SCR214

WHEREAS, this body commends the efforts of the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center (‘Imiloa) in its use of Native Hawaiian knowledge, culture, and history at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, also known as Hale Pōhaku or Mid-Level Support Facility; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa was built upon unprecedented collaboration between the Hawaiian community, led by the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, and the astronomical community to establish its mission and purpose; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa has served as a piko, a gathering place, that brings together various audiences to engage in experiences grounded in the indigenous Hawaiian worldview that has showcased academic and scientific research since 2006; and

WHEREAS, over the past thirteen years, ‘Imiloa has served over 1,000,000 visitors, ranging in audiences from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade students, university students and faculty, members of the local community, visitors to Hawai‘i, and local and global scientific communities, and has hosted outreach events at various community sites throughout the world for general public engagement; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa, in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Hawaiian Language, has created opportunities for Hawaiian language growth and normalization through projects that establish the Hawaiian language as standard operations, including the naming of major astronomical discoveries in the Hawaiian language; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa is a founding member of ‘Ohana Wa‘a, the collective entity for all of the voyaging canoes in Hawai‘i, including Hōkūle‘a, Makali‘i, Hawai‘iloa, Mo‘okiha, Namahoe, and Hokualaka‘i, to which ‘Imiloa contributed resources, tools, and strategic support, including through its planetarium, to further teach and perpetuate Hawaiian navigation; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa has partnered with Mauna Kea Observatories to bring scientific research and discoveries to the public via education programs and collaborations; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa deepened communication and partnerships across a multitude of sectors, including formal higher education, research institutions, Hawaiian epistemological views and practice, and the local and global community, combining indigenous and scientific efforts to create solutions that benefit broader populations; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa is the only astronomical science center in the world that offers bilingual and bicultural educational experiences honoring the Native Hawaiian culture and the surrounding environment and provides a leading model for integrated, culture-based science education and community engagement; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, as the parent organization of ‘Imiloa, has resolved to prioritize the meaningful increase of education and engagement of Native Hawaiian students, Hawai‘i island residents, and residents of the State in the areas of astronomy, celestial navigation, and exploration; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo has also prioritized providing financial support to implement an active educational and outreach program that highlights Native Hawaiian knowledge and enhances student access to and utilization of Mauna Kea based astronomical resources in the field; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa will work with the Thirty-Meter Telescope Project and the Office of Mauna Kea Management to develop informational exhibits for Hale Pōhaku for visitors regarding the natural, cultural, and archaeological resources of Mauna Kea; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa will work with the Thirty-Meter Telescope Project and the Office of Mauna Kea Management to develop a Thirty-Meter Telescope outreach office that will work with Native Hawaiian groups to support and fund programs specific to Hawaiian culture and archaeological resources; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body supports and encourages the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center to further its role in developing and leading educational efforts concerning the cultural, natural, and historic resources on Mauna Kea at Hale Pōhaku; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body encourages the transfer of the education outreach efforts and operations at the University of Hawai‘i operated Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Executive Director of the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, all county mayors, and Pelekikena ‘Aha Hui Siwila ‘o Ke Aloha ‘Āina.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center; Education Outreach; University of Hawai‘i; Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	214
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII