In today’s Hawaii Tribune-Herald (link expiration determined by outside news source).

Mark Chun, left, Lucas Chun, 7, Shy Canfield, 6, and Samantha Mondragon, 10, color star buttons at Sunday’s free AstroFest 2008, which was held at UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i. Photo by Jason Armstrong/Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

By Jason Armstrong

Hundreds of rural schoolchildren and their families got to explore the universe Sunday thanks to the generosity of a prominent Big Island family.

“We strongly believe this was a very successful first event,” David De Luz Jr., vice president of special events for Big Island Toyota, said of AstroFest 2008 held at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i.

The De Luz family, headed by patriarch David De Luz Sr., owner of the dealership, provided 1,200 passes so public and private schoolchildren could enjoy a free day at the planetarium.

“This is something that came out of our experience with ‘Journey Through the Universe,’” De Luz Jr. said of the weeklong astronomy education program available only to students in the Hilo-through-Laupahoehoe region.

Wanting to expose more children to the world-class planetarium, the De Luz family sponsored AstroFest, which was offered to elementary students in the Puna, Kohala and West Hawaii areas. It’s slated to become an annual event.

“That’s our plan,” De Luz Jr. said. “Our dreams are only as big as our imaginations.”

Students from participating schools each received four tickets to bring family members, although extra tickets were available for free at the door for those who brought extra people, said Vincent Recinto, ‘Imiloa marketing associate.

“The distribution went well, and all day long people have been coming in,” he said, noting AstroFest served as an appetizer for the annual AstroDay events slated for Saturday.

Recinto estimated 450 people participated in the AstroFest daylong festivities that included planetarium shows every half hour, lectures, teacher workshops and walking tours through what’s believed to be the world’s largest selection of Native Hawaiian and “canoe” plants.

“The 3-D show is awesome. The kids were like reaching for it,” said Melanie Mondragon, who brought her two children, a niece and a neighbor to the free event.

“It felt like we could grab them though,” added Suraya David-Sadira, 10, who attends the Waters of Life Charter School.

Her favorite activity, however, was an educational video game that allowed participants to guide a probe into a black hole.

Austin DaMate-Aina, 9, had so much fun playing the game and running between activities that he was sweating.

But the best part of the day, he said, was “hanging out with my friends.”