Native American Academy Tour
Friday, May 13, 2005 • Hilo, Mauna Kea
Friday, May 13th was not an unlucky day at all, for the waters were blue at Radio Bay as were the skies above Mauna Kea during a tour for Nancy Maryboy, of the Native American Academy. We met Nancy at the 1 Earth 1 Universe conference in New Mexico a few months ago. Nancy visitied Hilo for her daughter Ashley's birthday, and we treated them, and other friends and family to a unique experience of sea and mountain. First we visited Chad Baybayan at the Hokualaka`i, where he described the program, and its mission. Crew member Ikaika Rawlins gave a tour of the vessel and answered questions from the group. After a brief lunch, the group drove up to Mauna Kea for a tour of the Gemini Observatory. After an offering of a lei to the mountain, we headed down the mountain for dinner at Hale Pohaku, the mid-level facility for astronomers and observatory support staff. Koa Ell gave a wonderful Hawaiian cultural presentation before stargazing under beautiful Mauna Kea skies!
Chad Baybayan speaks about the Hokualaka`i project aboard the voyaging canoe Chad, Ashley, Chris, Gary, Nancy, Ilihia and Lia pose for a picture at the Visitor Information Station parking lot Among Giants: the group before the Gemini and Canada-France-Hawaii telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea