An estimated 8,000 people attended the 9th annual Onizuka Day of Exploration—one of the largest STEM celebrations in the state—on April 5 at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu.
The free, family-friendly event, presented by the Scouting America, Aloha Council, featured more than 100 interactive activities and over 50 in-depth workshops designed to engage participants of all ages in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Booths and exhibits showcased cutting-edge robotics, environmental science experiments, coding, sustainability, Hawaiian culture, career pathways and more.
“Onizuka Day brought people together to build, explore, and imagine what’s possible,” said Blake Parsons, CEO and Scout Executive of Scouting America, Aloha Council. “Thousands of kids and families got hands-on with STEM and honored Ellison Onizuka, a Hawaiʻi-born Eagle Scout who showed the world how far courage and curiosity can take you.”
This is the third year that the Onizuka Day of Exploration took place at UH West Oʻahu.
“Mahalo to UH West Oʻahu for hosting us, and to our volunteers, sponsors, and partners who made it all happen,” Parsons added. “This is how we grow bold leaders—by giving them the tools, the inspiration and the space to dream big.”
The Onizuka Day of Exploration continues a legacy that began in 1911 as the Makahiki, making this the longest-running Scouting event in the U.S., according to organizers. The Onizuka Day of Exploration honors the legacy of astronaut Ellison Onizuka, inspiring Hawaiʻi’s youth to reach for the stars and explore the endless possibilities of STEM.
For more visit Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman
