Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center

Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center
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Phone (808) 329-3441
Address 73-200 Kupipi St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
 
We're told this place is permanently closed. Click here if we're wrong!
History of manned space flight, dedicate to Hawaii's first astronaut.

Features
• General: Astronomy / Stargazing • General: Cost: Paid • General: Educational • General: Good For Rainy Days • General: Kid Activities
• Cultural & Historical: Museum / Art Center

The Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center is an educational facility located at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA). The space center is dedicated to the memory of Ellison Shoji Onizuka who was Hawaii's first astronaut as well as the first Asian American and first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space. Ellison successfully flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C in 1986. He later died during the launch of the infamous Space Shuttle Challenger.


The center offers various interactive exhibits and videos that tell the history of manned space flight along with lessons in physics and living in space. The facility was built by the Hawaii Department of Transportation who coordinated with the Onizuka family. It opened on July 19, 1991 and now offers visitors self-guided tours and welcomes school groups to get excited about space travel.