NEWS RELEASE

Our Kaka‘ako Welcomes Families to Free Stargazing Event

The public is invited to marvel at the night sky through telescopes and learn about traditional Hawaiian celestial navigation during ‘Ohana Stargazing on Saturday, May 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako, located at 327 Keawe Street. In partnership with Stargazers of Hawaii and ‘Ohana Kilo Hōkū, Our Kaka‘ako is hosting fun educational and cultural activities focused on astronomy and ancient Polynesian wayfinding. Five high-quality telescopes will be available for participants to explore the universe. People can register for this free event at www.ourkakaako.com/OhanaStargazing.

“Our Kaka‘ako celebrates its connection with traditional Hawaiian navigation, wayfinding, and astronomy,” says Serge Krivatsy, Kamehameha Schools commercial real estate director of planning and development. “As a community we embrace the spirit of exploration, innovation, and the ʻike of our kūpuna. At ‘Ohana Stargazing, families will gain a deeper understanding of Hawai‘i’s special place in the universe and discover the connection between ancestral wayfinding and modern astronomy.”

SALT at Our Kaka‘ako Parking Garage Rooftop Activities

• Bring your own blankets and pillows, chairs, and equipment to recline and stargaze at your leisure, or use a provided high-quality telescope for a guided constellation tour after sunset.
• Participate in Ask an Astronomer Q&A sessions to learn about upcoming astronomical events and how to enhance your at-home stargazing experience.
• Hear the Hawaiian moʻolelo (stories) of how the demi-god Maui slowed the sun and the goddess Hina came to live on the moon.
• Enjoy the rooftop Star Party and shop various vendors while indulging in tasty bites and celestial sips.

The Barn at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako Activities

• Become a navigator wayfinding at sea on the Hōkūleʻa using virtual reality goggles.
• Watch muralist Chris Miyashiro live paint a sweeping star compass mural.
• Hear former Hōkūleʻa navigator Austin Kino detail the Hawaiian constellation and reveal how crews survey the sky while voyaging.
• Get crafty in the LEGO® play area, where keiki can build figures alongside space shuttle models.
• Walk through a scaled model of the solar system and discover how astronomers use starlight to create the deep sky atlas and understand the universe.

This free event is sponsored in part by the Kaiāulu ‘o Kaka‘ako Owners Association.