Ho‘okahi ka ‘ilau like ana (Wield the paddles together)
For more than three decades, the W. M. Keck Observatory has had the privileges of observing from Maunakea, a place of profound cultural, spiritual, and natural significance. Our work has always required collaboration: across institutions, disciplines, and generations, and with a growing responsibility to listen, learn, and act with care for the mountain and the community to which it belongs.
Once described as “the impossible machine,” in its earlier days, Keck Observatory has evolved into one of the world’s premier ground-based astronomical facilities. That transformation has been guided not only by technical ambition, but by people working together with shared purpose. As we look ahead, ho‘okahi ka ‘ilau like ana reminds us that progress is only possible when we paddle in unison.
Looking Toward 2035
The coming decade represents a pivotal moment for Keck Observatory and for astronomy more broadly.
By 2035, a new long-term lease for the Observatory—alongside fellow observatories operating on Maunakea—will need to be successfully negotiated. This period will also bring generational transitions across our workforce, with significant changes in leadership, expertise, and institutional knowledge. At the same time, the global landscape of astronomical discovery will be reshaped by new facilities on the ground and in space, redefining how—and why—we observe the universe.
Our strategic plan is rooted in navigating these changes with intention: honoring place, supporting our people, and sustaining Keck Observatory’s contributions to science in a manner that is responsible, transparent, and community-minded.
Our Origins and Governance
The W. M. Keck Foundation funded the construction of the original Keck I telescope, followed six years later by its twin, Keck II. The project was managed jointly by the University of California and the California Institute of Technology. Keck I began scientific observations in May 1993, with Keck II achieving first light in October 1996. Later that same year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) joined the Observatory as a one-sixth partner.
Today, W. M. Keck Observatory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by a combination of public funding and private philanthropy. The Observatory is governed by the California Association for Research in Astronomy (CARA), whose Board of Directors includes representatives from the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, with liaisons from NASA and the W. M. Keck Foundation.
Stewardship of Science and Community
Keck Observatory actively endorses and supports the Astro2020 Decadal Survey, contributing expertise and perspective to help shape the future of U.S. astronomy. Senior staff, the Science Steering Committee, and colleagues from partner institutions have provided community input through the following submissions:
- The W. M. Keck Observatory: A Private/Public Partnership Enabling Frontier Astrophysical Advances in the Coming Decade
- W. M. Keck Observatory’s Next Generation Adaptive Optics Facility
- The Role of the W. M. Keck Observatory in U.S. Astronomy
- The Value of the Keck Observatory to NASA and Its Scientific Community
- Operational Funding for Optical and Infrared Interferometers
These contributions reflect our belief that world-class science must be pursued alongside thoughtful stewardship—of resources, relationships, and place.