ann26001 — Announcement
Commencing its 22nd year in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, the Journey Through the Universe education program will bring epic astronomy discoveries and new images to local classrooms
27 January 2026
Hawai’i Island’s largest astronomy education program, Journey Through the Universe (Journey), is hosting its 22nd year of classroom visits, career panels, and community events in one fun-filled week (Spring Journey Week). From 2–6 February 2026, volunteer educators from NSF NOIRLab, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Maunakea Observatories, NASA, various universities, and more will share stellar hands-on experiences at our local schools and inspire students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) in classrooms ranging from 2nd to 12th grade.
Local Hawai‘i media is invited to visit select classrooms and events during Journey Week to experience this stellar legacy program in-person. Talk with the Journey Educators who bring our immersive science presentations to the classrooms, join in the exclusive Moongazing on Maunakea event, eat ʻono food at the Journey Welcome Reception, and view the NSF NOIRLab-produced planetarium show Messengers of Time and Space at ʻImiloa.
Contact Leinani Lozi (leinani.lozi@noirlab.edu), NOIRLab’s Hawaiʻi Education and Engagement Manager, to coordinate your Journey Through the Universe experience.
The International Gemini Observatory, funded in part by NSF and operated by NOIRLab, and the Department of Education Hilo-Waiākea Complex Area partner every year to bring the goals of Journey Through the Universe to life, endeavoring to foster curiosity about our Universe, create awareness about diverse careers, and share the cutting-edge research and technology taking place on Maunakea.
This year’s Journey program will feature first-time experiences, such as an exclusive stargazing event at the mid-level facilities on Maunakea for Hilo-Waiākea teachers, students, and families on 31 January 2026, as well as field trips for high school students to the Gemini North Telescope on Maunakea, which will take place in March and April 2026.
Additional events for the wider Hawaiʻi Island community to attend during Spring Journey Week include the annual Journey Welcome Reception, co-hosted with the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaiʻi, taking place on 2 February 2026, as well as a special screening of the Messengers of Time and Space, followed by a panel of astronomers, hosted at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center on 4 February 2026.
At all of these events, a brand new legacy image from the Gemini North Telescope on Maunakea will be available for ʻohana to take home. Ua ʻŌhiʻa Lani will make its in-person debut during Spring Journey Week in the form of free mini posters and stickers. This image was selected and named by Project Hokulani interns Hope Arthur, Iolani Sanches, Zoe Russo, and Isabella Branco during the summer of 2025.
For more details on these public events and the Journey Through the Universe program please visit our website.
Links
Contacts
Leinani Lozi
Hawaiʻi Education and Engagement Manager
NSF NOIRLab
Email: leinani.lozi@noirlab.edu
Madison Johnson
Press Officer
Maunakea Observatories
Email: mjohnson@iq360inc.com
Josie Fenske
Public Information Officer
NSF NOIRLab
Email: josie.fenske@noirlab.edu