During the recent AMOS (Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance) Conference, presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) in Wailea, over 1,000 local and visiting industry professionals were joined by 150 Maui County middle school students and their teachers for a special Space Exploration Day student event. The students met Scott “Scooter” Altman, who shared about his long career as a pilot and astronaut, and they visited exhibit booths for hands-on aerospace activities led by STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) experts.
One of the exhibitors, longtime Maui resident Dr. Shadi Naderi of KBR, led the students through an interactive engineering session featuring the popular “Space Lander Challenge,” a creative activity that introduces students to the engineering design process while connecting them to real-world space exploration. Naderi explained, “In this challenge, students took on the role of NASA engineers tasked with designing a lander to keep their ‘astronauts’ (represented by ping-pong balls) safe during a landing on Mars. Participants used a 9-ounce cup and cardstock to build a landing system that protects the ping-pong ball from bouncing out when dropped from three feet. For an added level of difficulty, teams were challenged to protect two ping-pong balls at once. The great thing about the engineering design process is that it encourages students to brainstorm, test, and refine their ideas.”
Judah, a 5th grader from Kaunakakai School on Molokai, shared, “I enjoyed this challenge, hearing stories from the astronaut, and learning how to build strong satellites using marshmallows!” Kawika Gonzales, an educator from Kaunakakai, also commented, “My students are really interested in space, and I believe if we give them an opportunity, they are going to exceed our expectations. I am so grateful to MEDB’s STEMworks program for giving Molokai students the opportunity to experience STEM activities, such as robotics and computer science, which they would not otherwise have.”
Paul, an 8th grader from Maui Waena Intermediate School, added, “My favorite activity was at the COMSPOC Corporation booth. We learned there is so much man-made debris floating around that can cause problems for astronauts, satellites, and other important pieces of equipment circling Earth, and how this company tracks it. Thank you, MEDB, for inviting us!”
Leslie Wilkins, MEDB’s president and CEO, noted, “Each year we see students’ creativity blossom during Space Exploration Day. They learn about the very wide variety of careers and technologies in the space field.”
I enjoyed learning about telescopes and how they track satellites, as well as the importance of getting rid of space debris. Plus, meeting an astronaut made me really think about being one!
Tyzen, 5th Grader, Kaunakakai Elementary School
Native Hawaiian astrophysicist Dr. Brittany Kamai brought a wealth of information and wonder to the participants of the 8th annual 2025 EMER-GEN program at the Wailea Beach Resort-Marriott on September 14-16. EMER-GEN, a joint initiative of the AMOS Conference (presented by Maui Economic Development Board) and the Space Generation Advisory Council, launched in 2018 to foster innovation and entrepreneurship for young professionals and college-level students enthusiastic about careers in space.
Kamai shared her perspective on how traditional voyaging connects ancestral wisdom to the present-day space industry, especially in Hawaiʻi. “We, as Pacific voyagers, are on a journey, sailing to islands and around the world, or going back to the Moon, while navigating by the ideals of our ancestral past. When we truly acknowledge this insight, when we are aware of the extensive threats to our planet, and to outer space, the next logical step is to create a new vision, a sustainable plan based on values of interconnectedness, respect and stewardship.”
Kamai explained that the purpose of the world-famous Hōkūleʻa project was to build a performance-accurate deep-sea voyaging canoe and sail it without external instruments between Hawaiʻi and Tahiti. “It’s been a cultural revitalization initiative by the Polynesian Voyaging Society centered around the Hōkūleʻa, a traditional double-hulled sailing canoe launched in 1975 to revive ancient Polynesian wayfinding traditions, language, and culture. The project, and its numerous other voyages, aims to connect people, educate on environmental stewardship, and inspire a sustainable future for the planet. We need to be globally minded and locally focused.”
Matthew Lugo, a local aerospace engineer with Privateer Space, said, “Our Hawaiian ancestors got to Hawaiʻi by way of star navigation. Currently, space observations from Hawaiʻi are also unlocking the key to the universe’s mapping and offer scientists the ability to calculate distances between celestial bodies in the galaxy. Hawaiian telescopes have allowed scientists to make some of humanity’s most important space discoveries in the last 50 years, pertaining to dark matter, black holes, asteroids, exoplanets, and more.”
Katherine Stevens, an engineer for Maui High Performance Computing Center and member of this year’s EMER-GEN program committee, added, “Kamai portrayed respect for the culture by going back to its roots and being one with the community. She has successfully woven the importance of our past cultural achievements with her career as an astrophysicist.”
I have a Ph.D. in astrophysics, but that didn’t teach me how to get between Hawaiʻi and Tahiti using the stars. It’s a totally different knowledge system. We need both!
Dr. Brittany Kamai, Astrophysicist, Founder of Mana Moana Institute
Celebrating its 25th anniversary on Maui, the annual AMOS Conference – renowned globally for bringing together leading experts, researchers, and practitioners from space-related fields – was presented in September in Wailea. The conference welcomed 150 middle school students, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) educators, and Maui High School robotics students for a Space Exploration Day event run by Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks team. The students were thrilled to meet former astronaut and current Deputy Administrator of NASA, Pam Melroy, who logged more than 38 days in space while working to assemble the International Space Station and is one of only two women to have commanded a space shuttle. The students also explored the conference exhibit hall and engaged in hands-on STEM activities led by space industry experts.
“It’s an honor to be here,” Melroy said. “It’s important to connect with the next generation and get them interested in space-related issues. There are great things happening right now. Artemis will launch soon, SpaceX is doing incredible things, we are going back to the Moon, to Mars, and more. Maybe someone here right now will be the first one on Mars!”
Melroy added, “Being in space brings on feelings of stewardship, sustainability, and respect for our planet. From space you can see the edge of the horizon. There is a thin blue line around it—the atmosphere—everything that keeps us alive is there. We need to care for all of it.”
Lori Koyama, Lahaina Intermediate School teacher, said, “It’s amazing to bring students to this event and expose them to career pathways that exist for their future in Hawai’i. They experienced new opportunities they didn’t even know existed.”
Lilyanne, Maui Waena Intermediate student, shared, “I learned that space exploration has led to many technologies that are used in everyday life including internet, banking, health benefits, and much more. This whole experience, meeting Pam Melroy and doing STEM activities is incredible!”
Liam, a Maui High robotics student, said, “Pam Melroy’s description of what she’s done in her life and the skills and traits she’s developed showed the effort and time you have to put in to do something like this. She showed us the work in school we need to do to accomplish such tasks, and that there is a job for each of us. We are all inspired today!”
It will be students in this age group that I am talking to today who will explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all.
Pam Melroy,
Astronaut and Deputy Administrator,
NASA
