ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The history of our species is the history of exploration. From the very beginning humans have explored and voyaged across our planet. It is our nature to explore new frontiers.

The Explorers Project was the brainchild of NASA Administrator Daniel Golden and Hawai’i’s Senior U.S. Senator, Daniel Inouye. After touring astronomical observatories at the 13,780 foot summit of Hawai’i’s Mauna Kea and sailing aboard the Hawaiilo’a, a replica of a 2000 year old Polynesian Voyaging Canoe, Administrator Goldin saw the connection that has spanned almost 60,000 years of human exploration, the spirit of discovery.

In a cooperative education partnership, Bishop Museum and NASA are setting out to engage and challenge audiences across the nation to rediscover our voyaging roots. Why do we explore? Through a series of interactive planetarium shows, audiences will uncover a universal truth known to all adventurers – The desire to explore is the sign of a healthy civilization, one that greets the future with hope.pe and determination.

For the first time, a planetarium based project brings to the dome sky a full array of inspirational learning tools. Each show is a complete package including a professionally produced planetarium program and educational products for parents, teachers and students. All materials are aligned with the National Science and Geography Education Standards. Through the World Wide Web, educational materials are available for home and classroom use. Future voyages aboard Polynesian voyaging canoes and the International Space Station will be brought to our audiences live and interactively.