Bill Yamanoha, our store manager, opens store, on time, against all odds. There is no carpet on the floor yet, and no rightful point of sale system, but Bill is ringing up sales. 

Leanne and I sit in the Hawaiian immersion language classroom in front of the life size poster showing the greeting of us by the students. 

'Imiloa director me, standing in front of the 'imiloa, the 1/5 scale model of the double-hulled sailing canoe. 

Leanne, wearing the crown she deserves for her volunteer work, in opening 'Imiloa. 

Louann Jeffs, looks up from her workstation on the Gemini console at Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai'i.  

Kalena Silva, Dean of the College of Hawaiian Studies, prepares to blessing 'Imiloa, standing in front of the 'Piko' leaves. Larry Kimura, professor of Hawaiian language, Chad Baybayan, emcee, Chancellor Rose Tseng, Peter Giles, and Jennifer Sabas, Chief of Staff to Senator Daniel K. Inouye, look on. To the right, facing, are the students bearing their offerings. 

Students from the Hawaiian language immersion school hold their ho'okupu (offerings) from the kupuna (elders) in preparation for the procession to 'Imiloa. 

The procession of the kupuna, astronomers, officials, led by the children, bearing the gifts of the kupuna (elders) toward the blessing and piko cutting ceremony. The future belongs to the children. Ours is to give them the tools and inspiration to create their future. 

Close up of the mosaic in our atrium, The Voyage of the Navigator. The mosaic as created in Italy based on the Clayton Young painting. 

Artist of mosaic, Voyage of the Navigator, Clayton Young (in center) with Congressman Ed Case and wife on right, and Leanne and me on the left. 

Note carefully above the door. This is the "Piko" that I would cut with an adze tool to formally open 'Imiloa for the children to enter. The "Pilo" is a word for umbilical cord, and is woven from green leaves into a tightly woven lei. I was given three tries to cut all the way through. No one told me what would happen if I failed to do this in three tries! 

Me, getting ready for the blessing on Feb 20, and open the doors for the future. 

actress, writer, former Miss Hawaii Elizabeth Lindsey, emcee for the gala, does a sound check. 

Gwen, Kathleen, Joy, Linda, Rebecca, Sally C. and Terry K. Thank you for the aloha spirit and beautiful as we got down to the wire. 

The tables, under the tent, before 400 guests arrive to the Gala on February 19. 

Take home bags for guests to gala fundraiser that Leanne had orchestrated against some resistance on the part of some.  

Close up of flowers from Tech friends.  

Flowers--specatular symbols of aloha from Joy, Terry K, Sally C. Rebecca, Linda, Kathleen on the eve of our opening--Lifts spirits of Gloria, Peter and Wes. 

Just one of many plates of cookies Leanne got donated by local cookie makers for our opening events. Enjoy! 

Peter poses in front of the Family and Friends event sign with Amy Bugado, his assistant, who is standing next to architect, Mel Choy. To Peter's right is Bennet Bolek, contractor, and Randall Monaghan, landscape architect. 

Left to right, 'architect of 'Imiloa, Mel Choy of Durrant Media Five, Margaret Shiba, UH-Hilo Development Director, Randall Monaghan, landscape architect of 'Imiloa's award-winning landscape, and Bennet Bolek, Chief Operations Officer of general contractor, Taisei Construction. 

Leanne used donated fabric to add color to the presentation of utensils. 

Floral arrangements that remind us we are in paradise.  

Making tasty punch, one bottle at a time. 

Kyle "everywhere" Brown, 'Imiloa's facility/operations manager puts the finish touches on a sign prior to launch.