'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i

What 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i does

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi is a private nonprofit informal science education center located on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus at 600 ʻImiloa Place in Hilo. Founded in 2006, the center operates a 12,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 120-seat digital planetarium upgraded in November 2023 to Hawaiʻi's only 10K-resolution system, and 75,000 square feet of award-winning native landscape gardens across a nine-acre site atop the remains of an 1881 Mauna Loa lava flow. Its programming weaves Polynesian navigation traditions with modern astronomy, anchored by the A Hua He Inoa program — through which Hawaiian names such as Pōwehi (black hole), Kamoʻoalewa, and Leleakūhonua have been officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union.

The center serves a diversified audience of approximately 100,000 annual visitors including tourists, local families, and more than 10,000 K-12 schoolchildren on curriculum-aligned field trips. It operates six revenue streams: general admission (adult $19, kamaʻāina adult $14, child $12), individual and family memberships ($50–$500), corporate memberships ($1,000–$10,000), school field trip fees ($10–$17 per participant), fee-based enrichment programs (Hālau Lamakū summer camp, Hālau ʻŌkupu toddler program), facility rentals for events, and tax-deductible donations processed through the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation. On-site Lehua Restaurant and the Bank of Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Store extend the visitor experience.

Strategic positioning is built on three pillars: an institutional partnership network with UH Hilo, Maunakea observatories (Keck, Subaru, CFHT, TMT-IO), the IAU, California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, and NOIRLab; differentiated proprietary content including the One Sky Project's six full-dome films and the restored 'Never Lost' digital archive; and a multi-channel distribution model combining on-site visitation, MANU ʻImiloa mobile outreach, and a virtual programming pilot. The center is led by Executive Director Kaʻiu Kimura.

Name

'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i

Legal name

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i

Website

https://imiloahawaii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi is a Hilo-based nonprofit operating a museum, planetarium, and native gardens that connects Polynesian navigation traditions with modern astronomy, serving roughly 100,000 visitors and 10,000+ K-12 students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Education Center and Cultural Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Virtual Field Trips & Experiential Learning Environments (Museums, Geography, History) (EDAFAJAG)

Keywords

• Informal science education
• Planetarium shows
• Cultural astronomy programs
• Native botanical gardens
• School field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Day-time admission to exhibit hall and planetarium for adults ($19), children 5-12 ($12), seniors ($17), with free admission for members and children 4 and under
2. Individual/Family Memberships: Annual memberships ranging from free (UH Hilo students) to $500 (Gold Donor), providing unlimited admission, discounts, and member-only event access
3. Corporate Memberships: Tiered corporate programs from $1,000 (Ke Kaiao) to $10,000 (Ka Ho'okele) with executive cards, facility discounts, and sponsorship benefits
4. School Field Trip Fees: Kama'aina school groups pay $10/participant; non-residents pay $12-17/participant for curriculum-aligned educational experiences
5. Enrichment Programs: Hālau Lamakū summer camp (member $325/week, non-member $425/week) and Hālau 'Ōkupu toddler program (member $20, general $30)
6. Facility Rentals: Event venue rentals including Moanahōkū Hall (150 seats), Classroom (48 people), Planetarium, and Exhibit Hall for weddings, corporate events, and private functions
7. Donations: Tax-deductible contributions through UH Foundation supporting enrichment fund, field trip support, education programs, landscape maintenance, and planetarium programming
8. Restaurant Operations: Lehua Restaurant at ʻImiloa operates as an on-site dining venue with lunch (Wed-Sun 11am-3pm) and dinner (daily 5pm-9pm) service

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center operates a 12,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall, Hawaiʻi's only 10K-resolution digital full-dome planetarium (120 seats), 75,000 sq. ft. of native landscape gardens, and culture-based science education programs that connect Polynesian navigation traditions with modern astronomy. The center serves approximately 100,000 annual visitors and over 10,000 schoolchildren on guided field trips through admissions, memberships, educational programs, and facility rentals.

Product overview

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center is a world-class informal science education center located on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus. The center offers a unified visitor experience centered on its 10K-resolution digital planetarium (the first in Hawaiʻi) and 12,000-square-foot exhibit hall, both showcasing the connection between Hawaiian navigation traditions and modern astronomy. The product portfolio includes: core attractions (Planetarium Shows, Exhibit Hall, Native Landscape Gardens); educational programs (Hālau Lamakū for grades K-5, Hālau 'Ōkupu for ages 1-4, School Field Trips, Classroom Resources under 'He Lani Ko Luna, He Honua Ko Lalo'); cultural initiatives (A Hua He Inoa program for astronomical naming, One Sky Project full-dome films, Never Lost wayfinding resource); venue services (Facility Rentals including Moanahōkū Hall and Planetarium); and membership/ticketing programs. The center welcomes approximately 100,000 visitors annually and hosts more than 10,000 schoolchildren on field trips.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planetarium Shows Full-dome digital planetarium featuring 10K-resolution displays with daily shows including 'One Sky Project', 'Cosmic Perspectives', 'To Space and Back', 'Fungi: The Web of Life', and 'The Great Solar System Adventure'. The 120-seat theater hosts both live programming and immersive explorations of astronomy and sciences.
• Exhibit Hall 12,000-square-foot immersive exhibit hall showcasing astronomy and Hawaiian culture as parallel journeys of human exploration guided by the stars. Features interactive displays and hands-on activities for visitors.
• School Field Trips Curriculum-related field trips for preschool through 12th grade students, including themes like 'Space Explorers!', 'What's In Our Solar System', 'Cosmic Perspectives', and 'Polynesian Navigation'. Programming includes planetarium shows, Science on a Sphere presentations, and guided exhibit hall experiences.
• Hālau Lamakū Enrichment Program Place-based and culture-based science enrichment program for keiki in grades K-5. Offers weeklong intersession and summer camps including themes like 'Ma Uka to Ma Kai', focusing on exploration from mountain to ocean, cultural awareness, and natural world curiosity.
• Hālau ʻŌkupu Play and Learn Program Place-based and play-based enrichment program for keiki ages 1-4 along with their caregivers. Features gross motor skill exercises, sensory exploration, dramatic play, movement activities, and arts and crafts with Hawaiian cultural connections.
• Facility Rentals Event venue rental services including Moanahōkū Hall (seats 150), Classroom space (up to 48 people), exclusive Planetarium shows, and Exhibit Hall for receptions and dinners. Technical capabilities include Internet connectivity, LCD projectors, screens, and audio equipment.
• General Membership Program Annual membership providing unlimited general admission, exclusive event invitations, e-newsletter subscription, and discounts at the store and restaurant. Tiers include Student (free for UH Hilo/Hawaiʻi CC students), Individual ($50), Dual ($60), Family ($85), Patron ($125), Silver Donor ($250), and Gold Donor ($500).
• Corporate Membership Program Corporate membership with executive card benefits including free entry, store and restaurant discounts, and member-only event invitations. Tiers include Ke Kaiao ($1,000), Ka Liʻulā ($1,500), Ka Hāweo ($2,000), Ke Kāpena ($5,000), and Ka Hoʻokele ($10,000).
• Special Events Annual community events including Wayfinding Festival (honoring Polynesian navigation), ʻIkuwā festival (celebrating elements and creatures), birthday celebrations, seasonal events like Halloween: Carnival of Bugs, and Black Hole Friday. Also includes Pink Floyd immersive planetarium concerts and TCBES Speaker Series.
• Native Landscape Gardens Award-winning 75,000-square-foot landscape gardens featuring endemic, indigenous, and Polynesian-introduced 'canoe plants'. Includes pathways showcasing plants brought to Hawaiʻi on voyaging canoes and vegetation found at various elevations on Maunakea.
• General Admission Full-day access to Exhibit Hall and Planetarium with various pricing tiers including kamaʻāina (local resident) rates, child, adult, and senior pricing. Includes free admission for members and children 4 and under.

Quantifiable outcome

• ʻImiloa has named multiple astronomical objects including Kamo'oalewa (asteroid), Ka'epaoka'āwela (asteroid), Pōwehi (black hole), Pōniuāʻena (quasar), and Leleakūhonua (dwarf planet) through the A Hua He Inoa program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of Hawai'i at HilocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerʻImiloa is located on the UH Hilo campus at the Science and Technology Park. UH Hilo students receive free ʻImiloa memberships. The partnership enables academic collaboration including the A Hua He Inoa program with UH Institute for Astronomy and Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
• California Academy of SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated as a supporting partner on the One Sky Project, an international initiative creating cross-cultural connections through indigenous night sky stories from around the world, including six full-dome short films.
• The Franklin InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the One Sky Project creating cross-cultural connections through indigenous perspectives on astronomy, producing six full-dome short films.
• National Science Foundation's NOIRLabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner of the One Sky Project, contributing to cross-cultural astronomy education initiatives.
• Exploratorium (San Francisco)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to create the 'Never Lost' digital archive featuring interviews with Hawaiian cultural practitioners and voyaging experts. The archive was restored and released with updated access and Hawaiian language translations in January 2025.
• Maunakea ObservatoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with observatories on Maunakea including Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, W.M. Keck Observatory, Subaru Telescope, and others supporting A Hua He Inoa naming programs and astronomical education.
• Bank of Hawai'icoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides community support for the on-site Bank of Hawai'i ʻImiloa Store, offering merchandise discounts to members. 10% member discount on store purchases.
• KTA Super StoresmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of ʻImiloa's birthday celebrations and community events. Provides food vendor services at events and exemplifies community partnership as a strong local business pillar.
• Lehua RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndependent restaurant operated on-site at ʻImiloa, offering 10% discount to members. Drives visitor engagement and experience duration at the center.
• Hōkūleʻa and Moananuiākea VoyagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerʻImiloa features the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa and its current Moananuiākea circumnavigation in exhibits and programming, connecting Polynesian navigation traditions with modern education.
• International Astronomical Union (IAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization governing astronomical naming conventions that officially recognizes Hawaiian names created through the A Hua He Inoa program for astronomical discoveries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hayden Planetarium (American Museum of Natural History): New York planetarium within the American Museum of Natural History. Comparable on full-dome programming and astronomy education, embedded in a much larger museum operation.
• California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco's large natural history and science institution. A One Sky Project partner with overlapping informal-science mission, planetarium programming, and tiered memberships; broader scope and significantly larger scale.
• Exploratorium: San Francisco's interactive science museum and longtime ʻImiloa collaborator (co-created the 'Never Lost' digital archive). Comparable in mission and exhibit-based engagement, with broader scope and a much larger operating footprint.
• The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia's flagship science museum. Also a One Sky Project partner with full-dome planetarium content, K-12 programming, and corporate event rentals — directly overlapping but at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Bishop Museum: Honolulu-based Hawaiʻi museum of natural history and Hawaiian cultural artifacts. Closest direct peer in mission and geography: both are cultural–scientific institutions serving Hawaiʻi residents and tourists with mixed admissions, membership, and education-program revenue models.
• Adler Planetarium: Chicago's public planetarium offering immersive full-dome shows, exhibits, and astronomy education. Directly comparable as a destination planetarium with a similar combination of admissions, membership tiers, school field trips, and venue rental.
• Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles public observatory and planetarium with immersive astronomy programming and strong tourist traffic. Comparable in scale, visitor mix (tourists plus local families), and education-driven mission.
• Lowell Observatory: Flagstaff, Arizona public observatory offering daytime visits, evening programming, and educational outreach. Closely comparable as an active observatory combined with a public-facing visitor center delivering astronomy education.

Regional players

• Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor: Honolulu-based aviation history museum. Comparable as a Hawaiʻi cultural and educational museum with admissions, membership, and school-group audiences; differs in subject matter but similar revenue model and tourist dependence.
• Honolulu Museum of Art: Hawaiʻi's largest art museum, also dependent on tourism and local membership revenue. Comparable in non-profit cultural-institution operations and Hawaiʻi-specific tourist catchment, though focused on art rather than science.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@imiloa9075
• Facebookfacebook.com/imiloaastronomycenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/imiloaastronomycenter/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i