Aim For The Stars
By Susan Sunderland

Hawaii’s rocket boys are at it again. Two local educators are igniting young minds with visions of space travel and taking learning to greater heights. Given enough fuel, things are destined to take off.

Hidden in the hills of Kaneohe is a little-known community resource called the NASA Aerospace Education Laboratory. Word is getting out about this space-age, state-of-the-art classroom where you can take a simulated flight into space and fly cross-country in an aircraft of your choice.

We joined entertainer Don Ho and his teenage son, Ke‘alii Ho, on their visit to this unique facility, one of only 25 in the country. Fasten your seat belts and be prepared to be amazed.

We are greeted by Dr. Joseph E. Ciotti, Windward Community College professor of astronomy, physics and math, who directs the Center for Aerospace Education. Ciotti explains the purpose of the center and the vision for a Windward Aerospace Academy at the site.

“We want to provide students with the opportunity to explore careers in aviation, science, technology and rocketry. We also want to give them hands-on experience with project-based problem solving,” he says. “We give students a problem to solve and in the process, they learn mathematics, critical thinking, and improve reading skills.”

He explains that the Center for Aerospace Education was established in October 1985 to provide credit courses for WCC undergraduate students, develop vocational training, and inspire educational outreach to the island residents.

The center coordinates and manages several science facilities at the Kaneohe campus, including:

Don Ho, who was raised in Kaneohe, is impressed that such a sophisticated facility is available for the use of local teachers, students and the public.

“It’s great that we have something like this here,” he says. “Once they find out about this, you’ll be flooded with people.”

Ho, an ex-Air Force pilot, adds, “I would recommend to every kid, go and try to be a pilot. You get close to God real fast.”

And it doesn’t hurt to have an aerospace angel like Ciotti. The WCC professor is credited with getting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration grant that benefits students in under-represented populations, such as minorities and females. The percentage of Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islanders in WCC’s student enrollment and the diverse state population convinced NASA that Hawaii deserved an aerospace education lab.

Four months ago, the dream become a reality as a quarter-million-dollars’ worth of equipment arrived at Hale Imiloa, WCC’s science building in the upper campus. Ciotti and his staff watched in amazement as four men contracted by the John Glenn Research Center transformed an outdated computer lab into a high-tech learning center in just three days.

The early Christmas gift from the federal agency includes 12 computer stations, a virtual reality flight simulator, a wind tunnel display, flight manuals for aviation and rocketry, and software that guides project-based learning from simple aeronautics to building robots in space.

The high-tech computer classroom is designed for students from grade 7 through college. Facilities are open to public and private school teachers and students, as well as home-schooling groups.

The NASA flight training laboratory operates in two modes:

A virtual reality station is a big attraction, as Ho and his son found out. Participants of the virtual reality simulation can experience a fly-around of the international space station as the pilot or co-pilot of an obiter.

Another program simulates the last eight minutes of a shuttle return to earth.

In the near future, two other work stations will be added: a virtual conversation with astronaut John Glenn, and a microgravity demonstrator that includes a drop tower and video camera to test the results of weightlessness.

Dr. Jake Hudson, a local educator and astrophysicist, is lab coordinator for the flight training center. A rocket enthusiast since small-kid time, Hudson teaches physics at St. Andrews Priory and is a former WCC professor.

“We want teachers to come in first and figure out what’s here. Then, they can tailor it for the class they teach,” he says.

The NASA lab at 45-720 Kea`ahala Road in Kaneohe is open 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Arrangements for student visits can be made by calling 235-7348.

What do the Hos think of their experience? Ke‘alii hails it as “great fun.” Dad Don was reflective of his aviation career, saying, “Makes me want to go back and get in the seat again.”

Mission accomplished.