For the Media

Procedures

When you want to take photos or videos of Subaru Telescope's facilities or conduct interviews with its staff, please submit the appropriate paperwork and coordinate your plans with the Press Officer at Subaru Telescope according to the following guidelines:

  • 1. The Public Information and Outreach (PIO) Office at Subaru Telescope supports media activities at the following locations and times:
    • Locations:For photos and videos, Subaru Telescope on theMauna Kea summit and/or at its base facility in Hilo. We can also arrange staff interviews at other locations (such as 'Imiloa Astronomy Center, with their permission).
    • Schedule:Weekdays except during local, state, or federal holidays, between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm.
  • 2. Begin the permit process at least 4 weeks prior to the preferred date of the filming. Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea is located inside a special science reserve area controlled by the University of Hawaii and leased from the State of Hawaii. For media activities on the mountain, it is necessary to obtain permits and make arrangements with entities in addition to Subaru Telescope.
  • 3. The "Application for Filming of the Subaru Telescope" form can be sent to the Public Information and Outreach Office of the Subaru Telescope by fax at +1-808-934-5984 or by E-mail to the address shown in the next section.

Application Forms

Summary of the forms needed for coverage at different locations

Scroll

 BaseSubaru TelescopeSummit general
1. Permit from SubaruYesYesYes
2. Permit from the State of HawaiiNo YesYes
3. Liability Insurance
(as part of 2. Permit from the State of Hawaii)
NoYesYes
4. Subaru staff escortYesYesNo
5. Mauna Kea rangerNoNoYes
6. Own transportation2WD4WD4WD
7. Understandings the risks
of high altitude conditions
N/AYesYes
8. Understanding safe driving on the mountainN/A YesYes
9. Understanding/awareness of the cultural
and the environmental sensitivity
YesYesYes
(left vacant for future addition)   
  • 1. For taking photos/videos or interviewing at Subaru Telescope, please fill out the form (MS-Word or PDF) and send it to Subaru Telescope, Attn. Public Information and Outreach Office.
  • 2. Hawaii Film Office, State of Hawaii
    Send these forms to the Hawaii Film Office as soon as possible (FAX +1-808-586-2572). Make a note if you plan to include filming at mid level facilities such as the Visitior Information Station (VIS) or Hale Pohaku (HP). The Hawaii Film Office or the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) will nofity you when your application is approved. Communicate with them if there is any change in the filming schedule/location and so forth by faxing this form.

    In case other observatories might come into view while taking footage outside, you need to request their permission during the planning stage. A sample letter is provided here (in PDF) for your convenience.
  • 3. Liability Insurance
    You need to have liability insurance when you take photos or videos for commercial purposes at the summit of Mauna Kea. The University of Hawaii as well as the Subaru Telescope and its parent organization National Astronomical Observatory of Japan must be in the list of the insured. The Hawaii Film Office specifies that the Certificate of Insurance must cover $1 million in general liability and name the State of Hawaii as an additional insured.
FAX

the Public Information and Outreach
Office of the Subaru Telescope

FAX+1-808-934-5984

MAIL

Public Information and Outreach Office
Subaru Telescope
650 North A'ohoku Place, Hilo
Hawaii 96720, USA

E-mail

the Public Information and Outreach Office of the Subaru Telescope

E-mail:pr_inquiry[at_mark]SubaruTelescope.org

Please change [at_mark] to @

General Information

  • 1. If you plan to interview staff at Subaru Telescope, please consider interviewing them at locations where most of them work:
    • Base facility: administrative, technical, engineering, computer, outreach, and science staff. Astronomers work primarily at night, either at the base or at the summit.
    • Summit facility: day crews, but not the night crews.
  • 2. Base facility (Hilo Office): The base facility is in Hilo in the eastern side of the Island of Hawaii. It takes about 20 minutes from the Hilo International Airport to the base facility (Access to the Base Facility in Hilo).
  • 3. Subaru Telescope: The Subaru Telescope is an 8.2m optical-infrared telescope at the 4200-m summit of Mauna Kea. It takes about two hours to travel from the base facility to the Subaru Telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea. A four-wheel drive vehicle is mandatory for driving to the summit. Please finish filming activities before sunset because the telescopes at the summit start to observe. The specifications of the telescope are summarized in "Specifications of the Subaru Telescope.”
  • 4. List of Mauna Kea observatories (Office of Mauna Kea Management)
  • 5. Map of Mauna Kea observatories (Institute for Astronomy at University of Hawaii)
  • 6. Map of Hilo