UH-Hilo advances astronomy complex

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i-Hilo has filed a draft environmental assessment for construction of a $28 million astronomy education center that would house an exhibit gallery and planetarium.

The report said there would be no adverse long-term impacts from the project, planned for nine acres on the northeast corner of Nowelo Street and North A'ohoku Place in the university's Science and Technology Park.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is providing $12 million for the Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center, and UHH is working to obtain additional public and private money.

The 42,000-square-foot facility will have exhibits on space exploration, astronomy and Polynesian navigation. Visitors will have real-time access to Mauna Kea telescopes.

There will be a 26,000-square-foot gallery and exhibition area, plus classroom, retail, storage and office space.

The astronomy education center will be surrounded by other buildings used as base facilities for the California Institute of Technology, the Subaru National Observatory of Japan and other operations with telescopes atop Mauna Kea.

Like other UHH facilities, the center will be built on ceded land, held in trust by the state and leased to the university.

Comments on the draft environmental assessment will be accepted until Aug. 7, and should be sent to UHH at 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720.