In the Earl and Doris Bakken Moanahoku (Ocean of Stars) Exhibit Hall:
Science on a Sphere®

'Imiloa Astronomy Center features Science on a Sphere (SOS), an educational tool to help illustrate Earth system and planetary science to people of all ages. It utilizes advanced media projection technology developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

SOS is a room-sized, global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a six-foot-diameter sphere, creating a giant animated globe. Animated images of atmospheric storms, climate change, ocean temperature, and planetary surfaces can be displayed on the sphere accompanied by audio narration or a live presenter.

This unique experience is like looking at Earth and the other planets from space!

'Imiloa Exhibit Hall:
Origins and Voyages

'Imiloa is a place of gathering, inspiration and connection.We welcome you to 'Imiloa with Mauli Hawai'i, the Hawaiian essence of life. This begins the story of how the mountain connects both Hawaiians and astronomers to our dual stories of creation. Through 'Imiloa, we travel from the heart of the mountain into the forest, and back in time—to explore the origins of life itself.

All exhibits are bilingual, Hawaiian and English, reflecting the center's respect for Hawaiian culture and preservation of the language.

Origins
Where do we come from? 'Imiloa offers two paradigms, the Hawaiian Kumulipo—the creation chant that traces the genealogy of people back to the beginnings of time—and the popular theory of the Big Bang, favored by astronomers. Through a simulated ascent of Mauna Kea and a visit to the Kumulipo Theater, we learn first about the Hawaiian perception that po- the dark, fathomless, intense source of ceaseless creation and all time—gives birth to the Earth, and creates life. Then, we discover the newest scientific theories that explain the earliest moments of the Universe and the last 13 and a half billion years of its evolution.

The Origins exploration center identifies both the known and the unknown about the birth of the cosmos and the beginnings of life on Earth. Our enduring efforts to understand the world, and our place within it, connect the cultural and astronomical stories with a greater story of human curiosity.

Voyages
Hawaiian voyaging canoes and Maunakea's astronomical observatories are the vehicles for some of the greatest achievements of human exploration. These remarkable stories of perseverance and inspiration emphasize the quest for knowledge, as we explore how we know what we know and how we search for new answers.

The centerpiece of the Voyages hall is the 'Imiloa, a one-fifth model of a voyaging canoe. Other exhibits explore the history of hula, the renaissance of the Hawaiian language, and the astronomical contributions made by the scientists who work and live at the Maunakea observatories.

A key exhibit in Voyages is a three-dimensional, virtual tour of space in the 4D2U Theater ("Four Dimensions to You") provided by Subaru Telescope.

Keiki Forest & Other Exhibits

A popular exhibit with both residents and visitors is the Keiki Forest, near the exit of the main exhibit hall. This wall features candid photographs of Hawai'i Island children. These children represent the hope and future of Hawai'i. 'Imiloa Astronomy Center exists for them.

'Imiloa welcomes photo submissions for the Keiki Forest. To submit your child's photograph, please complete the permission form and mail it to 'Imiloa.

Exhibits in the four halls were developed with the help of AldrichPears Associates, Ltd., from Vancouver, BC, in Canada. The lead astronomer for the creation of the astronomy exhibits is Professor Michael West from the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo; leading the Hawaiian content development are Professor William "Pila" Wilson and Associate Professor Larry Kimura, from the Hawaiian Studies Division at UH-Hilo.