Held on November 28, 2000, in Waimea, the third CFHT Open House presented a number of astronomy and engineering exhibits prepared by the staff. Our goal was to help people understand the work we do.

The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope was conceived and built as a joint vision of France, Canada and the University of Hawaii. Since observations first started in 1979 we have grown and flourished here on the Big Island. CFHT's mission is to provide cutting-edge research facilities for our scientific communities. Astronomers do not pay to use the telescope. Rather, observing time is awarded twice a year on the basis of scientific merit. Operating and development funds come directly from the science agencies of our respective governments.

We operate 365 nights a year and competition for time on the telescope is intense. Only about one science proposal in three is awarded an observing slot. A new observing program is started every 3 to 4 days. The arrival of new observing teams often requires a change in telescope configuration as different science instruments are attached.

The telescope is the most visible part of our operations. However, specialized science instruments are what keep us competitive. The technically advanced and extremely expensive tools often cost several million dollars each and take several years to develop. On average they have a useful lifetime of only about 5 years before they are surpassed by new techniques and technologies requiring new approaches.

To keep the telescope and instruments working at full potential and to develop instruments at the cutting edge of technology requires a dedicated and innovative staff who possess a wide range of skills and training. CFHT has, since its inception, been extremely fortunate in having a staff of talented experts at all levels who routinely meet these challenges. They all call the Big Island home.

Many of our staff have spent a significant portion of their lives here, have raised families here, had grandkids, even retried. The Big Island is an important part of all our lives. We appear on the stages of local theaters, sing with local choral groups, share our photography in local galleries, perform as musicians and magicians and are involved in a hundred other activities which make life here so rewarding.

With this open house, we share with you and your family, a view of what we do and a glimpse into the fascinating universe of astronomy.