(L-R) PISCES Geologist Kyla Defore and Gemini Outreach Interns Jasmin Silva and Hannah Blomgren talk about stars and space exploration during the homecoming celebration.
(L-R) PISCES Geologist Kyla Defore and Gemini Outreach Interns Jasmin Silva and Hannah Blomgren talk about stars and space exploration during the homecoming celebration.

Above: The Hōkūleʻa voyaging canoe sits in Wailoa Harbor in Hilo on April 21 during a homecoming celebration. 

Staff from PISCES, Gemini Observatory, Subaru Telescope and TMT teamed up to talk-story about astronomy and aerospace with the community at the Hōkūleʻa voyaging canoe’s homecoming celebration held in Hilo on April 21.

Organized by ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, the event drew hundreds of visitors and featured hands-on educational activities, live music, robotic demonstrations and an on-board tour of the Hōkūleʻa. Crewmembers of the double-hulled canoe just completed a historic three-year journey around the world using the same celestial navigation techniques practiced by ancient Polynesian seafarers.

PISCES and the Maunakea observatories celebrated the occasion by sharing their role in the study of the stars and exploration to guide future journeys into the final frontier—space.