{"id":145416,"date":"2021-07-22T16:37:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T02:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=145416"},"modified":"2021-07-22T16:37:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T02:37:52","slug":"imiloa-reopens-after-pandemic-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/07\/22\/imiloa-reopens-after-pandemic-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"\u02bbImiloa reopens doors after pandemic shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Keiki
ʻOhana explored the center’s interactive Hawaiian culture and history, and astronomy displays<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ʻImiloa Astronomy Center<\/a> will reopen to the general public starting Saturday, July 24, after closing its doors more than a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\"糖心视频or
糖心视频ors take a closer look at the solar system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We are so thrilled to welcome back our members and visitors,” said ʻImiloa Executive Director, Kaʻiu<\/span> Kimura<\/strong>. “Since our temporary closure last March, we pivoted to online activities, offered innovative and enrichment H\u0101lau Lamak\u016b programs on site for keiki and most recently, our special summer camps—all geared to help support local families, providing educational and social opportunities in these COVID-19 challenged times.”<\/p>\n

On July 17–18, the astronomy and culture education center at the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Hilo<\/a> initially welcomed its members back. Eager keiki and their ʻohana explored the planetarium, exhibits and enhanced displays, such as a hands-on building activity E K\u016bkulu K\u0101kou and Reflecting on Maunakea, an interactive exhibit wall where patrons can leave notes about relationships and experiences with the mauna.<\/p>\n

\"Wall
ʻImiloa honors Maunakea with several exhibits, including a reflection wall for guests to leave notes about their relationships and experiences with Maunakea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Near the center\u2019s Hawaiian navigation section, guests can view a tribute display honoring Chad K\u0101lepa Baybayan<\/strong>, who was involved with ʻImiloa since its inception before serving as the center\u2019s navigator-in-residence in 2010. The highly respected, deep-sea voyaging canoe H\u014dk\u016bleʻa<\/span> captain died in April<\/a>.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 restrictions allow ʻImiloa to open on the weekends, for now. Guests will have 2-hour time blocks to visit the site. A total of three separate blocks will be available each day with no more than 40 people inside at a time. Everyone is required to wear masks indoors at all times. Tickets must be reserved in advance online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Keiki
COVID-19 safety protocols require face masks indoors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We are all in the monitoring, learning and adapting phase as we do our best to meet the needs of everyone while we navigate this unprecedented journey,” Kimura added.<\/p>\n

Keiki visiting ʻImiloa will also be able to take home educational crafts put together by the center\u2019s enrichment program, H\u0101lau Lamak\u016b. The program, grounded in Hawaiian culture, science, math and art, has assembled home lessons for kids ranging from outer space to place-based areas and species on Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island.<\/p>\n

For more information on ticket admission, visit the ʻImiloa website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Keiki
Keiki engage in a build, create, innovate exhibit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The general public will be able to visit the center on the weekends starting July 24. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[34,33,292,659,14],"class_list":["post-145416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-astronomy","tag-hawaiian","tag-imiloa-astronomy-center","tag-maunakea","tag-uh-hilo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t