About the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

CFHT is a joint facility of:

• National Research Council of Canada (see also Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre),
• Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France ( see also CNRS/INSU), and
• University of Hawaii (see also UH/IfA).

The CFH observatory hosts a world-class, 3.6 meter optical/infrared telescope. The observatory is located atop the summit of Mauna Kea, a 4200 meter, dormant volcano located on the island of Hawaii, host to the 12 Maunakea Observatories. The CFH Telescope became operational in 1979. The mission of CFHT is to provide for its user community a versatile and state-of-the-art astronomical observing facility which is well matched to the scientific goals of that community and which fully utilizes the potential of the Maunakea site.

The Observatory headquarters is located in Waimea (also known as Kamuela by the US Postal Service), where CFHT has been part of the community since 1977. Waimea is a small country town of 13,000 nested at 2,500 feet in the saddle between the Maunakea dormant volcano and the Kohala mountains. Named by the 2000 Robb Report as one of the 10 most desirable places to live in the United States, it has retained its 150-year old Paniolo (cowboy) culture but also offers many conveniences of modern life. Along with its green pastures grazed by cows, horses, sheep, and goats, Waimea hosts excellent schools, a modern hospital, the Kahilu Theater, shopping centers, over a dozen restaurants, and more!