Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day 2026
Mahalo nui for your support!
Mahalo to everyone who supported and showed up for the 21st Ellison Onizuka Science Day at UH Hilo on Jan. 24! This event would not have been possible without our event partners, sponsors, staff, and volunteers. We’re deeply grateful for your kōkua, hard work, and support. Mahalo nui for all you do!
Onizuka Day Partners:
- University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
- Hawaii Science and Technology Museum
- Canada France Hawai’i Telescope
Booth Exhibitors:
- Hawaii Geographic Information Coordinating Council (HIGICC)
- Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island
- Hawaiian Electric
- Hawaiʻi Ant Lab
- UH Hilo Geology Club
- USGS Hawaiʻi Volcano Observatory
- Hawaiʻi Police Department
- Hawaiʻi Fire Department
- STARBASE Hawaiʻi
- Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium
- Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum
- Thelma Parker Library
- Onizuka Space Science Program / NASA Solar System Ambassadors
- Center for Maunakea Stewardship (VIS)
- W. M. Keck Observatory
- UH Institute for Astronomy
- Subaru Telescope / NAOJ
- Canada-France-Hawai’i Telescope
Workshop Presenters:
- UH Hilo CNHS Geology Dept.
- UH Hilo CNHS Data Science
- UH Hilo CNHS Marine Option Program
- Hawaiʻi Science & Technology Museum
- Hawaiʻi Space Science and Engineering Initiative
- Subaru Telescope / NAOJ
- International Gemini Observatory / NOIR Lab
- UH Institute for Astronomy
- Civil Air Patrol
- Big Island Amateur Radio Club
Event Sponsors:
- American Savings Bank (covering travel for our visiting astronaut)
- KTA Super Stores (providing lunches for our keiki & volunteers)
- Waiākea Water (volunteer & keiki drinks)
To every partner, sponsor, exhibitor, and volunteer: mahalo for investing in our keiki, our community, and the future of STEM in Hawaiʻi. We couldn’t do this without you—and we can’t wait to do it again next year!
“Make your life count and the world will be a better place because you tried.”
—Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka
Science demo
Exhibit hall
Robotics event
First responder
Wind power
Astronomy booth
Storm troopers
Astronaut speech
Onizuka memorial
About Ellison Onizuka
HAWAIʻI'S FIRST ASTRONAUT
Ellison Onizuka was born and raised in Kealakekua on Hawaiʻi Island and earned his degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado. He received a commission in the U.S. Air Force through ROTC and served as an aerospace flight test engineer at McClellan Air Force Base, and at the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base where he logged more than 1,700 hours of flight time.
Lt. Colonel Onizuka was selected as an astronaut candidate in January 1978, becoming the first Asian-American astronaut. He first flew as a mission specialist on STS 51-C—the first Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission—which launched from Kennedy Space Center on January 24, 1985. The mission completed 48 orbits around Earth with Ellison logging a total of 74 hours in space.
Onizuka was also a mission specialist for STS51-L aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger which launched from Kennedy Space Center on January 28, 1986. Tragically, Onizuka and the crew of STS 51-L perished minutes after launch when Challenger exploded during flight. Onizuka was the first astronaut from Hawaiʻi and his life, legacy, and outstanding contributions continue to inspire keiki and the Hawaiʻi community to this day.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
