Scientists and students are invited to see a full-size saber-toothed tiger in downtown Hilo, starting today at a new showroom coming to the Hawaii Museum of Science and Technology.
Located on the second floor of the Kaikodo building at 64 Keawe St., the exhibit will feature several natural historical artifacts, including sea and dinosaur fossils and a saber-toothed tiger acquired from La Brea’s tar pits in California.
“This is the grand opening of our new exhibition, where we will have fossils, an interactive digital exhibition and many different things available to children,” said Christian Wong, CEO of HSTM. “But the most remarkable is the saber-toothed tiger. This is a full-scale copy of the research class. “
Founded in 2015, the non-profit organization HSTM has given priority to hands-on experience for visitors and students to get involved in the educational process.
“The space is really meant to be a fun, comfortable place for families to come and spend quality time together,” Wong said. “Our exhibits always focus on this practical aspect of learning. They study science and don’t even realize it because they have so much fun. “
This approach will continue with the upcoming exhibition of the museum.
“We will have microscopes that children can use to look at marine life and marine fossils,” Wong said. “We have a bunch of other fossils from that era, including cave lions, a short-faced bear, and several dinosaur fossils, including a mosaic and a baby (Tyrannosaurus rex).”
The exhibition will also include an interactive pirate ship to be installed.
“We hope to have it by this weekend, and if not, it will definitely be done by the next time we open,” he said. “This is a fraudulent pirate ship that has all kinds of electronics and is an interactive space where children can explore.”
The exhibitions promote STEAM subjects or science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
“Our organization has been providing STEAM education for the community for the past seven years, leading things like science camps, after-school programs and lessons,” Wong said. “It’s a really big moment for us. It takes a lot of work and determination to get to this point. ”
Future events planned for the year include a science evening for teenagers and an annual racquet competition.
“There’s always a lot going on,” said Wong, who suggested people follow HSTM’s social media accounts and mailing list to stay informed.
“In addition to the opening of our brand new showroom, this is the reopening of our Kenyan K. Beals Robotics Center,” he said.
Located on the third floor of the Mokupapapa Discovery Center, this collaboration offers students the opportunity to learn engineering.
“Every Saturday throughout the summer, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we will have robotics training there,” Wong said. “We want to encourage parents, students and teachers who want to get involved in robotics, and give them the tools, knowledge and experience to form their own teams and really get into it.”
Robotics will also be the focus of the upcoming autumn exhibition of HSTM.
“We will create a racetrack in our museum and have a space where children can build their own remote-controlled cars using electronics,” he said.
Today’s opening will coincide with the events on the occasion of World Ocean Day, which take place in Kalakaua Park from 10 am to 2 pm
“We will have a bunch of different activities and educational information about conserving our oceans there,” Wong said.
Ocean Day is the first collaboration between HSTM, the Mokupapapa Discovery Center, the Eastern Hawaiian Cultural Center and the Pacific Tsunami Museum – commonly known as Museum Square.
“This is a collaboration between our museums as well as local businesses in the area,” Wong said. “We will release information on carving a traditional Hawaiian canoe along with a full-size canoe.”
The event is the first of many planned for next year.
“We are thinking of making a great house with ghosts, including the four museums for the autumn,” he said. “We’ll do something like this every quarter.”
The new science exhibition for HSTM will continue in the fall.
“I think these natural history fossils will be a great attraction for this exhibition. We will also have arts and crafts activities, “Wong said. “But obviously our saber-toothed tiger is the star of the show. That’s what people really wanted to come and see. “
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