'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii

Kid Tips

Toddlers & Pre-K: While the planetarium show itself may be too loud for some children this age, the museum has so much to do you could spend a day here. Don't miss the solar puzzle, the three videos that loop on separate screens in the exhibit hall, or Science on a Sphere, which plays in the room to the right before you walk through the museum.

School-Age Kids: A must-do for any academic munchkin. Expect to spend longer than you planned!

Pre-Teens & Teens: Older kids like the high-action black hole video game where you travel through space and avoid getting sucked into a black hole. Science on a Sphere, the planetarium show, and the 3-D video are also popular with this age group.

Planning Notes

• Spend some time in the gardens outside. The Imiloa Astronomy Center has planted extensive gardens of native and canoe plants (these are plants brought to the Hawaiian Islands by the first Polynesian explorers).
• Sit in the back in the middle.These are the best seats for the planetarium show, included in the price of admission.
• Don't miss the pre-show entertainment.Students from the university tell stories; dance; and sing about Pele, the goddess of fire, and others before each show.
• Check the Web site for upcoming events.
• Stay for lunch. The popular Sky Garden Restaurant has great views, an extensive buffet with everything from spaghetti to mooshoo pork, and reasonable prices.