Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 9, 1 September 2010 — Melding culture and science on Maunakea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Melding culture and science on Maunakea

At 32, Ka'iu Kimura leads 'lmiloa Astronomy Center By Kathy Muneno One could say that Ka'iu Kimura has long been primed to head the 'hniloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i in Hilo. But she would say otherwise: "I'm fortunate because I'm the one who gets to eome here every day, but I'm here because of so many people's hard work and support of 'hniloa." Kimura has no astronomy background, but 'hniloa, with a mission to celebrate Hawaiian cultnre and Maunakea astronomy, is a fully hilingual and bicultural center. Therein lays Kunura's expertise, along with her administrative and leadership skills. "Being in the Directorposition and not having a scientific background, there have been some questions as far as my commitment to science and astronomy. My response is, number one, 'hniloa is not a research institution but an education institution . . . the direction needs to be one in whieh we're inunersed into the eommunity, bringing together diverse perspectives." Her personal perspective is rooted in Waimea, where her father was bom and raised, and where Maunakea is not only 'ohana but a beloved neighbor. Support from family, community and

Kamehameha Schools, where she boarded for six years, helped her heeome independent, able to eope with changes and beheve she could do anything. Her donn adviser along with her unele, Larry Khnura, co-founder of 'Aha Pūnana Leo, influenced her interest in the Hawauan language. She eamed her master's degree in Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, was chosen a fellow for Kamehameha Schools' First Nations Futures leadership program and worked for 'Aha Pūnana Leo. In 2000, she was invited to help plan the Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center, whieh later heeame 'hniloa. She wrestled with her decision but saw opportunity. "My experiences had been with language revitahzation . . . and I saw that proposal as an opportunity to forward those efforts in a very different enviromnent and connnunity, meaning the science community, so I saw it as a way to expand the reach." And she was encouraged by those she looked to for advice. "Everybody's response was that if our own people weren't there at the table helping to shape and fonn the foundation for what would later be known as 'hniloa - then an education center would be built that would have no connection or relevance to our own people." The planning group developed themes, content and created 200 words - scientific words not yet coined in the Hawaiian language. It brought in stakeholders who agreed on a "mission to inspire and provide opportunities for our own youth to get involved in the sciences," she says. 'hniloa opened in 2006. Kimura was named XI KIMURA ON PAGE 19

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Continued from page 18 Associate Director in 2007, Interim Director in November 2009 and Executive Director of the $28-mil]ion facility on Aug. 1, attheage of 32. Many are thrilled that the center is in loeal hands, and only someone loeal could apply the fundamentals of steering a eanoe to help manage 30 employees, 20 student employees and about 40 volunteers. "Number one is holding the crew together, pulling them together, keeping them focused on goals, encouragement, empowering, always being mindful and conscious of the elements surrounding the swells - the external forces impacting 'Imiloa - (and trying to) set us up on the waves that will help get us closer to our goals and mission." With a constant striving to cross the divide, and pull in community, she keeps her eye on that mission and delights in the prize: "Some family and friends were skeptical of my involvement, but now they are participating and coming back and have true ownership in the center. That's overwhelming for me. The coolest part is seeing the kids eome in and get all excited." ■ Kathy Muneno is a Contributing Writer for Ka Wai Ola She is a weekenā weather anchor at KHON2.