Since 1992, Star Gaze Hawaii has been packing its telescopes around to give guests a peak into the heavens from the comfort and warmth of sea level resort grounds in Kohala.
Since 1992, Star Gaze Hawaii has been packing its telescopes around to give guests a peak into the heavens from the comfort and warmth of sea level resort grounds in Kohala.
Setting up a 150-pound, 11-inch scope capable of gathering 1,600 times more light than the naked eye, owner Wayne Fukunaga searches for celestial novelties — like young stars still surrounded by gas.
“We try to find a planetary nebula, an old star that has blown off its shell,” Fukunaga said.
Building a clientele through concierge desks and other local relationships rather than advertising, the husband and wife team have brought astronomy to groups of a half dozen to 24 clients, and have even entertained up to 600 people at corporate conventions for such clients as IBM and Cisco. Fukunaga and his wife Verna are able to handle the smaller groups, and draw from the members of the West Hawaii Astronomy Club to help out with bigger stargazing parties.
“We talk a lot about the physics and chemistry of what we’re looking at,” said Fukunaga, who got his start through an avid love of astronomy and physics.
Local relationships have been key. But a recent revamp of their website and a promotional video posted on YouTube have paid off in an unexpected way. The company was noticed this year by the travel show “The Official Best Of.”
“Official Best Of ” shot its own video footage of Star Gaze Hawaii in November and will feature the company in a two-minute segment of the half-hour show, “Official Best of Hawaii 2015,” around Christmas.
It’s a huge promotion for a company that has grown slow and kept the local connection strong.
“It was out of the blue,” Fukunaga said. “I think the new website and the video did it.”
But that was only part of the criteria used to choose the company, said Paula Griswold, the show’s associate producer.
“There are fine stargazing tour companies on Hawaii,” Griswold said in an email. “We decided to select Star Gaze Hawaii because of the long professional experience and enthusiasm of founder and owner Wayne Fukunaga in showcasing astronomy to both novices and experienced stargazers, and in using the finest optical equipment. He brings astronomy to life.”
“Official Best Of” spends two to three months researching the attractions in each state it features, Griswold said. The show studies press releases, reviews, ratings, complaints, website quality, and comparisons with similar attractions or businesses, with an eye for the unique and unusual, she said. The show has featured shave ice, shrimp, lifestyle hotels and golf tours.
“Official Best Of” featured Hilo’s Imiloa Astronomy Center as the Best Science and Cultural Center in 2013. Honu Kai Bed & Breakfast in Kailua-Kona, ATV Outfitters Hawaii in Kapaau, and the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Papaikou were also featured that year.
“The Official Best of Hawaii 2015” show will air on KHON Fox in Honolulu on Dec. 26 at 1 p.m., on KCAL 27 Los Angeles at noon, and on The Discovery Channel at 6 a.m. Eastern/Pacific. The segment will also appear on the national travel site, www.OfficialBestOf.com/Hawaii.