Museums & Cultural Sites

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi

Hilo, Hilo

Polynesian Navigation and Maunakea Astronomy, With the Island's Only Planetarium

8.6/ 10

Good to go

ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, at 600 ʻImiloa Place on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus, pairs the traditions and knowledge of Polynesian navigators with how astronomers on Maunakea study the universe, and it hosts Hawaiʻi Island's only planetarium. Per its own site it is open Tuesday–Sunday, 9 AM–4:30 PM, and closed Monday; the phone is 808-932-8901.

Its Lehua restaurant lists lunch Wednesday–Sunday 11 AM–3 PM and dinner daily 5–9 PM. The site doesn't state admission prices or planetarium show times, so check its Visit and Planetarium Schedule pages before going.

Why Roamwise recommends this

A rewarding rainy-day or Maunakea-prep stop in Hilo — it makes the summit more meaningful.

Best for: astronomy and Hawaiian navigation, a planetarium show, a rainy-day indoor activity, pairing with a Maunakea trip.

Insider tip: check the planetarium schedule first, and remember it's closed on Mondays.

Respect & culture: ʻImiloa draws a line between Hawaiian voyaging and navigation traditions and modern astronomy on Maunakea, a place sacred to Native Hawaiians. Visitors are encouraged to approach both with respect.

Astronomy and Polynesian navigationPlanetarium showRainy-day indoor activity

Safety notes:: Open Tue–Sun 9 AM–4:30 PM per its site; admission not listed — check its Visit page. Hours may still be reduced after Hurricane Lala (Aug 2026) — confirm before you go.
Cost:: $19 adults, including the exhibit hall and planetarium. (checked October 2026)

Reviews: Google MapsYelp

Local tips

•Open Tue–Sun 9 AM–4:30 PM
•closed Monday.
•Check the Planetarium Schedule page for show times
•admission isn't listed on its homepage.
•Lehua restaurant: lunch Wed–Sun 11 AM–3 PM, dinner daily 5–9 PM (per its site).
•Phone: 808-932-8901.

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