Windward Imaginarium is out of this world
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Joey Miller stepped out into the sunlight.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
"This is pretty bad," he said, in the way high school freshmen do when they mean "This is pretty great." He paused. "I want to throw up now."
Astronomy professor Joseph Ciotti says the Imaginarium is "just like 'Star Trek.' "
He even meant that in a nice way. It was a mild queasiness, the kind you get after an exciting but unsettling carnival ride.
The Maryknoll High School student and his classmates had just finished the first public preview of the Imaginarium, which is how Windward Community College has dubbed its new planetarium. Astronomy professor Joseph Ciotti, who excitedly demonstrated the capabilities of the theater, was instrumental in lobbying state officials for the $4 million it cost to build the facility.
"It's just like 'Star Trek,'" Ciotti enthused, as the students leaned back and watched the starry dome as the projector gave the impression they were hurtling through space.
The Kane'ohe college will dedicate its Imaginarium on Friday, with plans for student tours (call 235-7321) and even a Halloween program, tentatively set to begin Oct. 26.
What sets this apart from a conventional planetarium is the creative range of its Digistar projection system. The stars are produced from a digital database with enough star coordinates to allow simulation of a space voyage, showing stars realigning themselves as the "travelers" drift past.
"I believe in multi-disciplinary teaching, in showing how things are connected," Ciotti said.
And he's already sold that idea to about two dozen Maryknoll students. One of them, Troy Turner, left with a broad grin.
"It's amazing," he said, most definitely meaning that in a nice way.
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
