Imiloa Astronomy Center
Imiloa Astronomy Center
4
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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4.0
349 reviews
Excellent
183
Very good
99
Average
46
Poor
12
Terrible
9
Zuum
Island of Hawaii, HI13 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This was hugely disappointing, with narrators that made up veeeery corny love stories to go along with the views. And we were subjected to a garish psychedelic light show with 2 loooong rock songs at the end. This might have been entertaining for middle schoolers... We were told there was another show on Saturday with a different theme which we had considered seeing until after we saw this one. We've immediately decided NOT to go, so decidedly that I've even forgotten what the 2nd show will be... OMG it was awful. And I like astronomy...
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MeleVisitor
1 contribution
Feb 2020
We enjoy going to Imiloa each year when we visit Hawaii. The exhibits are always very interesting and the docents knowledgeable and helpful. The interactive satellite exhibit n which the docent could zoom in on sights around the world (such as a personal address ala Google Earth) was awesome. The planetarium shows are always amazing and assist in finding interesting objects in Hawaii’s incredibly dark sky. Also, we enjoy a very tasty lunch at the cafeteria each trip. Well worth the trip and admission.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann D
Bowie, MD156 contributions
Feb 2020
We saw a wonderful 1-hour planetarium show (Skies Above Hawaii), The speaker was so interesting that even kids were spell-bound. There are many other shows throughout the day. We also went through the exhibit area which was very interesting and very hands-on. A great venue for kids. There's an outside garden that you can walk through but it began to rain just as we started out so we decided to forego the walk. There's also a café but we were there on a Sunday and they were serving a buffet.
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich O
Prescott, AZ62 contributions
Jan 2020
Can easily use up 3 hours if you or your party are interested in things scientific or Hawaiian history. Most Interesting interactive displays including a globe that users can change the mapped display many ways. Sat through 3 of the optional 45 minute movie presentations, but the interactive displays are the most engrossing.
Written 9 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mara C
1 contribution
Jan 2020
Tony is a great docent. He helped us focus on our interest in navigation, and led us to a wonderfully fascinating gentleman who took the time to go in-depth about way finding. Tony, what is his name? The staff is very amiable and informative. There are many interactive exhibits and lectures. Terrific for all ages. It's a beautiful facility and has easy parking. A minor disappointment to have the lecture we were particularly interested in cut short due to overlapping scheduling for a school audience.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hawaiian Canuck
Vancouver, Canada2,099 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
This is a definite must visit while in Hilo. I was so happy that our visit fell during a time where we could stop and spend time here. Museum hours are limited. Everything here is top notch, from the architecture of the building to the exhibits to the theatre and store. I especially loved the exhibit on celestial way-finding and the history of the Hawaiian open ocean voyages particularly the Hokulea. I especially liked the floor outline of the full size of this double hull canoe so one can see how small these vessels really were.
Written 2 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary Frances S
1 contribution
Aug 2022
Great to have the Skygarden Restaurant at Imiloa open again!!
We are Patron members, so we go often and always take our guests and newcomers to our neighborhood.
Imiloa is the final stop on the Carl Sagan model of our solar system that begins in downtown Ithaca, NY. It is loosley affiliated Sciencenter.
It it an important fusion of Astronomy and Hawaiian Culture :the Polynesian people understood star navigation long before European explorers.
We are Patron members, so we go often and always take our guests and newcomers to our neighborhood.
Imiloa is the final stop on the Carl Sagan model of our solar system that begins in downtown Ithaca, NY. It is loosley affiliated Sciencenter.
It it an important fusion of Astronomy and Hawaiian Culture :the Polynesian people understood star navigation long before European explorers.
Written 21 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ranger B
Bellevue, WA8 contributions
Jan 2020
We brought some mainland visitors to see the Center and had the good fortune of haviing Tony walk us through the exhibits. He is very knowledgable, is an excellent docent and made sure we saw the key items in the Center. He clearly likes his role and is very enthusiastic about all of the programs at Imiloa...really excellent!
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie T
22 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
We absolutely loved this hidden gem in Hilo on the campus of the University of Hawaii. First immerse yourself in Hawaiian exploration history and connections with Astronomy research being done on Mauna Kea. We wished we’d had more time here. Then head over for one of the best meals you’ll have on Hawaii - Lehua Restaurant. The staff are friendly and passionate. Great finds!
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jjluke
Calgary, Canada2,047 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii (akahoku)
This was a little gem we found while exploring the Hilo area with our GyPsY app. The price of admission is $17.50 for adults and includes one ticket to a planetarium show. The exhibits are top notch and if you are into astronomy and the like, very much worth it. Even if you are not, it’s definitely something you should consider checking out as some of the world’s largest telecscope observatories are on the Big Island. I really enjoyed how they integrated a Hawaiian theme and relevance in some of their exhibits. The planetarium show (Mauna Kea) was also very nice.
Note that there is a Hawaiian Word of the Day that gives you $2 off admission. It was difficult for me to find, but looks like it didn’t change since we visited. That word is akahoku, meaning protostar which consists of the gases and dust collapsing on itself to form a star. Give it a shot and see if it works.
Please indicate if you found this review to be helpful as it will allow me to better focus my future review efforts. I am a consistent contributor to TripAdvisor and your quick clicks of thanks keeps me motivated to do more reviews! Safe travels!
This was a little gem we found while exploring the Hilo area with our GyPsY app. The price of admission is $17.50 for adults and includes one ticket to a planetarium show. The exhibits are top notch and if you are into astronomy and the like, very much worth it. Even if you are not, it’s definitely something you should consider checking out as some of the world’s largest telecscope observatories are on the Big Island. I really enjoyed how they integrated a Hawaiian theme and relevance in some of their exhibits. The planetarium show (Mauna Kea) was also very nice.
Note that there is a Hawaiian Word of the Day that gives you $2 off admission. It was difficult for me to find, but looks like it didn’t change since we visited. That word is akahoku, meaning protostar which consists of the gases and dust collapsing on itself to form a star. Give it a shot and see if it works.
Please indicate if you found this review to be helpful as it will allow me to better focus my future review efforts. I am a consistent contributor to TripAdvisor and your quick clicks of thanks keeps me motivated to do more reviews! Safe travels!
Written 23 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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