T.J. is one of more than 60 fourth- and fifth-graders at Hanahau'oli School on O'ahu involved in a pilot project conducted by members of the Maui Optical Systems and Imaging Center, or MOSAIC Astronomy Academy. MOSAIC is a spinoff of O'ahu-based high-tech company Oceanit. The company's goal is to put a telescope in the hands of every child in Hawai'i. So far, MOSAIC's curriculum has been tested in five schools across the islands.

"There is something very magical about astronomy. We look at the sky and wonder what's out there," said Kenneth Perel, project manager for MOSAIC. "Everyone has wished upon a star."

Perel opened the Hanahau'oli School assembly by feeding off the overwhelming enthusiasm of keiki twisting in their seats.

As he began, he instructed the students to shout out answers while he explained the cultural significance astronomy has in Hawai'i.

"How did the first Hawaiians get here?"

"Stars!"

"In canoes!"

"Where did they come from?"

"Polynesia!"

A few more questions — followed by shouting responses — and Perel knew he'd captured the students' attention.

Then the real learning begins.

The students got a brief history on optics before Perel told them how Hawai'i is at the forefront of research, development and deployment of cutting edge astronomy projects.

"Do you know that Hawai'i has the two best observatories in the world?" Perel asked. "What are they?"

"Haleakala and Mauna Kea!" the shouts came back.

Perel was visibly impressed that the young students knew the answers. What didn't impress him, however, was how under-represented Hawai'i schools are in the field of astronomy.

"The world's best astronomy takes place in Hawai'i," he said, "... (but) there is a disconnect between Hawai'i's world-class research that takes place at the upper level and the astronomy education we provide for our primary, secondary schools and undergraduates."

That's where a curricula designed by the astronomy academy plays a part.

"Providing telescopes in schools not only encourages kids to learn about math and science, it also may inspire them to pursue futures in high-tech sciences," said Mary Lu Kelley, Oceanit Laboratories' assistant project manager and coordinator of MOSAIC's curriculum at Kilauea and Wilcox elementary schools on Kaua'i.

"High-tech companies on the island want to hire local people who live here. By focusing on getting students excited in science and showing them they have a future in those careers here in Hawai'i, tech companies like Oceanit are helping to position Hawai'i as the center of high-tech research in the Pacific Rim."

Kelley created MOSAIC's astronomy academy on Kaua'i as part of an Adopt a School program, where companies help support and teach technology, math and science.

"Right now MOSAIC is fully funding the costs of providing the telescopes," she said. "In the future we'd like to work with other high-tech firms and hardware stores that can supply the material in order to provide each student with their own telescope."

Perel and Kelley believe high-tech companies in Hawai'i have a responsibility to be stewards of education, helping shape the state's future.

After the fourth- and fifth-graders learned some basic terminology — aperture, focal point, etc. — they were ready to build their telescopes.

The 12-inch long refractive telescopes are made of PVC piping, two lenses, a rubber band and an eyepiece. The materials were given to the students in zip-lock plastic bags and took 10 minutes to assemble.

Kelley said materials cost about $20 and are easy to take apart so students can learn how to put them back together.

"The beauty of these telescopes is that they aren't glued together, so kids can play with them and learn what's inside. However, they are still powerful enough to view the moon on a clear night," she said.

At Hanahau'oli School, T.J. sat with classmates Maya Caldwell, Max Faran and Sawyer Henshaw.

As Max picked up his lens, Sawyer asked if it's heavy.

"The lens is pretty cool," Max answered as he peered through it like a monocle.

Perel explained that when light goes through the lens it is bent to form an upside-down image. "We correct that in cameras," he said. "In space it doesn't matter if things are upside-down."

Marsha Cabbab, who has been teaching for 30 years, asked Sawyer what the rubber band was for.

"After you wrap it around the eyepiece it stops the tube from smashing the lens below it," she answered.

Cabbab said teachers at Hanahau'oli try to encourage the kids to learn through action.

"The academy works well in meeting our student learning outcomes for this year," she said. "This year, we're focused on teaching our fourth- and fifth-graders about the solar system, earth's resources and space travel."

"I am so excited about this program," said Liza Shozuya, parent of Nicolas Salmas, a fourth-grader at Hanahau'oli. "Not only does it give kids an opportunity to get excited about math and science, but it is something parents can share with their kids as well."

Nicolas was asked to build and play with his telescope a week before Perel presented the program to the rest of his class. Shozuya said her son spent the whole week sharing it with friends, showing it off to neighbors and viewing the moon and the stars.

"It really makes (Nicolas) proud to show his friends how it works and let them try it out," she said. "One of our neighbors who knows about astronomy saw Nicholas with the telescope and told him a few things to look out for. This tool helps our kids learn through interaction with others and it's fun for everyone."

A bonus, Perel said, is that parents can take a hands-on approach to this assignment, making night-sky discoveries along with their children.

Back on Kaua'i, MOSAIC plans to donate 12 telescopes to Wilcox Elementary School at the end of the program's testing phase.

For now, Kelley is testing the curriculum with 75 students at Wilcox Elementary. The program includes an evening watch where students come with families and learn with members of local amateur astronomy groups.

Kelley hopes the program will eventually reach all public schools in the state.

"When I was a child, my father would take me outside and show me the stars and the constellations," she said. "I want our kids to know how powerful science is and understand how studying the sky sparks the imagination. All mankind is linked by wondering about and following the stars in the sky."