Page 2 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - August 24, 2022

2 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK AUGUST 24, 2022
M Smart Mouth
at bringing astronomy and STEM education directly to students across the island. The first “Subaru Stars” was held at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School earlier this summer in partnership with the Hawai‘i Science and Technology Mu- seum. Students played with oversized chess and checker boards, a trash can “vortex cannon,” programmable ro- botics equipment, a touchless musical instrument called a theramin, and Subaru-designed spectrum light cards to show how astronomers study the universe. Each activity was designed to encourage skills in mathematics, problem solving and strategic thinking.
More than 50 students, fac- ulty and administrative staff at Nā‘ālehu enjoyed a morning of hands-on, engaging activities to
ignite an interest (and perhaps a future career) in astronomy and STEM-related fields. Prin- cipal Wilma Roddy noted that the school is always looking for opportunities for its kids to have exposure to hands-on activities because it helps them connect to concepts more than book learning alone.
y late father-in-law, Pete, lived by simple yet strict rules. He was a gentle and kind man, but when it came to his rules, there was no arguing
more than just astronomical discovery. While our team of scientists and support staff is busy exploring the universe, they are also involved in our communities, sharing their time and talents — whether it be mentoring the next genera- tion in essential STEM careers, tutoring high school students, volunteering to plant native Ha- waiian species on Mauna Kea or assisting with local food bas- ket distributions.
with him. I admired him for this and after I married his daughter, he became a surrogate father to me as my dad passed when I was only 25. One of Pete’s main rules was that his coffee always had to be piping hot. I can’t tell you the number of times we would go to a restaurant and he was served lukewarm coffee. I always got nervous when this happened, for although he was always a gentleman, I knew that deep down inside was a raging Hulk.
Subaru Telescope brings STEM
into classrooms, including helping students code VEX 123 robots. PHOTO COURTESY NAOJ, SUBARU TELESCOPE
Subaru Stars is all about hav- ing fun because that’s where real learning and growing hap- pens. We look forward to vis- iting three additional schools with our Subaru Stars program this fall, and we will be work- ing closely with administrators to support STEM education in their schools, especially help- ing to integrate computer sci- ence curricula into the class- room.
We were always making sure the server knew the coffee had to be hot, lest my mother-in-law would intervene on behalf of her husband and send it back. After several years of being in this wonderful family, I, too, adopted his desire for hot coffee. Of course, these days, coffee baristas can make your coffee pretty much as hot as you can tolerate it.
The last few years have been challenging, and we’ ve seen how our keiki are struggling. Many students are making up for lost time in math, science and language arts proficiencies after the pandemic restricted in-person learning for a time.
And the size and geography of Hawai‘i Island also makes it challenging for rural communi- ties to have the same access to enrichment programs as more populated areas.
For my morning drive-thru coffee for my trek to work, I normally get a hot Americano. The problem with that is because the hot water comes from a spigot, it’s only a certain temperature. It’s hot, but not Pete hot. Therefore, it’s not Ron hot either. I can pretty much tolerate it without cooling it down.
So, Subaru Telescope start- ed a new program aimed
For more information, visit subarutelescope.org
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RATING: GOLD
The other morning, I was watching a TV commercial and someone was pouring a piping-hot cup of coffee. Sud- denly, I had the desire to grab a cup that was equally as hot, something more like what Pete would drink. On the way to the coffee drive-thru, I contemplated changing my order so I could drink coffee that had the temperature ratcheted up. I decided on a hot latte. Here’s what I ordered: “A hot, venti, almond milk latte, ʻwet’ and extra hot.” Wet means less froth and more hot liquid.
I think I was quite commanding in my order and put extra emphasis when I said “extra hot.” I pulled up to the window, paid for my drink and pictured myself enjoy- ing the coffee I saw on the commercial that morning. The mental distraction somewhat disconnected my brain and my mouth was still in Americano mode. As I drove away, I took a huge swig of my coffee without blowing on it to cool it off.
Suddenly, my mouth was filled with molten lava! I couldn’t swallow it so I opened my mouth as wide as I could and just let the mouthful of coffee fall out over my tongue and lips. It went all over the front of my shirt (yes, I was wearing a white shirt). When I got to work, I looked in the bathroom mirror. All I can say is I looked like a 3-year- old who ate chocolate pudding without a bib.
Since first light in 1998, the mission of Subaru Telescope has been about
BY KATIE YAMANAKA, Subaru Telescope outreach specialist
Reach For The Stars
rnagasawa@midweek.com