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ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS

A RESOLUTION

No. 2018 – 24

SUPPORTING THE ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER TO FURTHER ITS ROLE IN DEVELOPING AND LEADING EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS CONCERNING THE CULTURAL, NATURAL, AND HISTORIC RESOURCES ON MAUNA KEA AT HALE PŌHAKU

WHEREAS, the Association commends the efforts of the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center (ʻImiloa) in its use of Native Hawaiian knowledge, culture, and history at Hale Pōhaku; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa was built upon unprecedented collaborations between the Hawaiian community, led by the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language (College of Hawaiian Language), and the astronomical community to establish its mission and purpose; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa has served as a piko, a gathering place that brings together various audiences to engage in experiences grounded in the indigenous Hawaiian worldview that has showcased academic and scientific research since 2006; and

WHEREAS, over the past 13 years, ‘Imiloa has served over 1,000,000 visitors, ranging in audiences from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade students, university students and faculty, members of the local community, visitors to Hawai‘i, and local and global scientific communities, and hosted outreach events at various community sites throughout the world for general public engagement; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Hawaiian Language has created opportunities for Hawaiian language growth and normalization through projects that establish the Hawaiian language as standard operations, including the naming of major astronomical discoveries in the Hawaiian language; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa is a founding member of ‘Ohana Wa‘a, the collective entity for all of the voyaging canoes in Hawai‘i, including Hōkūle‘a, Makali‘i, Hawai‘iloa, Mo‘okiha, Namahoe, and Hokualaka‘i, to which ‘Imiloa contributed resources, tools, and strategic support, including through its planetarium, to further teach and perpetuate Hawaiian navigation; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa has partnered with Mauna Kea Observatories to bring scientific research and discoveries to the public via education programs and collaborations; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa deepened communication and partnerships across a multitude of sectors, including formal higher education, research institutions, Hawaiian epistemological views and practice, and the local and global community, combining indigenous and scientific efforts to create solutions that benefit broader populations; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa is the only astronomical science center, worldwide, that offers bilingual/bicultural educational experiences honoring the Native Hawaiian culture and the surrounding environment and provides a leading model for integrated, culture-based science education and community engagement; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, as the parent organization of ‘Imiloa, has resolved to prioritize the meaningful increase of education and engagement of Native Hawaiian students, Hawai‘i Island residents, and residents of the State in the areas of astronomy, celestial navigation, and exploration; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo has also prioritized providing financial support, that implemented an active educational and outreach program that highlighted Native Hawaiian knowledge, and enhanced student access to and utilization of Mauna Kea based astronomical resources in the field; and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa will work with the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) Project and the Office of Mauna Kea Management to develop informational exhibits for the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, also known as Hale Pōhaku or Mid-Level Support Facility for visitors regarding the natural, cultural and archaeological resources of Mauna Kea (BLNR 16-CC-002, para. 339, p. 68); and

WHEREAS, ‘Imiloa will work with the TMT Project and the Office of Mauna Kea Management to develop a TMT outreach office that will work with Native Hawaiian groups to support and fund programs specific to Hawaiian culture and archaeological resources (BLNR 16-CC-002, para. 650, p. 118).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 59th Annual Convention in Kalapaki, Kauaʻi, in the malama of Welehu and the rising of ʻOlepau, this 17th day of November 2018, supporting the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center to further its role in developing and leading educational efforts concerning the cultural, natural, and historic resources on Mauna Kea at Hale Pōhaku; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this body encourages the transfer of the education outreach efforts and operations at the University of Hawai‘i operated Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Executive Director of the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i, Pelekikena ʻAha Hui Siwila ʻo Ke Aloha ʻĀina, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.

The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of Welehu and the rising of ‘Olepau on the 17th day of November 2018, at the 59th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Kalapaki, Kaua‘i.

Annelle C. Amaral, President