The Beauty of Big Island Hawaii’s Night Sky and Why It Needs Conservation

Big Island Hawaii is a place of awe and wonder, with a rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage. The island is home to some of the most spectacular and unique wildlife and ecosystems in the world, such as the active volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, the green sand beach of Papakolea, the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and nene, and the World Heritage Site of Papahānaumokuākea. The island is also a place of history and culture, with a long and complex story that spans from the ancient Polynesian voyagers who first settled the islands, to the Hawaiian Kingdom that unified and governed them, to the modern state that embraces them. However, one of the most amazing and inspiring aspects of Big Island Hawaii’s natural heritage is its night sky. The night sky on Big Island Hawaii is a sight to behold, with countless stars, planets, constellations, meteors, comets, satellites, and more. The night sky on Big Island Hawaii is also a source of beauty, knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration for many people who live on or visit the island. However, this night sky is also under threat from various factors, such as light pollution, air pollution, climate change, and human activities. Conservation is vital to protect and restore Big Island Hawaii’s night sky and ensure its survival for future generations. Conservation is also a matter of respect and responsibility for the island’s lands and seas and the people who depend on them. But what makes Big Island Hawaii’s night sky so beautiful and why does it need conservation? Here are some of the reasons why:

• Big Island Hawaii’s night sky is one of the best in the world. Big Island Hawaii has some of the best conditions for stargazing in the world, thanks to its high elevation, low humidity, clear air, stable weather, dark skies, and geographic isolation. The island’s highest mountain, Mauna Kea (13,796 feet [4,205 metres]), is considered one of the best sites for astronomy in the world¹. It hosts some of the world’s most advanced telescopes and observatories that study the origins of the universe and track unknown objects in the night sky². The island’s other high mountain, Mauna Loa (13,677 feet [4,169 metres]), is also a great site for stargazing and hosts some of the world’s most important atmospheric research stations that monitor greenhouse gases and climate change³. The island’s lower elevations also offer stunning views of the night sky from various locations such as beaches, parks, resorts, farms, forests, and more⁴.
• Big Island Hawaii’s night sky is part of its cultural heritage. Big Island Hawaii’s night sky is part of its cultural heritage that reflects its history and identity. The ancient Hawaiians had a deep connection and respect for the night sky based on their knowledge and beliefs. They used the stars for navigation (wayfinding), calendar (moon phases), agriculture (planting seasons), fishing (tides), weather (clouds), storytelling (myths), spirituality (gods), art (quilts), music (chants), dance (hula), and more⁵. They also named many stars and constellations after their culture such as Hokuleʻa (star of gladness), Makaliʻi (little eyes), Ka Lupe o Kawelo (the kite of Kawelo), Manaiakalani (the fishhook of Maui), Iwikuamoʻo (the backbone), Hikianalia (star goddess), Poliʻahu (snow goddess), Pele (fire goddess), Kamohoaliʻi (shark god), Kāne (life god), Lono (fertility god), Kū (war god), Hina (moon goddess), Maui (culture hero), Hiʻiaka (Pele’s sister), Lāʻieikawai (beauty queen), ʻAukelenuiaʻiku (trickster chief), ʻAumakua (ancestral spirits), ʻAha Hoku (star priests), ʻImiloa (seeker of knowledge)⁵. They also built many heiau (temples) that aligned with celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes⁵.
• Big Island Hawaii’s night sky needs conservation. Big Island Hawaii’s night sky needs conservation because it is threatened by various factors that diminish its beauty and value. One of the main threats is light pollution which is artificial light that brightens the night sky and reduces its visibility. Light pollution comes from various sources such as streetlights, buildings, cars, planes, boats, signs, billboards, fireworks, lasers, satellites. Light pollution affects not only stargazing but also wildlife behavior such as migration breeding feeding navigation communication. Light pollution also affects human health such as sleep quality circadian rhythm melatonin production mood cognition immunity. Another threat is air pollution which is particles or gases that pollute the air and reduce its clarity. Air pollution comes from various sources such as volcanoes fires cars planes factories power plants farms. Air pollution affects not only stargazing but also wildlife health such as respiratory diseases cardiovascular diseases reproductive diseases immune diseases. Air pollution also affects human health such as asthma bronchitis emphysema cancer stroke heart attack diabetes premature death. Another threat is climate change which is long-term changes in global or regional climate patterns due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels deforestation agriculture industry. Climate change affects not only stargazing but also wildlife survival such as habitat loss food scarcity water scarcity temperature stress disease spread invasive species extinction. Climate change also affects human survival such as sea level rise coastal erosion flooding drought heat wave wildfire storm disease famine conflict migration displacement poverty inequality injustice violence war.

Big Island Hawaii’s night sky is a precious gift that we have inherited from our ancestors and that we have a duty to pass on to our descendants. It is also a source of beauty knowledge wisdom inspiration for many people who live on or visit the island. By conserving Big Island Hawaii’s night sky we can ensure its continuity and vitality for present and future generations.

Source:
(1) Stargazing and How to Visit MaunaKea: DIY Guide – Love Big Island. https://www.lovebigisland.com/stargazing/.
(2) Visiting Mauna Kea Observatories | Big Island Guide. https://bigislandguide.com/destinations/mauna-kea/observatories.
(3) 18 Great Spots for Stargazing in Hawaii – Space Tourism Guide. https://spacetourismguide.com/stargazing-hawaii/.
(4) Hawaii Night Sky Revealed in Stunning New Video | Space. https://www.space.com/24051-hawaii-sky-mauna-kea-video.html.
(5) Bird Habitat Restoration and Conservation, Big Island, Hawaii. https://content.sierraclub.org/outings/critical-bird-habitat-restoration-mauna-kea-big-island-hawaii.