Volcano Travel · Tour
Mauna Kea Sunset with Free Star Photos on Your Phone Before You Get Home
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Big Island of HawaiiThe summit for sunset, and the stargazing afterwards, lower down rather than at the top. The photographs are the reason to pick this one. The guides shoot the sunset and the stars with their own DSLR, with you in the frame, and the pictures cost nothing and reach your smartphone by the end of the tour. Pick-up runs along the Kona side, and the times shift with the season. Target's car park in Kailua-Kona between 14:00 and 15:00, meeting in front of the McDonald's inside it. Queens' Market Place in Waikoloa between 14:45 and 15:45, at the shuttle stop behind the mall. Gilbert Kahele Recreation Park in Waimea between 15:30 and 16:30. The stop at the Onizuka Visitor Center, 2,800 metres, is for an early dinner and for letting the altitude settle, and it is where people change into winter clothes. The gift shop is open, but it sells no food and no drink, so bring what you plan to eat. The summit itself is at 4,205 metres, with most of the observatories in view. Stargazing uses a refractor telescope and a laser pointer, with the guide on the stars, the constellations and the planets. Where it happens depends on the weather that night.
What's included
- An astronomical telescope
- Mauna Kea Summit Tour
- Admission Fee for Mauna Kea
- Free DSLR camera photo of stars with you in it! (weather and moon phase permitting))
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- BLT or Vegan sandwich (Please let us know by day before the tour or it will be automatically a BLT)
- Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves
- 4x4 Passenger Van to the summit
Itinerary
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69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village
69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
Park in the large car park at the back of this shopping mall, and wait for the tour van at the shuttle bus stop by the curb, the one with the umbrella shades.
74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona
74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Park by the McDonald's in the Target car park. The white tour van parks right beside the McDonald's.
Kailua-Kona
Pick-up starts at the Target in Kona and works along the coast, with times that shift by season. 14:00-15:00, Target's car park, meeting in front of the McDonald's inside it (74-5453 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona). 14:45-15:45, Queens' Market Place: the shuttle bus stop behind the shopping mall, in the large car park (69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr #201, Waikoloa). 15:30-16:30, Gilbert Kahele Recreation Park (44-5400 Daniel K. Inouye Hwy, Waimea).
Onizuka Astronomy Complex
A break at the Onizuka Visitor Center, 2,800 m or 9,000 ft, for an early dinner and to let the altitude settle. This is also where people change into winter clothing, depending on the weather. The gift shop is open, but it sells no food or drink.
Mauna Kea Summit
The summit of Mauna Kea, 13,796 ft or 4,205 m. Most of the observatories are visible from up here, and the sunset gets watched from the highest point in Hawaii.
Onizuka Astronomy Complex
After sunset, stargazing with a refractor telescope and a laser pointer, and the guide on the stars, the constellations and the planets. An astro photo gets taken with you in it. Where the stargazing happens depends on the weather conditions.
Kailua-Kona
The return runs back through the pick-up points, starting with Waikoloa Resort.
69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village
69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona
74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- 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
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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- Please check the message on Viator. We will send a message about pick up time and location after the confirmation of your booking.
- Please note that pick up location has a free parking lot but we do not take any responsibility or liability for any damage or loss caused through the parking
- Please note that in times of bad weather sunset or stargazing are not 100% guaranteed and moonphase will affect the visibility of the stars.
- Please note that, depending on any guests get altitude sickness or other conditions, the time spent at the summit and the stargazing location may be adjusted.
- Guest under 16 years old or older than 75 cannot participate
- Not recommended for person weight more than 300lb
- Not recommended for person having respiratory problem such as asthma
- Up to 12 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en.
Reviews
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Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor