Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 5, 1 May 1988 — Mauna Kea Public Tours Announced [ARTICLE]

Mauna Kea Public Tours Announced

The puhlie now has an opportunity to get afirsthand look at the world's premier astronomical facility at the 14-foot summit of Mauna Kea through several programs offered by the University of Hawaii's lnstitute for Astronomy.

Displays about the telescopes and the history, legends, geology and biology of the dormant volcano ean be viewed Friday through Sunday at the Visitors Center of the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy at Hale Pohaku. A recently produced video presentation on Mauna Kea's observatories is also available for viewing. Visitors Center hours are: Fridays, 1 to 6 p. m.; Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 2 p. m.; Sundays, 9 a. m. to 2 p. m., and 4:30 to 6 p. m. Official summit tours — including a glimpse of life and work inside the observatories — are provided every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. A guide leaves the center at 2 p. m. and begins the tour at UH's 88-ineh telescope at about 2:30 p. m.

The center is accessible in conventional automobiles but those travelling to the summit — including for the tours — must have their own fourwheel drive vehicles. Every Saturday night, weather permitting, the public ean gaze at stars and planets through one of the University's 24-ineh telescopes on the summit. A guide will escort visitors (who must have their own transportation) to the observatory, leaving the center at 6:30 p. m. and returning at 10 p. m.

Reservations for star-gazing are required (necessarily limited to 30) and ean be made by calling Mauna Kea Support Services Monday through Friday at (808) 935-3371. There is no admission charge for any of these programs. Mauna Kea, the highest mountain in the Pacific basin, is the site of eight operating telescopes with one presently under construction and others being planned to locate there.