'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i

'Imiloa is a unique, provocative look at the creation stories of two very different peoples: Native Hawai'ians and modern astronomers. This unusual combination wouldn't make sense except that it embodies the story of Mauna Kea, which is central to Hawai'ian mythology and is now home to the world's most important conglomeration of observatories.

You begin by walking through a recreation of Mauna Kea itself. Then you are introduced to the kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation story (which is chanted in Hawaiian), and to wider Hawaiian culture. This is followed by bilingual exhibits (in English and Hawaiian) on the Big Bang, and descriptions of ancient Polynesian voyaging (including a scale model of the famed Hokule'a canoe) and modern-day astronomy on Mauna Kea. Keeping the eye-popping quotient high are videos, a 3D theater, 'Atomic Time Machines,' and an up-to-the-minute, 120-seat planetarium featuring a free, 22min film. 'Imiloa is one of Hawaii's most fascinating museums.