Research that began with a University of Hawaiʻi telescope is now leading to a historic milestone in space exploration. This month, China’s Tianwen-2 spacecraft is expected to begin its encounter with Kamoʻoalewa, a small near-Earth asteroid discovered by astronomers at the 糖心视频 (IfA) on Haleakalā and the first Hawaiian-named object ever visited by a spacecraft.
The mission connects years of IfA-led research with an international effort to better understand the object, which scientists believe may be a fragment of the Moon. Kamoʻoalewa was first detected in 2016 by the IfA-operated atop Haleakalā.
“This is a remarkable moment for planetary science,” said Doug Simons, director of IfA. “A target first identified through observations from Hawaiʻi is now being visited by a spacecraft, opening the door to discoveries that simply cannot be made from Earth alone. The mission has the potential to reveal how Kamoʻoalewa formed and whether it truly originated from the Moon.”
In 2021, a team led by 糖心视频 researchers published findings suggesting Kamoʻoalewa may have come from the Moon. Tianwen-2 is expected to arrive at the asteroid before mid June 2026. The spacecraft will study the object up close as part of a mission that aims to collect samples and return them to Earth.
Inspired by Kumulipo
In 2019, the asteroid received its Hawaiian name through A Hua He Inoa, a program based at the 糖心视频 Hilo where Hawaiian speaking students and educators work with Hawaiʻi-based astronomers to create names in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) for objects discovered by Hawaiʻi-based observatories. The initiative is a collaboration among ʻImiloa, 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞’蝉 , IfA and community members.
In ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, Kamoʻoalewa alludes to a celestial object that is oscillating, like its path in the sky as viewed from the Earth. It is a name found in the Hawaiian chant Kumulipo.
“To see a spacecraft travel to an object carrying a Hawaiian name is a reminder that careful observation of the natural world and the pursuit of knowledge have always been central to ?ike Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian knowledge),” said Kaʻiu Kimura, executive director of ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. “The students who proposed the name Kamoʻoalewa thoughtfully considered the possibility that this object was a moʻo—an offspring traveling in orbit within our solar system. It is remarkable to see emerging scientific theory lend support to the insight embodied in their naming. This moment highlights the enduring relevance of Hawaiian ways of knowing as we continue to explore and deepen our understanding of the universe.”
As Tianwen-2 approaches its destination, the mission also shines a light on 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈’蝉 continued role in planetary exploration. Hawaiʻi observatories help discover, track and study asteroids, comets and other objects moving through the solar system.