Future Flight Hawaii is a space-themed education program designed to catalyze a child’s and the community’s interest in science, technology and the future. Using a space context, the participants experience a variety of science and technology training modules.
Established in 1991 under the Office of Space Industry, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, over 9,000 students and parents participated in simulated voyages to and the exploration of the moon, Mars, and our own planet, Earth through residential and day camps offered on the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai. The summer science camps were concluded at the conclusion of the 25th annual program in 2015
With an emphasis on hands on activities, problem solving and project based and cooperative learning, the program experience provides opportunities to also develop social skills, responsibility to self and others and thinking and communication skills.
The programs offered and supported by Future Flight Hawaii, Hawaii Space Grant Consortium, includes: Families Exploring Science Together (FEST) child/parent/teacher hands on science nights, STEMFEST (half day, hands on project based learning), professional development for teachers, support of community STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) events, global STEM collaboration, and scholastic robotics.
For information regarding programs and to make a request, email Program Director, Art Kimura.
Over
Schools
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parents, teachers and students have participated in K-12 events.
Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery
This is the celebration and special day honoring the life and legacy of Charles Lacy Veach, who grew up in Honolulu with an interest in science, had a distinguished career in the United States Air Force, and went on to fly two Space Shuttle missions.
Initiated in 2002 by Art and Rene Kimura, directors of Future Flight Hawai‘i, The Lacy Veach Day of Discovery showcases wonderful, hands-on activities in workshops and demonstrations. This event is typically held in October. In 2020 this is a virtual worldwide event!
Astronaut Lacy Veach serves to remind us all that the dreams of today can be forged into exploration and discoveries of tomorrow.
Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Day of Discovery
This is the celebration and special day honoring the life and legacy of Ellison Onizuka, who was an American astronaut from Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi. He successfully flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C. He died in the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, on which he was serving as Mission Specialist for mission STS-51-L. He was the first Asian American and the first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space.
Initiated in 2002 by Art and Rene Kimura, directors of Future Flight Hawai‘i, the Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day showcases wonderful, hands-on activities in workshops and demonstrations. This event is typically held in January in Hilo.
Paying tribute to the legacy of Hawai‘i's first astronaut and to the crew of the last flight of the Space Shuttle, Challenger.
Families Exploring Science Together
Children and their parents are partners in a day of discovery and hands on science experiences.
How science really works!
Curiosity + Joy + Dreams + Thrills + Wonder + Interest + Surprise + Creativity = Discovery
We are all scientists! Children and scientists have much in common. Naturally inquisitive young children ask endless questions, they may spend half an hour watching a bug crawl on the floor, experiment by pouring water into soil or mixing different colors of paints or add blocks to a tower until it falls. They draw conclusions about the way things work and they learn from and share information with others.
FESTival Nights:
Help parents to be actively involved in the science learning of their child
Foster home/school partnerships
Encourage children and parents to work together and foster home/school partnerships
Engage parents and students in thinking and working scientifically
Assist parents to encourage an interest in science in their child in the home
Help students to learn through active engagement in learning experiences
STEMfest
You are invited to bring Future Flight Hawai`i’s STEMFEST to your school…..this program, sponsored by the Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium, will be offered on a limited basis.
School will recruit and confirm participants and collect $50 for each child/parent pair.
Each child/parent pair will receive STEM learning kits and tools (Push Button Programmable Robot, Line Tracking Robot, etc.) to be used in the FEST and to be taken home for additional learning.
BrushBotfest
You are invited to bring the BRUSHBOT FEST to your school…..this free program, sponsored by the Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium will be offered on a limited basis.
The program features science demonstrations, a “what is a robot” overview, and participants will build their own brushbot and compete in a speed race and a sumo tournament.
SPACEfest
You are invited to bring Future Flight Hawai`i’s SpaceFEST to your school; this free program, sponsored by the Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium, will be offered on a limited basis.
The program features science demonstrations, information about NASA supported educational opportunities, and selected hands on activities for students and parents. Activities and demonstrations will feature science as an inquiry, Newton’s Laws, microgravity, and living in space.
Feedback
What an honor to have you at Jefferson working with our students and parents! It was a fun, interactive science discovery night! Many of us are still on a high since Friday evening. I'm confident that our veteran teachers will keep the excitement and momentum going, and the new teachers will be planning to implement science in their classrooms if they haven’t already. Our students loved their new discoveries and will benefit even more with your help in the future (if possible) so please consider us for next year.
Thank you so very much! We truly appreciate your giving us a chance to experience and have fun with science.
Mahalo to you, Art and Rene, for your commitment and leadership in igniting the interest and enthusiasm for the fantastic journeys to come! After all these years that I have been in education, this is the first time I have seen your presentation. I found it informative, intriguing, and entertaining! The feedback from parents and students was 100% positive with some, "When are they coming back to share more?" and "This was my favorite night!" Thank you for sharing your love of science, exploration, and teaching! Best to both of you, and I look forward to encouraging others to do more with the programs you've introduced to our little explorers!
Last night's SpaceFEST was a great experience for our Pu'u Kukui 'Ohana. It was so exciting to see parents and students interacting as they had fun with science. Art and Rene Kimura brought an exciting program to our families and I feel fortunate that we were one of three schools on Maui that they chose to visit this year. These are the kind of events that our students and their families will fondly remember.
I believe both staff and students gained from your presentation. We look forward to our continued partnership and possible things to come. I will be forwarding your bulletin for the SPACEFEST opportunity to our STEAM committee. Thanks again!