Starry Heavens Newsletter
June 2015
Summer Update
June is the last chance until August to see your favorite planetarium programs! The Hokulani Imaginarium will take a break during the month of July to get ready for an exciting fall season of programs, including the debut of a brand new program (hint: "prehistoric") and other special events.
Use
this month to catch the last shows of the spring season--including some of the best shows we have to offer. Which brings me to...
Don't Judge a Planetarium Show by its Title
We have a large collection of shows at the Imaginarium that are varied, educational and entertaining. While a few are more appropriate to specific audiences, most are great for anyone interested in spaceflight and astronomy. There are links to previews of these shows on our website (and within this article) but the clips are not always able to fully portray the depth of the program.
In June, we are able to bring you two shows that I highly recommend:
Stars and
Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky. Maunakea was produced here in Hawaii in partnership with the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo and is an excellent overview of the cultural and scientific significance of the mountain. There is a lot of misinformation and strong emotions regarding this subject recently. If you have any desire to learn more about the reasons Maunakea is so important to both sides of the controversy, Maunakea runs on Friday, June 26 at 7:00pm. In addition, there are some
current links on the issues on our website as well.
On another note,
Stars is a great choice for a Saturday afternoon. It's unfortunate that the producers of this program chose such a...well, DULL name for a very good planetarium program. Stars is narrated by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker in Star Wars) and covers everything from the mythology and types of stars to how knowledge gathered from studying stars has enriched our lives throughout history.
Both Maunakea and Stars are paired with two other shows this month (see side bar).
The Magic Tree House and
Led Zeppelin have name recognition and generally do not need much advertisement, but because planetarium shows are not "mainstream media", there's usually not much for the customer to go on except for a brief description or a short clip on the website.
I can offer the reviews I've heard from the public, as well as from teachers and students that have seen our programs. So far I have heard only positive comments. Consider seeing a program that may not have the most engaging or descriptive title, or contact us if you would like more information. We do welcome your comments and feedback so please feel free to post your reviews on our
Facebook page.
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In the skies
The Summer Solstice is upon us this month (June 21), with a nice trio of visible planets in the night sky. In addition, one of the prettiest constellations, the Southern Cross, is placed optimally in the evening sky after sunset. Because the Southern Cross is so low in the sky, the opportunity to see it in Hawaii is best this time of year. By next month it will set before the sky is fully dark.
Look for brilliant Venus in the west, Jupiter between Venus and Leo, and yellowish Saturn in the eastern sky right above the head of Scorpius. If you need assistance, our monthly Stargazing show will be on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00pm and will help you find these objects on your own.
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June Schedule
Below is the schedule for the month: more information on programs and updates to our schedule are posted on our
website or our
Facebook page.
Wednesday, June 10 – 7:00pm
Stargazing (Live program in the Imaginarium with Krissie Kellogg.)
SATURDAY MATINEES:
Saturday, June 20 – 2:00pm*
Magic Tree House Space Mission
Saturday, June 20 – 3:00pm*
Stars
*NOTE: tickets for each show sold separately
DOUBLE FEATURE NIGHT:
Friday, June 26 – 7:00pm*
Maunakea: Between Earth and Sky
Friday, June 26 – 8:15pm *
Led Zeppelin
*NOTE: tickets for each show sold separately
Call (808) 235-7433 for reservations.
"Housekeeping" note: although we recommend reservations for our programs, our published reservations line does NOT take calls or messages after 4pm on Fridays or on holidays. However, we DO have limited seats available on a first come, first served basis. Please plan on coming early (at least 30 minutes prior to the show) if you need a walk-in ticket.
You may find more details regarding these programs on our
website, or call the Imaginarium office at (808) 235-7350.
Or follow Imaginarium news via
our Facebook posts.
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As always, we welcome your feedback or questions, or if you would like more information regarding our
Adopt-a-Show sponsorship. Please feel free to phone or e-mail us at the contacts provided at the end of this newsletter.
Reservations
Due to limited seating, we recommend making reservations for our programs.
Call (808) 235-7433 between 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday.
(Reservation phone line is not available on weekends.)
Please note: Credit and debit cards are not accepted at the box office. An ATM is located on campus behind the Imaginarium building, next to The Hub coffeeshop.
Please arrive at the Imaginarium at least 30 minutes before showtime. Reserved tickets must be picked up at the Imaginarium box office
at least 15 minutes prior to start of program. Unclaimed tickets are released for sale to walk-in customers on a first come, first served basis.
Aloha,
Carolyn Kaichi, Imaginarium Manager
(808) 235-7350
kaichic@hawaii.edu
