The Hawai`i Keiki Museum at the Kings’ Shops
Aspiring to make learning fun, The Hawai`i Keiki Museum (HKM) allows children to learn about island science through hands-on experiences at a new interactive discovery center that opened at Kings’ Shops in Waikoloa Beach Resort last March.
Started by the local community to increase STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) opportunities for island keiki, “The Hawai`i Keiki Museum aims to ignite the imagination, foster innovation and nurture a love for science in children during their foun- dational years,” says founder and Executive Director Dana McLaughlin. “We strive to develop island science literacy and spark a lifelong passion for learning by providing them with tools and opportunities to tinker, question and create.”
The exhibits are created by the community. One family favorite is the planetarium, sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank.
“We host star shows on demand and run short videos throughout the day,” McLaughlin explains.
The interactive Kid Power exhibit requires movement to generate electricity and cooperation to trigger the jackpot reward. At the water table, keiki learn what happens to the water level in a river when you build a dam and divert the flow.
The MEGA Lab features an underwater livestream camera.
“Scientists are studying the coral reef off Kailua-Kona after a bleaching event and the livestream is an important tool in education and coral reef research,” McLaughlin shares.
Another exhibit celebrating local Big Island achievements is a 1-to-10,000 scale engineering model of the Canada France Hawaii Telescope.
HKM is managed by a passionate team of student interns, staff and volunteers. Experienced educators, fabricators and specialists bring the exhibits to life and guide children through interactive learning experiences.
“There is a common sentiment that it’s hard to have a STEM career on the Big Island, which dampens enthusiasm for STEM learning. On this island, science is literally ‘all around us,’” McLaughlin says. “It is critical that we show the keiki that opportunities here on the Big Island not only exist, but they are also exciting.”
How It All Began
The first HKM opened in Kailua-Kona in 2022. Recently the board decided to move forward with the Waikoloa location to reach people in more rural areas.
“We recognized that many in Waikoloa, Waimea and around Kamuela didn’t visit the Kailua-Kona location and we wanted to reach across ages and communities to make this safe space for learning accessible to more keiki on our island,” McLaughlin says.
During school holidays, keiki workshops are offered at HKM.
“Not all parents have time off work when school is out, so we offer drop-off camps including Rolling Robotics and Keiki Financial Management,” she says.
Adult Options
The museum also caters to tourist visitors and adults with a monthly lecture series led by scientists from around the island. The latest United States Geological Survey (USGS) updates on Kilauea are shared by Dr. Ken Hon, while innovative architects explain their insights on printing 3D houses out of concrete on island and Dr. Mary-Beth Laycheck from Canada France Hawaii Telescope updates the group on astron- omy advances.
“Our major sponsors, Compassion, Choices; AES Hawai`i [the company that operates the Waikoloa Solar & Storage project]; Atherton Family Foundation and the Koi Pond Bridges, work with us to provide keiki with the two things they crave the most: opportunity and choice,” McLaughlin says. “Their support and participation help us to inspire and empower the innovators of tomorrow.”