Hundreds of Hawaiʻi Island kids and families gathered at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo on January 24, to celebrate the legacy of Kona-born astronaut Ellison Onizuka, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy 40 years ago.
“We’re trying to continue his legacy. He inspired a lot of people, and he wanted to encourage the youngsters to work hard, study hard, and never give up on their dreams,” said Ellison’s younger brother, Claude Onizuka, who worked to bring the event back to Hawaiʻi Island after a five-year hiatus.
Organized by the Pacific International Space Center for Explorations Systems (PISCES) in partnership with UH Hilo, the Onizuka Memorial Committee, Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope and the Hawaiʻi Science and Technology Museum, the day marked a return for the beloved community tradition, paused since the pandemic.
The event featured a keynote by NASA astronaut Donald R. Pettit, whose appearance was funded by American Savings Bank. Pettit, who has spent 590 days in space and is part of the team preparing for the Artemis II mission, challenged young attendees.
“I want them to think, ‘Wow, flying into space, it’s exploration, it’s tough, it’s difficult, but it’s something I want to do!’ and I hope everyone of these students [will] come and arm wrestle me for my job!”
Approximately 350 attendees participated in hands-on workshops from building volcanoes to learning traditional Polynesian canoe lashing. Interactive exhibits featured liquid nitrogen demos, Maunakea Observatory displays, and a state-qualifying VEX IQ Robotics tournament hosted by Waiākea Intermediate School.
Ellison Onizuka was the first Asian American and first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space when he completed the Space Shuttle Discovery mission in 1985. He remains the only NASA astronaut from Hawaiʻi.
