Volcano Travel

Volcano Travel · Tour

Mauna Kea Small Group: Hawaiian Star Navigation and Two Telescopes

4.9 1,620 reviews 4.9 stars out of 5, 1,620 reviews

Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

Big Island of Hawaii
Mauna Kea Summit and Stargazing Adventure Tour.
Capturing a captivating sunset at over 13,000' on Maunakea.
Snow filled craters at the summit of Maunakea
The Hawaiian night sky is revealed with your guide on Maunakea
Awaiting a sunset above the clouds on Maunakea
View of the day's last light on Maunakea

Mauna Kea, the White Mountain, tops out at 13,796 feet, 4,200 metres, and this is the small-group way up it. The stop at the visitor station is where the altitude gets absorbed, over a warm picnic dinner, and where the guides explain Hawaiian star navigation. That is the part worth arriving for: the people who found these islands did it by reading the sky, and hearing how before you look at it changes what you see. Sunset happens at the summit, above the cloud layer, over the Pacific. The stargazing is back down at a more comfortable elevation, with hot chocolate, and there are two instruments rather than one. An 11-inch Celestron to look through, and a Stellina digital telescope for deep space objects, which captures images you can keep and send on. One piece of practical information the operator repeats at every pick-up point, so it is worth repeating here: your pick-up time is not the tour start time shown online. Contact them to confirm it, and arrive 15 minutes early. Pick-ups run across the Kona and Waikoloa side, and there may be additional stops on the way up to Maunakea.

What's included

  • Private star show with telescope
  • Hooded parkas and gloves
  • Central Meeting Locations for Pick-up & Drop off
  • Hot cocoa and cookies
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  • A warm picnic dinner is provided with a choice of Southwest Stew or Vegetarian Chili (gluten-free).
  • Local taxes
  • Guide
  • Pick-up & Dropoff from Central Meeting Locations

Itinerary

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Island of Hawai'i

Island of Hawai'i, Hawaii, USA

Park in the lower gravel lot and walk to the Visitors Center, also called the Onizuka Center, to meet the guide by the picnic area. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your pick-up time. Note: your pick-up time is different from the tour start time displayed online. Contact the operator to verify it.

  1. Travelers staying in Kailua Kona will meet the guide here

    Travellers staying in Kailua Kona meet the guide here, at the benches nearest the hotel car park entrance, at the curbside. There may be additional meeting stops on the way up to Maunakea.

    Costo extra

  2. Maunakea Visitor Information Station

    A warm picnic dinner while you acclimatise to the higher elevation, and an explanation of Hawaiian star navigation before the summit.

  3. Mauna Kea Summit

    Sunset from above the clouds, looking out over the Pacific from the top of Maunakea. Afterwards the group drops to a more comfortable elevation, where the guides open up the night sky with 11-inch Celestron telescopes.

  4. Maunakea Visitor Information Station

    Down at a lower elevation after sunset, with hot chocolate, for a private star show through the 11-inch Celestron. The Stellina digital telescope handles the deep space objects, and the images it captures can be shared with friends and family.

Island of Hawai'i

Island of Hawai'i, Hawaii, USA

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Tour operator will provide filtered water refills for your bottle
  • Private Tour

Good to know

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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  • Minimum age is 13 years - No children under 13.
  • Due to the high altitude, this tour is not suitable for those with respiratory, circulatory or heart conditions, pregnancy, or poor health.
  • Scuba divers should be aware of altitude dangers. If you plan to scuba dive, do not plan to go to the summit within 24 hours after you dive due to the altitude.
  • Guests are required to wear closed-toed shoe and long pants. We recommend bringing a sweatshirt or sweater for layering.
  • Please provide your parka size (small, medium, large, x-large or xx-large) and meal choice at the time of booking. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will need to contact the tour operator directly.
  • There is minimal walking on this tour, the maximum being about 150 yards. Please note we are unable to accommodate any guests with a collapsible wheelchair. All guests must be able to enter and exit our vehicles on their own, and walk comfortably on uneven terrain with limited lighting on their own.
  • The access road to Mauna Kea is four-wheel drive only, so it can be bumpy. The custom off-road transit vans will get you to the top and back in safety and comfort. The transit vans can carry a maximum of 12 passengers
  • Snow is seasonal at Maunakea, with the heaviest snowfall occurring during the winter months
  • Please note your scheduled pick-up time may differ from the tour start time displayed online. Contact us to confirm your meeting time & location.
  • Weather changes can occur quickly, and the access road to the summit can close without warning; therefore we cannot guarantee access to the summit or favorable conditions.
  • No scuba diving within 24 hours
  • Up to 12 travelers per booking.
  • Mobile or paper ticket accepted
  • Guiding available in: en.

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