli Hula Maids and learn how hula literally took them around the world. Talking-story will be Aunties Mapuana Yasue, Florence Koanui, Jade Hind, and Kumu Leimomi Ho, along with Auntie Pauline Kekahuna’s ‘ohana including younger sister Leialoha Kaleikini. They will share about their hula days with cultural icons like Joseph Kaha‘ulelio, Vicky ‘I‘i Rodrigues, Leilani Sharpe Mendez, and of course Auntie Pauline. They will also share their award-winning hula styles and signature dances, including perhaps their 1971 winning competition number.
Waimāpuna 1:00pm
Panel-style discussion
Exploding onto the Merrie Monarch stage in 1978 leaving the audience breathless and claiming victory in hula kahiko and ‘auana divisions as well as the overall title were the men of Waimāpuna. Kumu Hula Darrell Lupenui’s strong masculine dance style ignited new interest in hula, attracting hordes of enthusiastic fans with heightened expectations of hula as a visual art.
The men of Waimāpuna, some of whom have become Kumu Hula themselves will provide an insightful glimpse of the nurturing, devotion, dedication and rigor that made Darrell Lupenui’s performances legendary. They will share the importance of the lessons learned from their Kumu and the role it played in the perpetuation and authenticity of the art, and how it affected their lives and disciplines inside and outside of hula.
Music entertainment with Lito Arkangel at 9 am and Weldon Kekauhoa at noon.
Visit our website for the weeks schedule.
All showcase sessions cover a wide range of hula topics. In order to continue to offer more educational enrichment programs, event program admission is $5 per session for members and $6 per session for non-members. Seating is limited. To ensure a spot for a session, we recommend that you purchase tickets in advance. Ticket are non-refundable. Admission to each session goes toward future enrichment programming at ‘Imiloa. Please call 969-9703 or visit the guest service desk at ‘Imiloa to purchase tickets.
