WAIMEA, Hawaiʻi - Gary Fujihara of Big Kahuna Meteorites represented the "Asteroid Belt" at the 2018 Waimea Solar System Walk.
Image of a Big Kahuna Meteorite, from video courtesy Maunakea Observatories.
(BIVN) – The Asteroid Belt was well represented at this year’s Waimea Solar System Walk, as participants got a hands-on experience with actual space rocks at the booth set up by meteorite hunter Gary Fujihara.
Under the banner of Big Kahuna Meteorites, Fujihara “provides the highest quality, authentic meteorites to collection and science communities for the lowest prices on earth,” his Facebook page states.
The Solar System Walk turns Waimea into a scale model of the solar system, inviting keiki to explore our neighboring planets through hands-on activities. The walk starts with the sun at the Keck Observatory headquarters (65-1120 Mamalahoa Hwy) and continues down the sidewalk to the Pluto and its icy friends at the CFHT headquarters (65-1238 Mamalahoa Hwy).
Each planet features an activity, where our solar system explorers will participate in a fun planetary activity and learn about a groundbreaking discovery from the Maunakea Observatories- the site where most of the world’s astronomy discoveries are made. Keiki get their Solar System Explorers Passport stamped at every booth. Those with a completed passport at the end of the walk redeemed their passports for a coupon for free admission to the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. A complimentary bbq lunch was available for all explorers at the end of the walk. This year’s walk drew a crowd of 500 keiki and adults.
Big Island Video News will have more from the Solar System Walk event.