Each year, we host a 'Maunakea Coin Contest' that is open to all K-12 students of the Big Island of Hawai`i. Students are invited to create a design for the coin, with elements of culture, astronomy (such as night sky, constellations, and telescopes), and nature (such as plants, animals, insects) found on, or around Maunakea. On one side, the coin is stamped with the winners artwork, and the other side is stamped with the Maunakea Observatories Logo.

The 2024 Collector coin was designed by Megan Pierpont, a 10th grader from Ka'u High and Pahala Elementary School.