Carolyn Kaichi describes herself as a science-fiction nerd who devoured Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov novels in middle school and counts herself among the devotees of “Star Trek” and “Star Wars.”

“I also loved seeing old movies such as ‘When Worlds Collide,’ where the heroes are female scientists,” Kaichi said. “When I was young I followed NASA’s shuttle missions and the Voyager robotic probe programs in private because back then it wasn’t cool for girls to be space junkies; they weren’t encouraged to go into science, technology, engineering and math as they are now.”

While her dream of becoming a NASA engineer didn’t come true, Kaichi considers her current position the next-best thing as the education/outreach specialist for the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) in Hilo. One of her responsibilities is to coordinate AstroDay, a science and astronomy education event sponsored by the Mauna Kea Astronomy Outreach Committee (mkaoc.org), a consortium of observatories and science- and space-related organizations throughout Hawaii, including IfA.

The event has been held each spring in Hilo for the past 16 years (the next one will be May 5 at Prince Kuhio Plaza). For the first time this year, thanks to a partnership with Kona Commons shopping center, it also will be held on the west side of Hawaii island on Nov. 4.

AstroDay is Hawaii’s version of Astronomy Day, which was launched in 1973 by Doug Berger, former president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, the umbrella organization for some 30 amateur astronomy clubs in that region. That spring, club members set up in their cities telescopes and exhibits in parks, shopping malls and on sidewalks of busy streets to introduce passers-by to the miracles and mysteries of the universe.

“Stargazing is most successful in remote, unpopulated, high-altitude areas where viewing isn’t compromised by ambient light and atmospheric pollutants,” Kaichi said. “For that reason, many people don’t have the opportunity or don’t make the time and effort to experience it. Astronomy Day brings the wonder of astronomy to the public.”

Today it is celebrated across the United States and abroad (including Sweden, the Philippines, Argentina, Malaysia and New Guinea), usually on the Saturday closest to the quarter moon between April and May and/or September and October.

More than 30 organizations take part in AstroDay West Hawaii in Kona, including 15 representatives from Hawaii observatories (three on Haleakala, three on Mauna Loa and nine of the 10 on Mauna Kea). There also will be robotic demonstrations, educational games and interactive displays and solar viewing guided by astronomers.

“Looking at the sun directly can damage your eyes, so we’ll have special filters on the telescopes and glasses,” Kaichi said. “They’re the same filters that are used for watching a solar eclipse. In addition to providing protection, they enable you to see features on the sun that are not normally visible, such as sunspots, solar flares and features of the sun’s outer layers.”

Another highlight will be Starlab, an inflatable, portable planetarium that accommodates about 25 people. Programs might include the Hawaiian names of stars, planets and constellations, and legends about the heavens. For instance, the constellation Scorpius doubles in Hawaiian mythology as the fishhook that the demigod Maui used to pull the islands from the bottom of the sea.

“AstroDay is fun and a great way to learn about astronomy’s impact on history and on our lives today,” Kaichi said. “It piques our curiosity about the mysteries of the cosmos and gives us perspective on our very small place in it.”

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STARGAZING

The world’s largest observatory, comprising 10 operating telescopes used by astronomers from 11 countries, is atop Mauna Kea on Hawaii island. Most of the telescopes are closed to the public; however, Japan’s Subaru offers free 40-minute tours for visitors up to 10 days a month. The tours won’t be offered again until April because of mirror maintenance. Click here for more information.

If you plan to drive to Mauna Kea’s 13,796-foot summit, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly recommended. Pregnant women, children under 16 and anyone in poor health, including those with heart or respiratory problems, should not travel beyond the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station, which is at an elevation of 9,200 feet.

Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station

Open noon to 10 p.m. year-round; free

Stop by the station for safety information and weather updates and to adjust to the change in altitude (stay for at least 30 minutes. It offers a free stargazing program on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, weather permitting. It also hosts a talk on current research at Mauna Kea on the first Saturday of every month. Visit the website for more information.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

‘Imiloa and the Mauna Kea observatories sponsor a free monthly Kamaaina Observatory Experience, which includes a talk, lunch and a tour of two telescopes. It is open to Hawaii residents with a valid ID. Upcoming dates are Nov. 18 and Dec. 9; advance reservations required. Email KOE@Imiloahawaii.org or click here.

Institute for Astronomy: Oahu | Maui

The University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy hosts free open houses at its headquarters in Manoa on Oahu in the spring and Pukalani on Maui, usually in the fall. Dates have not been finalized.

Other experiences:

>> Arnott’s Lodge & Hiking Adventures

>> Hawaii Forest & Trail

>> Hawaiian Astronomical Society

>> Hokulani Imaginarium, Windward Community College

>> J. Watumull Planetarium, Bishop Museum

>> Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy

>> Maui Astronomy Tours

>> Maui Stargazing

>> Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

>> Star Gaze Hawaii: Offers private stargazing sessions and weekly programs at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Hilton Waikoloa Village and Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast.

>> Stargazing Kauai

>> Stars Above Hawaii, Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina

>> Tour of the Stars, Hyatt Regency Maui

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.