Natural History

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Arts & Culture

Science City

From Pu'u Ulaula, the summit of Haleakala, the 360 degree-view is truly spectacular. If the skies are clear, you can see West Maui and the islands of Hawaii, Lanai, Molokai, and, even, on an exceptionally clear day, the island of Oahu 130 miles to the northeast.

Opposite the Visitor Center, on the northeast side of the mountain, just outside the national park, a cluster of white domed buildings and a forest of antennae sit amid the stark, barren landscape of red-brown clinkers, looking like a movie set for some science fiction saga. There's a road leading up to the complex, but it's off-limits to the public.

The structures house five major telescopes, which are managed by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy in one of the most sought-after locations in the world for ground-based telescopes.  At the 10,000 feet elevation, Haleakala is above 1/3 of the earth's atmosphere. A telescope placed there is above much of the variations of heat, turbulence and other atmospheric conditions that interfere with seeing the stars clearly. The difference is like looking out of a freshly cleaned window rather than a window covered over with a dirty film.

The equipment is used for projects by the U.S. Dept. of Defense as well as civilian research projects by scientists from around the world. The Maui Space Surveillance Site, a satellite tracking station and space-monitoring network run by the United States Air Force, is there, as well as television relay equipment.

The scientists call it the Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site. Everybody else calls it "Science City." The name was coined by a reporter for the Maui News back in 1964, when the Mees Solar Laboratory, the first solar observatory ever built in Hawaii, was dedicated. The name stuck.

The whole thing started in the early 1950's when scientists were looking for a good place to undertake radio astronomy experiments in Hawaii. While Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa were the best choices because of their height, Haleakala had better accessibility. Lugging scientific equipment up the mountain was not an easy thing back then.

Then, in 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik. The American space effort was stimulated by this breakthrough. In the space fever flurry, Dr. Fred Whipple wanted to create a satellite tracking station in Hawaii to form a link with a twelve-station worldwide tracking network. He wrote to Dr. Kenneth Mees, then-vice president of research at the Kodak Company.

Mees offered a bunch of his Kodak stock to the University of Hawaii if they would undertake the project. The University agreed. With the money they got from cashing in the Kodak stock, the University bought a small cinderblock house at Waiakoa in Lower Kula. The research center housed scientific equipment and was a place for the scientists to live. 

In 1961, Governor William F. Quinn set aside 18 acres on Haleakala to establish the Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site. The University of Hawaii's school for fledgling stargazers was called the Institute for Geophysics back then. In 1967, the name was changed to the Institute for Astronomy, after a whole lot more building and work. Besides the C. E. K. Mees Solar Observatory, which is devoted to observations and research into solar and lunar light, and the MSSS (Maui Space Surveillance Site), which is involved in tracking man-made objects -- space craft, monitoring satellites, rockets -- and laser technologies, there is the Solar C telescope, conducting solar observations and research; the Magnam Telescope; and the spidery-looking Faulkes Telescope project.

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Braddah-Nics Lexicon

Local Grinds

Local Style Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb Ground beef
  
• 1/4 lb Bacon
  
• 1/2 Chicken Bullion Cube
  
• 2 Medium Onions
  
• 3 Cloves Garlic
  
• 2 Bay leaves
  
• 1 Cup Celery
  
• 1 Large Bell Pepper
  
• 1 1/2 Cups Bean liquid and water
  
• 3 Cans Kidney beans
  
• 4 Cans Tomato sauce
  
• 1 Can Tomato Paste
  
• 1/4 tsp Cumin
  
• 1/4 tsp Grated Ginger
  
• 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  
• 2 tsp Sugar
  
• 1 Tb Oregano
  
• 1 Tb Paprika
  
• 1 Tb Mayonnaise
  
• 2 Tb Ketchup
  
• 2 Tb Red wine
  
• 3 Tb Chili powder
  
• Lots of White Rice!!!!
  
  

Procedure:

Chop bacon into 1/4in cubes. Chop onions and celery, mince garlic, finely chop bell pepper. Drain kidney beans liquid into measuring cup. If necessary, fill with water until mixture equals 1 1/2 cups.

Set stove to medium heat. In pot, brown bacon until crisp, add bell pepper, garlic, ginger, celery, onions, and red pepper flakes. Stir while cooking to prevent browning of vegetables. Once onions become translucent, mix in ground beef. Brown beef.  Once browned, add tomato paste and sauce, beans, bean liquid mixture, oregano, bay leaves, sugar, cumin, and chicken bullion. Once mixture starts a low boil, reduce heat and simmer. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Proceed to add red wine, red chili powder, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Let simmer  a few minutes more, and check for any needed flavor adjustments. Simmer for a further 30minutes. Finally, add in Mayonnaise, and serve over a steaming bowl of rice. Or refrigerate for 24 hours and enjoy the delicious "day after" taste!!

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