Developing the Next Generation of Astronomers at Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi
By Lori Holland
Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi is home to the Lāna‘i Observatory, which offers a unique astrotourism experience for Resort guests, Lāna‘i residents and students. The telescope is housed in a two-story domed structure that spans approximately 25 feet in diameter. Made by PlaneWave Instruments, the PW1000 is an observatory-class telescope featuring a direct drive altitude-azimuth (Alt-Az) mounting system, stands 135” high and weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Through the Kilo Hōkū Experience, Love Lāna‘i cultural advisors share ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge) of the celestial sphere as well as guide visitors on a tour of the night sky.
Love Lānaʻi strives to provide learning and development opportunities for staff; island keiki and adults through the Lānaʻi Cultural Exchange Program, University of Hawaiʻi Hokulani Program and ongoing events and activities with cultural practitioners hosted by the Resort.
The observatory works with Project Hōkūlani, an educational research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Its goal is to support Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino middle and high school students as they enter postsecondary science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields through a culturally responsive, strength- and work-based enrichment program. This is the Resort’s second year sponsoring a group of five interns from Lānaʻi High & Elementary School. The internship at the observatory focuses on cultural education, science exploration and personal growth. Each intern finishes with a dedicated community night, where they share what they’ve studied with their community members and family.
This past July, Kehau Esteban and Isabel Campbell from the Love Lāna‘i team traveled to Hilo to meet with Doug Simmons, director of the University of Hawai‘i’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA). They had the opportunity to discuss practical ways to enhance Lānaʻi’s observatory experience and visit the campus facilities. Then, onto the summit of Mauna Kea, which houses 13 telescopes. They stopped at Hale Pōhaku, a living facility and support center for summit workers to acclimate. While waiting, they learned that Doug, besides being an engineer and astronomer, had a love of hunting birds, fish and wood carving. At the top was the Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope (CFHT), used to study exoplanets by evidence of nearby star’s magnetic field.
The research is partnered with A Hua He Inoa, a Hawaiʻi program that allows students to find and name exoplanets in ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi. All the telescopes’ data runs out of two wires at the base of the mirror. The pair walked the catwalk on the dome and Doug shared how each observatory has a distinct scientific focus and they collective information is shared to benefit all. The pair ended their visit to the observatory with hot cocoa and a treat, while pondering the nature of dark matter in the universe.