Alison Peck
Figure 1.
Ka‘iu Kimura,
Executive Director of
‘Imiloa, speaking to
2,000 astronomers
and students at the
January 2019 American
Astronomical Society
meeting in Seattle,
Washington.
Credit: ‘Imiloa
Astronomy Center
Papa ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Kilohōkū*
Astronomers in Hawai‘i have long embraced Hawaiian culture
and traditions, including finding ways to include them in the
naming of astronomical discoveries. Now, through a new exciting
program, hosted in part at Gemini Observatory, Observatory staff
are on their way to better understanding the history and culture
that shape the communities in which they live.
One of the many wonderful aspects of
living in Hawai‘i is the strong sense of
history and culture that makes these is-
lands unique. Learning more about this
culture and how it has shaped the com-
munities we live in is an important goal
for most observatory staff, whether
they grew up here, have become long-
term residents, or are making the most
of a short-term position, like an intern-
ship or postdoctoral fellowship. In addi-
tion to everyday life in the community,
we can see the ‘ano nui (importance) of
Hawaiian culture through novel astron-
omy programs such as A Hua He Inoa, a
Hawaiian phrase that refers to the prac-
tice of calling forth a name. This collab-
orative naming project, led by the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, Hawai‘i, includes ex-
perts in Hawaiian culture, language, and astronomy and aims to weave traditional culture
and practices into the process of officially naming astronomical discoveries. In January
2019, Ka‘iu Kimura, Executive Director of ‘Imiloa, was invited to give a lecture about the
program at the January 2019 meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle,
* Hawaiian language lessons for astronomers
24
GeminiFocus
October 2019