Is It Venus or a Satellite? A Local Astronomer Helps People Read the Night Sky.

Nick Bradley, born and raised on O‘ahu, developed a passion for astronomy at a young age and eventually turned the hobby into his profession.

His stargazing events are “about exposing more people to the wonders of the universe – getting them to look up, be curious, ask questions, find the answers and share what they learn. And honestly, it’s just a fun experience for literally anyone.”

Inspiration

In middle school, he discovered a book about constellations. He began connecting the dots in the night sky, using binoculars to explore. His curiosity grew when he visited the Bishop Museum and experienced its planetarium show. There he also learned about the local astronomy club, which introduced him to serious stargazing.

“Growing up, I was always just curious how things worked. I used to take things apart, even if they were still working, to try and figure out how they worked and learn something from it,” he says. “I used giant telescopes to look at amazing things. And now I’m left asking, ‘How do the stars work? How does the galaxy work? How does the universe work?’ I gotta know!”

Turning Point

In January 2019, Bradley turned his love of the stars into a business.

Bradley faced a slow-down in the pandemic, but it gave him time to be more thoughtful about his business, refine his marketing strategy, build his reputation in the community and plan for the future. After the pandemic, the business took off, he says.

Stargazers of Hawaii today offers both public and private shows for locals and visitors, including events at Turtle Bay Resort, Prince Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Center and Salt Kaka‘ako. Using 7-foot telescopes and stargazing apps, the shows engage audiences with hands-on explorations and visual aids that make stargazing and astronomical concepts accessible.

Parents Become Kids

Stargazers of Hawaii also does birthday parties, weddings and school visits – “anything outside that you can think of works great!” he says.

“Those community events are really fun,” he says. “…. It’s amazing to see schools and parents getting involved. Many of the parents have never looked through a telescope before so it’s a whole new experience for them as well. They become the kids.”

Hawaiian Culture

Bradley says stargazing is a way to honor the ancestral knowledge that Hawaiians have used for centuries to navigate the Pacific Ocean. The ancient practice of wayfinding – in which navigators use the stars, ocean swells, wind patterns and more to chart their course – is always discussed during his events.

“We talk about wayfinding – the traditional way and the modern way – as well as incorporate Hawaiian stories, along with the stars.”

Astronomy Community: The blend of tradition and exploration helps make the astronomy community in Hawai‘i so special,” Bradley says.

“We have the museum, which presents and shares research; the navigators, who study the stars; and the Institute for Astronomy, with all the giant telescopes on Haleakalā and Maunakea. There’s so much spark and curiosity. … It’s kind of a mecca for stargazing.”