(Hilo, Hawaiʻi) — The ʻImiloa Astronomy Center has re-named its Museum Store the Bank of Hawaiʻi Museum Store to recognize a generous, leadership gift of $150,000 from the Bank of Hawaiʻi Charitable Foundation.
Announcement of the unrestricted gift to support the Center's educational mission, and the unveiling of the new plaque in the ʻImiloa atrium recognizing the gift, was made at a reception at the Center on Friday, April 27 attended by over 120 community and business leaders.
"The Bank of Hawaiʻi and its Charitable Foundation are committed to education and we’re a hundred percent behind the Center’s mission to help inspire and educate new generations of youth to pursue an interest in science," said Bank of Hawaiʻi Chairman and CEO Al Landon.
"And, as a partner, we also appreciate the Center’s role in enhancing the economy of the Big Island and the state," said Mr. Landon.
Donna Tanoue, Bank of Hawaiʻi Vice Chairman and President of its Charitable Foundation, said that the bank was pleased to "support the Center’s mission to bridge astronomy with the rich traditions of Hawaiʻian culture to inspire and educate."
This is a significant first major gift from Bank of Hawaiʻi, noted ʻImiloa Executive Director Peter B. Giles, who said that ʻImiloa has just kicked off a new Business Partnership program to engage business support and engagement in the Center’s educational mission. The gift presentation, a private affair, was followed the next day with a Bank of Hawaiʻi Family Saturday at the Center, attracting over 550 visitors.
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center is open to the public Tuesdays through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the ʻImiloa Cafe is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Opened just over a year ago, ʻImiloa is noted for its stunning architecture, its state-of-the-art planetarium (the largest in the State), and exhibits which celebrate Hawaiʻian culture and Maunakea astronomy. It has a unique 3-D theater showcasing data from the Subaru Telescope about deep space, and a "Science on a Sphere" globe from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that enables viewers to see Earth and other planets "in-the-round."
The Center is located at 600 ʻImiloa Place in Hilo, on the UH-Hilo Science and Technology Park off Komohana Street, and Nowelo Street, and left onto Imiloa Place. For map and directions, plus more information about ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, go to www.imiloahawaii.org.
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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.
