Ka Leo Alakaʻi O Waikīkī

Astronomy Night at Waikiki School on Friday, January 23, 2026, is perfectly timed! The sky will be putting on a spectacular show, headlined by the largest planet in our solar system and a rare alignment of the Moon and Saturn.

Here is what you can expect to see once the sun sets (around 6:15 PM):

1. The Moon & Saturn: A "Close Encounter"

One of the most exciting sights that evening will be in the West-Southwest sky. The Moon will be a Waxing Crescent (approaching its First Quarter phase), making it a beautiful target for telescopes.

• The Moon: You’ll be able to see the craters and the "terminator" line (the line between light and shadow) in sharp detail.

• Saturn: Right next to the Moon, you will see a steady, yellowish "star." That’s Saturn! Through a telescope, you’ll be able to see its famous rings, which will be tilted at a narrow angle in early 2026.

• Neptune: While invisible to the naked eye, if you have a powerful telescope, Neptune will be lurking very close to the Moon and Saturn that same night.

  
  

2. Jupiter: The "King of Planets"

Looking toward the East, you won't be able to miss Jupiter. It will be the brightest object in the sky (other than the Moon).

• Why it's special: Jupiter reached "opposition" just two weeks earlier, meaning it is still incredibly close to Earth and at its brightest for the entire year.

  
  

• What to look for: In binoculars, you can see its four largest moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto). In a telescope, you can see the dark "cloud belts" across its surface.

  
  

3. The "Winter Hexagon" Constellations

January is the best time to see the brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere. High in the sky, you can find the Winter Hexagon, a massive shape made of six "powerhouse" stars:

1. Sirius (The Dog Star): The brightest star in the entire night sky.

   
   

2. Rigel: The blue-white foot of Orion.

3. Aldebaran: The "Eye of the Bull" in the constellation Taurus.

4. Capella: A bright yellow star high overhead in Auriga.

5. Pollux/Castor: The "Heads" of the Gemini twins (where Jupiter is currently located).

6. Procyon: The bright star in the Little Dog constellation.

4. Deep-Sky Wonders

For those looking through telescopes or binoculars provided at the event, don't miss these two "must-see" objects:

• The Orion Nebula (M42): Located in the "sword" hanging from Orion's belt. It looks like a fuzzy patch to the naked eye, but a telescope reveals a glowing cloud of gas where new stars are being born.

• The Pleiades (M45): Also known as the "Seven Sisters." This is a stunning cluster of blue baby stars located near Taurus. In Hawaii, these are known as Makaliʻi, and their appearance marks the season of Makahiki.

Saturday, January 17th, 2026 10am-12:00pm

To attend, please register here - January 17th Farm Work Day

Email Ms. Karla with any special questions - karlameek@waikikischool.org

Dear Waikiki Parents and Guardians,

We want to hear from you! Last year, our parent SQS participation rates were lower than hoped—this year, we are aiming to hear from every family. Your feedback is the most direct way to help us and the Hawai'i DOE understand what’s working and where we can improve for your children.

The survey is open now through March 12, 2026. It only takes about 8–10 minutes, and your responses are 100% confidential.

📝 How to Participate

• Where: Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026SQSParent

• Access: You will need your child’s first, middle, and last name initials and their grade level to begin.

  • Note: If your child has no middle name, please enter "#" in that field.

• Language: The survey and a letter from Superintendent Keith Hayashi are available in 15 different languages at the link above.

💡 Quick Tips

• Complete in one go: The system does not allow you to save and resume later.

• One per child: You may submit one survey for each child enrolled in grades K-12.

• Be heard: If a question doesn’t apply or you aren’t sure, feel free to select “N/A.”

This survey is for K-12 parents only. (Pre-K families, you can sit this one out!)

Questions? We are here to help!

• Phone: (808) 307-3650 (7:45 am – 4:30 pm, M-F)

• Toll-Free (Neighbor Islands): (855) 276-5801

• Email: osip-accountability.support@k12.hi.us

Thank you for being our partner in education and for helping us make Waikiki School the best it can be!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kusuda

January 16 - CPR for Kids

Jan 17th, 2026 - Saturday Farm Work Days at Waikiki School, 10am-12:00pm

January 23 - PTO Astronomy Night

Feb 21st, 2026 - Saturday Farm Work Days at Waikiki School, 10am-12:00pm

March 12 - Last day to submit SQS Survey

March 21st, 2026 - Saturday Farm Work Days at Waikiki School, 10am-12:00pm

April 18th, 2026 * SPECIAL EARTH DAY FESTIVAL*

May 16th, 2026 - Saturday Farm Work Days at Waikiki School, 10am-12:00pm

The Hawaii State Department of Education (Department) and its schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion. This requirement extends to all of the Department's programs and activities, including employment and admissions as applicable. Please direct inquires regarding the Department nondiscrimination policies and/or complaints of prohibited conduct to the Civil Rights Compliance Branch as follows:

Civil Rights Compliance Branch

Hawaii State Department of Education

P.O. Box 2360

Honolulu, Hawaii 96804

(808) 784-6325 or relay

CRCB@k12.hi.us

Beth Schimmelfenning, Director

Rhonda Wong, Compliance Administrator

Krysti Sukita, ADA/504

Anna Tsang, Title VI

Alphonso Braggs, Compliance

Blue Kaanehe, Title VII

Nicole Isa-Iijima, Title IX

Dana Takahara-Dias, Title IX - Athletics

The Department's non-discrimination policies and grievance procedures may be located at:

https://hawaiipublicschools.org/useful-links/policies/nondiscrimination-policy/

Email: ryan@waikikischool.org
Website: waikikischool.org
Location: 3710 Leahi Avenue, Honolulu, HI, USA
Phone: (808) 305-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaikikiSchool
Twitter: @WaikikiSchool