Volcanoes park announces programs
Volcanoes park announces programs
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues its tradition of sharing Hawaiian culture and After Dark in the Park programs with the community and visitors in August. All programs are free, but park entrance fees apply. Programs are co-sponsored by the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association; a $2 donation helps support park programs.
Upcoming events include:
c “Kalo,” part of the park’s ongoing Ike Hana Noeau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops, 10 a.m. to noon, discusses the life of Hawaii’s indigenous people’s with kalo, or the taro plant. April Kekoa and Teana Kahoohanohano discuss the history of kalo, plus its modern uses. Free.
c Diana Aki in Concert, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 21, Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium.
c Puna Ohana Culture Day, 10 a.m. to noon, Makuu Farmers Market. Local practitioners teach the many craft uses of ti leaves. All materials will be provided. Children of all ages welcome. For more information, call 985-6011.
c “Na Wai Ola, The Living Waters: Harvesting the Heavens,” 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27, Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium discusses the harvesting rainwater. University of Hawaii’s Trisha Macomber, author of “Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii,” options for ensuring safe, clean drinking water for the future. Guests will receive all the free rainwater they can drink.
Bus to discuss
asteroid initiative
Science fiction gets closer to reality at Imiloa Astronomy Center’s next Maunakea Skies program that will focus on “The NASA Asteroid Initiative.” Schelte J. “Bobby” Bus, astronomer at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, will describe the plans to capture a near-Earth asteroid beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.
In June, NASA announced a new initiative aimed at finding all asteroids that pose a threat to human life on Earth and to develop the strategies and technologies necessary to safely deal with them. Meeting this challenge will require the combined efforts of government agencies, international partners, scientists and industry. As part of this initiative, NASA is developing a mission to redirect a near-Earth asteroid into a stable orbit in the Earth-Moon system, and then will send astronauts to that object to carry out a variety of studies. This mission will provide an important opportunity to test many new ideas and systems that may someday be needed if an asteroid is discovered on its way to impacting the Earth. In preparation for this mission, Earth-based programs to discover near-Earth asteroids are being ramped up with the hope of finding targets that are suitable for capture in the time frame laid out by NASA.
The IRTF on Mauna Kea is playing an important role in this effort by providing observations used to characterize newly discovered near-Earth asteroids. These observations help in determining the size and composition of these small bodies, with the goal of identifying the best possible target for the Asteroid Redirect Mission.
Maunakea Skies program will be hosted by Peter Michaud, Gemini. He will provide observational highlights of the current night sky over Hawaii, 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. Prepurchase tickets at the Imiloa front desk or by phone at 969-9703.
Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii is located at 600 Imiloa Place in Hilo. For more information, visit imiloahawaii.org, or call 969-9703.