On November 5, 2022, the annual AstroDay West event was held at the Kona Commons shopping center in Kona, Hawai`i. Unlike 2020 (when the event was canceled) and 2021 (when everybody was required to wear a face mask, and only handouts were given), this time we could provide hands-on activities at each booth.
AstroDay, one of East Hawai`i's biggest astronomical outreach events, has been held since 2002 at the Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping mall in Hilo. Following its success in East Hawai`i, AstroDay West has been held since 2017, with the support of the Mauankea Observatories and other organizations.
The Subaru Telescope booth provided a card game similar to "Karuta," a traditional Japanese card game. The staff asked astronomy-related questions, and the children thought about the answers with their families and friends. At the end of the game, participants received a "Young Astronomer" certificate together with snacks and stickers, which made them happy. Flyers about the total lunar eclipse livestreaming on November 7-8, 2022 (Hawaii Standard Time) were also distributed.
Figure 1: A parent and child enjoying our card game (left), and a parent and child receiving an explanation of the lunar eclipse livestreaming at the Subaru Telescope booth (right). (Credit: NAOJ)
Face-to-face events such as AstroDay and career events for intermediate and high school students resumed in 2022, and local outreach events returned to pre-pandemic styles. Subaru Telescope will continue to share the fun and excitement of learning astronomy with local people on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
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