August 30, 2005
MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon
or Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications
(808) 533-4165
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EXPLORERS OF MAUNA KEA RETURNS TO
BISHOP MUSEUM PLANETARIUM
HONOLULU – Beginning September 6, 2005, visitors to the Bishop Museum Planetarium will explore the tallest mountain on Earth through the eyes of the ancient Hawaiians and the astronomers of today with the return of “Explorers of Mauna Kea.” The program is presented daily in the Planetarium at 1:00 p.m.
The 30-minute presentation will take planetarium-goers to the Big Island of Hawai‘i up the highest the highest point in the Pacific Basin, 14,000 feet above sea level, to where astronomers use the world’s largest telescopes to study the universe. Visitors will learn about two important Hawaiian mountains, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, and hear island legends of Pele and Poli‘ahu that tell of how the mountains were formed.
The audience will see the telescopes of Mauna Kea and how Hawai‘i’s favorable weather patterns and geography make it the premiere site for many important discoveries in our solar system and the universe.
The Planetarium’s two other daily presentations, “The Sky Tonight” and “Explorers of Polynesia” will remain at their current times of 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively. “Explorers of Polynesia” is also shown daily in Japanese at 12:30 p.m.
A treasured resource of Hawaiian history and heritage Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop as a tribute to his wife Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha dynasty. Located at 1525 Bernice Street, the Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults; $11.95 for youth 4-12 years, special rates for kama‘āina, seniors and military; children under 4 years and Bishop Museum Members are free. For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.