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Mauna Kea Reviews
4.6
73 of 558 Best Attractions in Island of Hawaii
Reviews
It's a long drive to the Visitor's Center. It's hard to believe that we can drive to the top of the world's tallest peak but it's true. We learned that from base to peak is 3,000 feet higher than Everest. We arrived at the Visitor's Center at 12:30pm and it was still cold so don't forget to bring a jacket. If you want to drive to the summit you will need an SUV and be sure to read the fine print on your rental car agreement - most will say that you can NOT drive the car on an unpaved road and part of the road to the summit is unpaved. We had a Nissan Altima that barely made it to the Visitor's Center. The air is noticeably thinner but it is worth it just to say we were there.
On top of Mauna Kea is a truly humbling experience that encompasses both the majesty found here of our planet and the sheer enormity of our solar system. We did the whole night a little differently and I wouldnt want it any other way. Once you park at the visitor's center parking lot you should cross the street and head up the hill there. At the top you'll find a much smaller crowd of people and photographers who stay fairly quiet and want to enjoy what Mauna Kea has to offer and arent interested in being surrounded by loud families and pushy tourists all waiting in line. Now... it iwll get cold so I recommend bringing some warm clothes and a second pair of socks to put on once the sun goes down altogether to keep away some of the cold you'll experience almost 14,000 feet above sea level. The sunset itself will go on for about a breath taking hour filled with slightly shifting colors. Once the slimmest sliver of bright yellow fades away the crowd will start to filter out and I highly recommend you stick around for another hour as all the light slips away for your next surprise. With such small amounts of light pollution at your elevation the stars leap out of their hiding spaces one by one until you realize it is pitch black and you can see the Milky Way. This is the real deal. To me, there is nothing as humbling as taking in the incredible expanse of the visible solar system and thinking about seeing light tens of thousands of years old that has traveled across countless miles to reach my little tiny eyeball. And with that in mind just try and maintain any sense of an inflated ego. Its hard to feel like the center of the universe when you can see so much of it and yet at the same time you are the center of your own experience and how inspiring it is to even get a small piece of this timeline. It was the cold that eventually made us head back to the car (with the help of the light of our cell phone to head back down the hill) and thats why I recommend the warm clothes and a second pair of socks that will let you stay up there to your heart's content.
This is a must do to see a awesome sunset. We drove ourselves in a 4WD it's is an experience driving to the top but part of the adventure. We stopped at the visitors centre for 45 minutes to help prepare for the high altitude at the summit. People were driving to the top in normal hire cars, don't do it hire a 4WD or take a tour on the way down we passed two broken down cars waiting for a tow truck. It is really really cold at the summit be warned. Sea level in waikoloa to the summit at 13500 feet in about 3 hours
If you are on the Big Island and you were not on Mauna Kea, you missed a lot from this island!
This is a very famous mountain together with Mauna Loa; since I was little I was dreaming to get here and finally my dream happened.
We tried first to hike the mountain in the morning. We acclimatized at the Onizuka Center and after we started our hike very slowly on the existing trail.
The trail is not difficult BUT due to the increasing lack of oxygen we didn’t succeed to get on the top. We are doing hikes but we never exceeded 2300 m (approx. 7550 ft). At approx 3800 m (approx 12470 ft) we decided to return since we both got signs of altitude sickness and we didn’t want to ruin our vacation after. Maybe we weren’t enough hydrated but we had with us 5 liters (1.32 gallon) of water. It was disappointing for us and for this reason we decided after 1 week to try again but with a 4WD from Harper and we finally reached the top. The unpaved road is really rough. The views from the trail are surreal.
You have to touch this mountain!
We drove up to the visitor center one evening to view the stars. The drive up can be foggy and rainy so use caution. Also there may be cattle or goats crossing the roads so just be aware. The visitor center offers nightly talks and there are huge telescopes that you can look through. There are volunteers who give a little talk about the stars, constellations,they point out the planets with a laser light. The view is absolutely amazing, we saw the southern cross, and the rings of saturn through the telescope, the craters of the moon. It was really cool and interesting, and FREE. You can drive past the visitor center all the way to the top if you have an all wheel drive. We thought the night sky was spectacular just filled with stars and we saw the space station go by. Just be aware it is cold up here. the temp dipped into the low 40's so bring a jacket or blankets because it does get cold . well worth the drive up.
Wonderful tour up to the very top along with stargazing through amazing telescopes. Even watched the space shuttle fly over. Take warm coats, it's 35-40 degrees at the top.
Awesome experience, we only went as far as the visitor center and were not able to continue to the summit as you need a vehicle with a 4 wheel drive to go all the way to the summit. But they do require you to stop at the visitors center to check the road and weather conditions of the summit if you plan on continuing on. The stargazing at the visitor center is something you have to see to believe! They also have telescopes available so you can see even more and knowledgeable employees speaking about and pointing out different constellations. The visitors center has information about the mountain and they sell hot chocolate, souvenirs, sweaters and snacks. Make sure to bring warm clothes and gloves even if just going as high as the visitor center as it gets surprisingly cold up there.
Due to protesters, the road to the summit is closed. Protesters are protesting a 30 meter observatory, but despite the new planned observatory which I was not planning to build, I was not granted access. Too bad, no lava flows, no Mauna Kea maybe no stop at the Big Island next time.
The visit to Mauna Kea was truly amazing. The drive was really easy, roads are great, and no winding roads. We were concerned as my 4 year old daughter gets nauseous. She did good. We had drive through the clouds, which was an amazing experience, and once past the clouds the sky was clear. We got to the visitors center just before sunset and the reddish glow, and the looking at clouds below was spectacular. We have never enjoyed Ramen noodles before like on this evening, and the hot chocolate and cappuccino were required to stay warm. Warm clothes a must as it gets close to 0 deg C, and with the wind, can get chilly. The talk on the celestial objects was very interesting, my 10 year old had a great time.
The drive to mid mountain where the visitor's center is is quite easy, despite what other reviewers say. Make sure you stop along the side of the road if you start to feel light-headed. tha altitude change is not subtle. Drink water, bundle up, bring snacks and a camera. we arrived stlightly before sunset. The visitor's center was nothing to write home about, but we did a short hike up a hill to overlook a lush valley filled with craters. We were above the clouds, so the sun was very bright. Bring sunglasses. Pick a spot on the ground and let nature do her thing. It's a beautiful sight! We did not go to the summit because we had a rental car and didn't want to chance it with the gravel road, although we saw many people head up there. Wear sneakers or hiking boots. Make sure you call the visitor's center before heading up to check weather conditions. It's quite windy, so again...BUNDLE UP.
1. Dress warmly
2. Drive a four-wheel drive
3. Learn to drive downhill on gears rather than brakes
4. Take it easy -- 14,000 feet altitude can tire you out quickly
5. Look around and realize you are standing not only in a sacred place, but at the top of the world. Drink it in.
Wow.
Just wow.
Highly recommended. You can drive all the way to the top. For the last piece to the top you are required to have a four wheel drive. Views are just stunning. This volcano is the highest mountain in the world, measured from its base.
We did the drive to the top of Mauna Kea in March on a beautiful day. The road is good all the way up to the visitor centre so can be done in a regular car and that is at 9000 ft so we were well above the clouds even at that point. Once you leave the visitor centre the paved road gives way to loose gravel and whilst it is more than wide enough for two cars to pass comfortably it is slippery in places and steep so 4WD is definitely required. However, this is not the scariest road I have ever driven up - the Waipo Valley road on the Big Island is definitely scarier!! Just take this one slowly! I didn't suffer from altitude sickness at all but I guess everyone is different and this trip is definitely worth doing if you have the right car as the views at the top are amazing - even though you are well above the clouds the views are still great its good to see the observatory buildings. You can park by the observatory and do a short (15 min) hike up to the top of sunset point where there is a shrine. Note that as others have said - there is a big temperature difference between sea level and the top of Mauna Kea - we were okay with long sleeved tops and light jackets but definitely make sure you have additional layers to put on at the top!
We rented a 4x4 from Harpers and drove up to the summit of Mauna Kea on the summit tour on Saturday. We went into the Keck telescope and it was awesome!. After the tour, we stayed on the summit for sunset and then went down to the visitor center for the stargazing. It was a surreal experience.
Do not forget a jacket. Even though you are Hawaii, it can get cold up on the summit at 14,000 feet. There was still patches of snow. Take some water and food. I suggest taking a unopened bag of chips to the summit and to see how fat the bag becomes. Also, look at the water bottle caving in after you come down from the summit.
This was truly one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island. We are a family of four (kids 6 and 9) and we knew we couldn't go all the way to the summit based on the ages of the kids. But we thought we'd give the visitors center a try. It had been rainy over a couple of days on the Big Island, but we called ahead and learned that it was clear at the center. No kidding!!
Drove up from Kona on the Saddle Road. That was a roller coaster! But the road was very well maintained. Reached the visitors center in about an hour and a half. We had worn our jeans and sweatshirts, thankfully, and probably could have used some more clothes. Took some pictures as we were literally above the clouds. Saw the sunset, even though it was probably more magnificent from the summit. Hung out inside the center watching the movies and stuff. All their snacks were astronomically themed. Milky Way. Starburst. It was cute.
A big crowd did arrive, which made the center seem even smaller. They got out the telescopes as it started to get dark, and we could view the moon and saturn. Pretty cool. Once it was completely dark, that's when it got amazing. Stars everywhere! There was a ranger with a high-powered laser pointer who gave a star tour. He pointed out all the constellations and we even saw the Milky Way. Saw some constellations that you we'd never see at home, like the southern cross. Very cool.
It appears that from Kona to Hilo the highway that traverses Mauna Kea is a shorter cut rather than driving from down south on Highway 11. For the most part it is drier than the rest of the island. The elevation is much higher than the rest of the island. At times the road swerves and curves all heading downhill for several miles as we neared Hilo. I enjoyed the moments our car touched the lingering clouds as they stood by the road. That was an exhilarating feeling. The temperature dropped dramatically at such altitude. I actually enjoyed the chilly weather. There were expanses of hardened lava across the fields.
Photography is my hobby, as selfish as it may sound, I drove here by myself and opt to leave my family at the hotel (60 miles away) as it was not safe for young kids above 10,000 feet.
I've done much research prior to driving up here and I was determined to stay longer, brought camera gears, jacket, tripod, lots of water, gloves, hat and 2 socks. Still at almost midnight it was COLD!!! and I am from Seattle. I have summit Mt. Rainier 7 years back so I am quite familiar with preparation and cold weather at night.
There is enough warning about going up, and friendly people at the Mauna Kea visitor center is mainly concern for your safety, so don't mistake them for being strict or limiting they are not. The ranger at the summit will "recommend" you to go down at 7:30PM but I believe this is not part of National park so they can only recommend people to start heading down. I stayed until Midnight by myself to take photos (timelapse). I think my results are not bad. Below is the link of my video.
Start at 2:21 for the Mauna Kea summit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDE5Cr70XYo
This place is a must for star trail photos, and also for romantics :) Unfortunately I can only go by myself, it was a bit too cold on my own. I would have stayed longer if I had enough camera battery or if I didn't get scared of the dark :)
- Make sure you have full tank.
- Saddle road is a trip on its own, up and down and sometimes yo don't know if there is an end to the road at all.
- When the road flattens around 40 miles from Kona, Be aware of police, they are monitoring your speed, you don't want to get a ticket on your vacation.
- There is a Mauna Kea Park, this is not yet the turn towards the visitor center coming from Kona. You need to pass by a military camp and from there its around 4 more miles.
-Turn left on the sign that says mauna kea visitor center, it should be 6 more miles up from the turn.
- Mauna Kea Summit is an additional 8 miles from visitor center.
Hope this helps. Thanks to Tripadvisor members for sharing their experiences. So my video is my way of thank you all and the future members.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDE5Cr70XYo
Nachdem wir auf Maui bereits den Haleakala Nationalpark besucht hatten und auf über 3000 Metern waren und uns vom Kilauea haben beeindruckend lassen wollten wir eigentlich keine weiteren Vulkane besichtigen. Unterwegs auf der Saddle Road entschlossen wir uns denn doch kurzfristig zu dem Abstecher. Es war beeindruckend,wir können es nur jedem empfehlen.
Die Anfahrt über die Saddle Rd. ist unproblematisch. Die Strasse ist inzwischen komplett asphaltiert und teilweise sehr gut ausgebaut.
Wir waren gegen 8:30 am an der Visitor Information. Ausser uns nur noch 3 andere Autos. Es wird empfohlen sich dort 30 Minuten zu aklimatisieren. Unbending an warme Sachen und Sonnenschutz denken! Die Weiterfahrt wird nur Autos mit 4WD empfohlen. Die Strasse nach ganz oben war mit 4WD als auch wieder nach unten unproblematisch.
We went up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, don't need to go up to the summit! We thought not going up to the summit was a jip, but it turns out the only reason most people go up to the summit is to see the sunset. We parked at the visitor center, hiked up a bit and got to see a beautiful sunset without having to go up to the summit. After the sun sets, everyone has to leave the summit any way. So, star watching has to be done at the visitor center. They have awesome volunteers who gave us a wonderful presentation of the stars and constellations with laser pointers. They gave us stories of the constellations. It was a wonderful wonderful experience. The sky was so clear, the stars so much easier to see here. This was one of the major highlights of our trip to the Big Island. Best of all, it's free!!!
We drove as far as the visitor's center. The road was quite good up to the 9300 ft level. There is minimal parking and the visitor's center is small.The view was incredible. Although I've been to the top of Pike's Peak, in some way this was more amazing because it was sunny and clear at the visitor's center and the clouds were below us. They offer telescopes for nighttime viewing and advised us to arrive at the site by 5PM due to limited parking. However, we did not return for stargazing. In order to go to the observatory at the 13,000 ft level, a 4 wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Even if you do not view the stars or go to the highest elevation, the drive across the saddle road to reach Mauna Kea is well worth it to see the varied and fantastic geography of the island.
Not a problem getting to the visitors center but that is only at 9000 feet and you still have another 4800 feet to climb. The road is gravel and we have been on worse in Arizona but not at this elevation. Take your time as there is no guard rails and it is not a smooth road. There is snow up on top so it is cold have a jacket.
Pros:
I've never seen so many stars. It was an awesome sight. The center's speaker was interesting and kind of funny. Watching the sunset from sunset trail was a beautiful sight. The drive from Mauna Lani was easy, 55 minutes, minimal traffic, clear (no fog) although from the resort it appeared that Mauna Kea was totally clouded over. The road is easy to drive: nice surface, not many turns although the access road to the center has a few turns. The road is well lit by reflectors on the return in the dark.
The center sells ramen noodles and hot chocolate for $2 each. This really helps with the chill and taste better than it sounds when you are cold.
Cons:
We visited 11/23/2014, the day after the new moon. We thought that less moonlight would cause less interference with viewing the stars. However it was a zoo at the center, hundreds of people in a small area and cars with headlights constantly flashing and lighting up the area. People were talking constantly making it hard to hear the center's speaker who was interesting. The area for viewing the movie was too small for the crowd - no seating or standing room but. They replay it so you can watch it if you need to get out of the cold.
Overall it could be a better experience without the headlights constantly flashing in your eyes, and the crowded condition but it still is worth it. I wish we did the summit (on our own).
Tips:
No gas. Make sure you have enough. One young man at the Center was out if gas. Not sure what his options were.
Cold. Dress for the weather. The center had hot water and cups available so You can bring your own tea if you wanted.
After a winding route to the visitor centre, we spent the evening star gazing. You need to dress warmly as it gets very cold, minimum of long trousers and sweatshirt but coats and blankets help.
Parking is limited so arrive in plenty of time before sunset. There is an opportunity to see through telescopes and a great talk with laser pointers showing you the night sky. There is a lot of waiting around before it gets properly dark, bring snacks. There is hot water and you can buy coffee and hot chocolate at a price.
Well worth a visit but try and chose a time when the moon is not out as you get to see more stars.
The drive across the Saddle Road from Kona on the west side takes a couple of hours. Considerably shorter journey from the Hilo area. The road off the Saddle Road up to the Visitor Centre is relatively easy, but only 4 x 4's are allowed beyond the Centre up to the summit at 14,000 feet as it's a loose gravel road. Hire vehicles aren't allowed beyond the Visitor Centre, & apparently it can cost upward of $1,000 for any vehicle to be recovered. There's no public access to the observatories on the summit
You may need to get there an hour or more before dusk, as the parking arrangements have changed & you may struggle to find a parking space
Check out the website for talks, activities, & likely weather conditions
The Visitor Centre at 9,000 feet has a number of big telescopes which are well staffed by knowledgeable guides. There are free talks & a tour of the night sky guided by laser pointers. It's remarkably clear even without using the telescopes. We have never seen so many stars with the naked eye. If you have some, bring your binoculars to use whilst you are waiting in the queue to view through the scopes.
As well as the guides pointing out some of the planets (Mars was visible), you might see the International Space Station pass overhead, other satellites & shooting stars.
Take some warm clothing for when the temperature drops; even us Brits found it chilly because we had already acclimatised to the higher temperatures at sea level.
There are free hot drinks, & restrooms. Limited range of sweets/food available as you might expect at this altitude
I have never seen as many stars as I did from the Mauna Kea Visitor Station (maybe in a planetarium, but that's artificial). Be forewarned that it gets quite chilly, so don't forget a sweatshirt and long pants! In the visitor station they sell sweatshirts and pants, but it's quite pricey. They also sell hot cocoa packets, tea bags, coffee and ramen soups. They have hot water available right outside the building. My wife and I arrived at about 5:30 and ate dinner in our car. We missed out on the short hike people do to see the sunset, so I would recommend getting there about an hour before sunset if you want to see it. You can't see it from the visitor station. We did not have a four wheel drive so we could not go to the summit. As the stars come out, volunteers set up multiple telescopes outside the visitor station and we were able to see Saturn and its rings through one of them! It was amazing! They also give a talk about some of the stars and constellations. Be prepared for big crowds and lots of noise, so it is not the most peaceful place for stargazing.
We went early for the star gazing and looked around. We did not venture to the top. The look out we hiked to was beautiful. The star gazing was awesome. Definitely worth a visit. It was amazing how many stars we could see.
Amazing sunset from the summit. We drove up with a Jeep 4x4 and felt it it was easy for anyone who is comfortable with 4-wheel drive. We started with a short hike for the views at the visitor center which helped with acclimation. Drove up and did another short (1 mile) hike over to the small lake and it was super beautiful - so worth it (also another chance to acclimatize). Then on to the summit. Give yourself time to find the best spot to view the sunset. Some spots have lots of dishes in the foreground and others don't. Bring every warm item you have as it gets cold.
Before traveling to mauna kea, I extensively read the online forums here at tripadvisor and looked around at the various online web site with information regarding mauna kea. Some say that it is suicide to drive to the top without a 4 wheel drive vehicle, others say that a 2 wheel drive car can handle the drive to the summit if weather permits.
I was eager to go to the summit, but my wife was hesitant. She didn't want to die. I couldn't blame her. Many people in online forums warns of many people who have plummeted to their doom because they drove to the summit of mauna kea.
We decided to just go to the onizuka's visitor's center for the daily astronomy tour.
We got to mauna kea on a clear sunny afternoon in May 2009. After a short while, we saw one 2 wheel drive vehicle head up to the summit. I brought up the possibility of going up to the summit to my wife. We decided to ask a park ranger and ask for his opinion.
He said that the official policy is to strongly advise people against going up to the summit in anything other than a 4 wheel drive. But unofficially, the park ranger said that if you go up slowly at around 10mph, and if you come down USING ENGINE BRAKING, the drive to and from the summit is manageable for a reasonably careful driver.
We decided to go. We drove a 2009 hyundai sonata, and I saw 2 other vehicles- a chrysler pt cruiser, and a mazda 3 drive up the summit. The PT cruiser was in front of me the entire time, and both of us kept a safe distance and drove up the 4 mile unpaved portion of the road at a crawling 10mph. Once at the summit, the view was breath taking. After a few minutes however, my wife and the other couple that traveled with us could feel the lack of oxygen and started feeling light headed with very mild exertion. We walked around the telescopes, took some pictures, and drove back down and joined the astronomy tour after sunset.
On the way down, we used ENGINE BRAKING/LOWER GEARS along with braking and kept the speed at around 15 mph. Engine braking/using lower gears is essential to prevent you from burning out the brakes and plummeting uncontrollably to your doom.
In conclusion, the trip to the mauna kea summit was breathtaking and worth the risk(mostly because I survived =) ). We were lucky to be there during favorable road conditions. I would recommend driving up to the summit assuming that you take park ranger's recommendations seriously(drive at less than 15mph, and use engine braking). Many people warn that the high altitutdes could cause bad judgement. So if you sense that you can't handle the drive because you feel drowsy, turn around and head back down.
In summary, you can drive to the summit of mauna kea on a weather permitting day with a 2 wheel drive vehicle going 10mph up to the summit and 15mph down the summit using engine braking with normal braking. If you decide to go to the summit, ask the park ranger at the ozinuka visitor's center the day you go to make sure that the road conditions are favorable for a 2 wheel drive.
I once again want to stress the slow speed and engine braking. We saw some people who work there drive up and down the mountain at around 30-40mph in their big SUVs. I maintained my 10mph. I did not want to die. If you do decide to go to the summit, be sure to drive at 10mph and use engine braking.
I do not want anybody dying because they read somewhere online that driving to the summit would be a breeze. Drive slowly on a sunny day and come down with engine braking.
During my 1 week trip to the big island, I went snorkeling, night snorkeling with manta rays(amazing experience), hiked in waipio valley, and visited south point. all were amazing experiences, and I personally enjoyed the 30 minutes I spent at the summit of mauna kea the most, mostly because I like astronomy.
We just got back from Mauna Kea last night. We went to the summit. If you want to go and you are adventurous, you should drive yourself. If your interested in the sunset, stars and leaving the stress to someone else, let someone do the driving for you. It costs $200 per person so it's a toss up if it's worth it. If you have the cash, do it.
We left from Waikoloa at 3:15. Stopped in Waimea for dinner then up for the trek. Man, what a drive. Up, Up, Up. Then you get to the visitors center. There you come to the cross roads of going it alone if you drove yourself up. We went up in our rental two wheel drive. It was a bumpy, bumpy ride. We made it but scary. However, when you get there, it's like nowhere else. Above the clouds with breathtaking views. It's cold but not crazy cold.
We took pictures but didn't wait for the stars. Drove back down to visitors center and looked at the stars from there. If I had to do it over, I'd stay up there since that's the hardest part. The drive down is easy. Just go slow.
All in all, it took us 1hr and 45 mins to drive all the way back. The road is windy and there are a lot of locals that drive in pickups that flat out fly. If you can, just pull over and let them pass. The road once off the mountain and back on Saddle Road is well paved but so windy and up and down.
Do the trip. Make sure you don't go crazy w/ activity if you are going up. You'll need your rest and nerves. It is a must though if you like this kind of stuff. If you're not really into it, don't bother. Take a good camera.
We drove to Mauna Kee, as it was a clear day. Frankly we were ill prepared, both for the temp - it was 90 in Kona and it was 60 at the visitor center. Not tragic, but we did buy hoodies. We had heard that to get past the visitor center you needed a 4x4. And it was true - we spoke to the staff of the pitfalls of going in a regular car, beyond the fact that it voids your rental warranty. However even to the visitor centre it was beautiful. It is still 9000 ft. The drive too and from was awesome. The clouds emerged as we arrived and so the scenery was only enhanced by the different colours, fluffy clouds and dark too. Beautiful. Next time we will do a tour. Sounds awesome.
4 Klms above sea level, this is a very large and a very beautiful dormant volcano. We went twice afternoon and daybreak. The views from the top are all encompassing and hard to describe the wonder of being so high. We did suffer a few minutes of minor altitude sickness, when we first arrived. But it is so worth it. They say 4wd only to the top but there were tour buses and many normal sedans at the top. They are serious when they say low gear down the mountain, far better to be slow than to run out of brakes. Slow and steady up and down.
When we arrived in Hawaii almost 2 weeks ago, the Visitor’s Center was still closed due to the protests. It actually reopened a few days ago, so we decided to check it out. We had really high hopes, but the only saving grace was getting to watch the sunset from a nearby hill that’s not even on the visitor center property, and which we only found out about by happenstance. So, be forewarned:
- There are NO TELESCOPES available for public use. (Other than the one pointed at the sun, which was underwhelming. One side just looked like a solid red filter; the other looked solid orange. Nothing actually to see. Even a staff member acknowledged it was pretty boring as sole flares are on an 11 year cycle and we’re in year 7...)
- The Visitor’s Center was barely reopened. You couldn’t even go back into where they sell shirts, books and snacks - it was all blocked off. They had a TV set up in front playing a movie that you could barely hear.
- the Center is actually located in a bit of a valley, so you wouldn’t want to watch the sunset from there. There’s actually not much of a view at all. Instead, walk though the gravel parking lot, turn right and go through a short, large tunnel under the road, and walk up the hill (actually kind of steep and hard because of the altitude, but totally worth it). They don’t advertise this, but it’s where everyone goes. Don’t miss it, or the trip will be a total waste.
- I recommend descending the hill after sunset but before it gets too dark so you can see to walk down. Or bring a flashlight.
- You can see a ton of stars from the visitor center parking lot. The moon was directly overhead and really bright the night we went, so the light pollution from that (and people’s headlights, and some other random lights) was a little annoying. Still a good view, but you really need a telescope.
Anyway, they’ve got a ways to go before they’re really back.
My husband and I parked at the visitor centre and hiked to the summit of Mauna Kea in November 2011. It took us 4hrs 37min and we felt like we were totally out of shape (heavy breathing, many stops, weakness in the legs...). We then walked 2hrs around the ridge looking at the telescopes and the magnificent view, then walked back down to the centre. If there is one thing to do on the Big Island (apart from swimming with about 100 wild Spinner dolphins!), this should be it. The Hawaiian elders consider Mauna Kea sacred with its "lake" on top. And with good reason - we never felt so elated and so grateful to be living on this beautiful planet as at that moment. When the sun set and the stars came out, it was breath-taking. If you decide to do this, plan time (60min min) to acclimatize at the visitor centre on the way up and on the way down. Bring layers of warm clothes (including mitts), rain jacket, sunglasses, hats, sun protection, headlamps, a ton of water (not joking) and a change of clothes. :)
The sunset from the top of Mauna Kea surrounded by all the observatories is absolutely breathtaking. We went on an arranged excursion. It seemed pricey before we went, but it was well worth the price. You see why the car rental companies don't want their vehicles on the road as one stretch is extremely rough.
Unique experience but this is the same place as the Mauna Kea observatory, Mauna key attraction etc. It is either the #1 or 2 ranked item in the list of attractions listed above in tripadvisor. You may want to read the reviews about the place there
Went last night to the visitor centre of Mauna Kea. We toyed with the idea of going on a tour to the too but decided against it as so expensive. Right decision! The views from the hills next to the visitor centre were out of this world! Aim to arrive by 5:30pm as it gets busy in the car park. Take lots of warm clothes and gloves even in summer. Take snacks and teabags (hot water available outside visitor centre). Climb the hull across the road from the visitor centre for the best views and take s camera!
We made it to the visitor center, not the summit. It rained like crazy the whole drive up saddle road but as we climbed to the top, the rain disappeared. We saw a beautiful sunset on the way up. You can not see it at the Visitor Center.
We were lucky as the clouds parted and we got to see the stars. The visitor center is small. It shows movies indoors while you wait for the sky to darken. You can also shop for souvenirs. The shop sells soup and hit cocoa packets. There is hot water for it and you will need something warm. Bring any and all warm gear including a parka, gloves and hat. You can buy a coat at shop. there are bathrooms outside around the back.
At dark, a volunteer leads a sky show using laser pointers and everyone crowds around the telescopes to get a close up of the stars. As a bonus, the Hubble telescope flew over us and he pointed it out. Everyone cheered.
We could not stay long-- too cold. It was 40 degrees up there.
Re parking. Avoid the parking lot closest to the visitor center. Once dark it's pitch black and swarming with visitors-- a nightmare to back out of. The lower lot is not that far and was much easier to exit.
Saddle road was under construction and huge stretches were unsurfaced in February making for a very rough ride . The use of reflectors instead of lights is very useful for driving.
This is a must see when on the big island to go at least to the viitor center like we did which is just under 10000 feet high and then go acroos the street and hike up the mild hike to the small mountain and watch sunset and see the world from above the clouds. there are picnic tables near the visitor center. the roads to the visitor center are well paved and 2 way. It felt like the moon or mars up there.
We stopped at Mauna Kea to see the stars - I only wish we had rented a car with 4WD in order to get up to the summit. It's definitely worth going to the visitor center - they have telescopes set up to see different things in the sky - we looked at Jupiter!
It definitely gets cold up there, but it depends how tolerant you are to cold weather. I'm from the Chicago area and I was fine with a sweater and only wish I had jeans on instead of capris.
The sight of the stars was amazing and crystal clear. Definitely worth the drive up.
We visited Mauna Kea as a couple on a Wednesday in November for watching the sunset. The spectacle itself started at around 5:30 p.m.. But make sure you are there in time. Unfortunately the place was heavily crowded especially by Asian tourist groups which were running around (sorry to say) like crazy chickens. We arrived at the top at around 4:30pm actually being among the first cars and catching one of the best spots with our car. Unfortunately the before mentioned tourist groups didn't much care about our privacy and were constantly running around in front of our car taking countless selfies. So don't expect too much of romance!
What else is important:
1) Bring warm clothes - it was about 9 degree Celsius.
2) Be aware of the altitude and take the advises at the visitor center serious. I felt a little dizzy and tired for instance. It might help to spent some time at the visitor center (about 30 min) to get used to the altitude.
3) 4x4 recommended, especially in bad weather conditions. However, the day we visited Mauna Kea we would have easily arrived safe at the top without 4-wheel-drive.
4) If you want to stargaze make sure there are no high clouds. They have telescopes and guides every evening at the visitor center for free. Make sure to leave a tip! Unfortunately we were not able to see much through the telescopes due to the high clouds.
All in all it was a great experience which I can recommend! The view was absolutely stunning and totally worth the minor interferences.
You can do it by your own. This mountain trail fits perfectly a day hike adventure. It start in the Visitor Centre, where we should fill the form to the rangers, registering our leaving and then walk up, until the summit. It is an hard trail, that depends a lot on the weather conditions. In our day, it was perfect, without clear and warm. The problem is the altitude and the snow up, that make the progression more hard. The signs in the trail aren't enough visible if there are smog or darkness, as they are rusty sticks. The walk itself is wonderfull, with Mauna Loa always in the field and the clouds behind our feet.
We went to the summit early august the day before returning home and boy did we love it. We watched the sunset. If you really want to reach the summit, the 13 974 feet mark, you can make the walk up there quite easily, just take your time! Not much oxygen up there. Plus, on that day, there was a volcanic eruption in the volcanoes national park so we were able to see the lava flow coming back down from the summit. It was awesome.
Tips and advices: YES, you can EASILY drive up there with a 4x4, unless your rental company won't allow it. We even saw ford mustangs and dodge chargers go right up there driving right by us! So unless you want to pay 200$ / person for a guided tour, pay the 15$ more per day for a 4x4 and it will be worth your while. The only difference you get with a tour is hot chicken soup and stargazing with a laser pointing constellations...
For the rest, stargazing at the visitor's center with the telescopes is just great. We clearly saw saturn and we couldn't believe it. It seemed so close!
Amazing place to see! We drove to the Onizuka visitor center from Kona to do the nightly stargazing program (we didn't head to the summit because we had 3 kids with us). It didn't take nearly as long as we thought it would - we got there in about 1 1/2 hrs. The drive on the Saddle Road wasn't scary at all - in fact it was fun. We saw wild turkeys and lots of goats. After checking out the small visitor center, we walked up a trail (with quite a few other people!) to watch the sunset. The views up there, above the clouds, were amazing! We then headed back down to look through the telescopes. It was really crowded and there were long lines for each telescope. Unfortunately we went on a night with a full moon, so there were hardly any stars out - looked much like our home sky in Colorado! I wouldn't go when the moon is so big if we did it again.
The highlight of the night was the star talk given by Cliff. He had a laser pointer to show us different things in the night sky.
Our kids (5, 9 & 10) all loved it - especially the hot chocolate we got from the visitor center!
It isn't often you get to drive your truck to 13,500 feet from sea level and back again in a single day. But on the big island of Hawai'i, you can do exactly that. However, don't try to do it in anything but a 4WD vehicle, preferably a non-rental one, since the road to the summit is a rough one, mostly unpaved, and is subject to rockfall and other hazards.
But the trip to the top is worth it. My wife and I, along with two hitchhikers we picked up at the visitor's center located at 9,000 feet, caravaned up the mountain with a group lead by one of the observatory volunteers. We had the opportunity to visit one of the telescopes, Keck 1. It was a chance to see one of the largest and most sophisticated telescopes in the world.
After that, we had a geologist talk to us about the history of the mountain and the island in general. It was tough to hear him sometimes with the wind whipping by at 50 - 60 MPH but what we heard was fascinating. After that, I braved the walk out from the telescopes to the true summit of the mountain and walked the 1/4 mile or so up to the very top of the island.
We stayed and watched the sunset and drove back down at dusk. All in all, it was a wonderful visit.
If you plan to visit Mauna Kea, make sure you rent a 4x4 vehicle, and bring warm cloth.
The visitor center is at 9000 ft, that's where they will setup various telescopes at night for people to watch other planets. If you want to go to the top at 14,000ft, then you must have a 4x4, it's required.
We came in October, it was 85 degrees at sea level, but only 43 degrees once we reach the top. The weather is unpredictable and you can't really rely on the forecast. On our way to the visitor center, it was really foggy, visibility was only a few feet. It was still foggy at 9000ft, but the webcam inside the visitor center showed clear skies at the top. We drove to the top, part of the road was really bumpy, then it was paved to a degree. Time your trip so you can watch the sunset over clouds. Even if you didn't bring warm cloth, you can park your car facing west and watch it inside your car. The visitor center sells sweatshirts, etc. but a bit pricy. You have to leave the top 30min after the sunset. We drove down to the visitor center and waited for the sky to get dark and watched the stars.
It's an interesting and somewhat unique experience.
Really enjoyed everything about our Mauna Kea trip. Sledding on boogie boards, then to the visitor center for film. Stargazing with giant telescopes at night at the visitor center. Bring your own food & dress warm.
Mauna Kea is a wonderful place to visit if you love stars or just clear views that go on forever. Be warned: you MUST have a 4WD to get up to the top of Mauna Kea or pay an arm and a leg ($200 a person) to have a tour group take you up. Most of the way is paved but there is a very steep part that is no and even our 4WD was fishtailing a bit.
But if you don't have a 4WD and want to save your money, then just visit the Onizuka Vistor Center, especially after dark. They have a wonderful setup of a variety of telescopes and volunteers come and talk about the stars and show you various stars and even galaxies and Saturn!
The sunset from atop Mauna Kea is simply breathtaking, while there are clouds below you up here you above them all. Bring warm clothes, it gets into the 40's here. The visitor center also sells coffee, hot chocolate, and cup o' noodles (along with other snacks and the usual tourist mugs and trinkets) to warm yourself up!
A bucket list must!
It's a long trip up and back down again, but it's worth the trip! There is an unpaved stretch of road just above the visitor center that's all washboard bumps, but it's not a tough drive. I'm actually happy we had a 4 wheel drive jeep, not because I needed the traction, but I used low range on the way back down so that I didn't need to use the brakes.
The visitor center was a bit of a disappointment - it is mostly just a science-toy shop, with not a lot of good information about the mountain or the observatories at the top. Likewise, there's not a lot for visitors in the observatories. The Keck observatory has a small visitors room and a viewing gallery, but there's not a lot of information provided to visitors.
A short trail takes you to the actual peak. Coming up from sea level, you can certainly feel the thinner air. The sky below us was partially cloudy, but we could see Maui and parts of the big island below us.
If you want to go to the top of the mountain (almost 14,000 ft), get there before 6pm, in the summer! I had no idea sunset was around 7:30pm or so in July. The park ranger at the visitor's center (around 9,000 ft) will not let you go up to the top if you get there after 6pm he told us. Reason being the car lights interfere with the observeratories at the top. He highly recommended we come back though. Next time! The visitor's center is still cool though! There is a great site mountain that you can hike up a few hundred yards to get a great sunset over the clouds. I read on this site that you need to stay at the visitor's center to acclimate to the altitude, and that is definately correct. Right before the visitor's center I started to have a slight headache and felt a little light headed. Walking even makes you a little short of breath and I'm a fit male in my 30's. They say drink water and eat sweets to help. It did, after about 40 min. I also read on this site do not go to the top of the mountain without a 4 wheel drive vehicle; that's rediculous. Just go! it's not that bad. But make sure coming down the mountain you know how to put your car in low gears to save your brakes. Even though we didn't get to go to the top the trip to the visitor's center was still awesome. Driving our Jeep rental, top down, very neat views, listening to an awesome radio station 102.7, and driving through the clouds was one of the coolest experiences of our entire hawaiian trip! But it got so cold we had to put the top back on our jeep. Since we couldn't go to the top of the mountain we chilled out at the visitor's center. The inside is mostly for kids, but outside we got to look through the large telescopes the amatures always have set up. Got to see Saturn and all of it's rings, plus a neat galaxy with billions of little stars. When it got completely dark, one of the volunteers gives a very interesting hour long talk (with a laser pointer) about all of the stars, the milky way, planets, constellations, navigation, etc. One thing I learned during the talk is that viewing the stars at the visitor's center is actually better than if you were at the top because there is more atmosphere (80% vs 60% at the top). Turns out you need oxygen to see stars with your naked eye. When we first got to the visitor's center about 30 min before sunset it was 58 degrees, when we left around 8:30pm it was about 45 degrees. It was July 7th.
OXIGEN AT 68% ON TOP!
We did Volcano NP in the AM and arrived to Mauna Kea at around 4:30 PM. I brought the finger oxygen meter with me. I am a fit and healthy 49-year old. As soon as we arrived to the top, within 5 mins, my reading was: hear beat 105 and oxygen level 68%!!! I could not believe my eyes. After some research on the way down to sea level, I learned that the oxygen saturation between 13,000 and 15,000 feet is around 60% to 70% so my reading makes perfect sense. We did stop at the visitor center and we had a 4-wheel drive Chevy Tahoe. The ride up on dirt road IS TOUGH. My husband did it. I think if I was driving, I would turn back…. It is steep one lane with two way traffic. We did almost slide backwards on gravel a few times at lower speeds. So, you need some momentum and higher speed to get to the top and with curves and grade, it makes it a challenging ride. Beautiful scenery on top. I started to feel pressure on my head at visitor center already. The hubby said on top that he feels like he is buzzed and lightheaded. My teenage kids had headaches too. Just be careful! I personally wouldn’t stay until sunset on Mauna Kea…. Unless you leave right away to get down. I wouldn’t want to drive this road in the darkness. Our engine overheated on way up. Many people open the hood to let their engines cool off on top. The attached oxygen meter photo is the second photo I took after recuperating in the car for 2 mins.
If you don't want to pay for a tour you can take any vehicle as far as the visitor center. The astronomy class they give every night is very good. They set up 8 telescopes pointed at different stars and you can go around checking them all out.
Well worth the 1.5 hour drive each way from Hilo. Don't forget to bring some warm clothes, after the sun goes down it gets cold quick.
I have never seen the stars as close and wonderful than on Mouna Kea late at night all alone from the regular street. I didn't make it to the top because the weather wad very cloudy the secons time I went.
I loved tge stars.
On one of our automobile trips around the Big Island we stopped at Mauna Kea Visitors' Center at about the 10,000 foot level. We could not proceed to the summit-about another 3,000 feet higher- because we did not have a four wheel drive or were with a tour group. This ride to and from the the visitors' center was great. The grade has a 17% grade and there are warnings about the steepness on the way down. On the way up the mountain the 17% grade is not as daunting. The visitors' center employees and signs warn about riding the brakes down the mountain.
This piece of the earth is really remarkable. The weather conditions are unique and perfect for the observatories situated at the summit.
At the visitors' center there is an audio video presentation of the mountain and the scientific study of the universe. The show is very interesting.
Virtually all the people at the visitors' center and on the tours were well clothed with warm clothes. We arrived in shorts, sandals, and tee shirts. After all, we were just at sea level enjoying 80 degree temperatures. The temperature at the visitors' center was about 40 degrees and even lower-below freezing-at the summit. We enjoyed ourselves regardless of our dress. The other tourists looked at us in dismay that they were cold in their outfits and we were in our summer wear romping around the outside area.
We did not have time in our schedule to return another day to reach the summit with a tour group.
At the summit are about a dozen observatories operated by several universities and other countries. We regret not being able to reach the summit. If you intend to reach the summit either rent a four wheel drive vehicle or make reservations with a tour agency. When making reservations with a tour company schedule the trip and make the reservations several weeks in advance. When we made the spur of the moment decision to go to the mountain there were no reservations available for two weeks.
No matter where you are on Big Island, Mauna Kea is definitely a place you need to visit. Go with a tour--it's not cheap, but you won't have to worry about renting a 4X4 and you'll have a tour guide who can show you a lot. Being on the summit, above a sea of clouds is so incredibly surreal and magical. It's something that you absolutely have to experience for yourself because no photos or words can accurately depict what it's like. The sunset there is amazing and breathtaking. Sometimes you'll get streaks of clouds that add some vibrancy and color to the sunset. Don't miss the view of the peak; my guide shared with me that the shadow of the peak rises above the clouds, so that was a neat thing to see.
After the sunset is stargazing, which is stunning. Since there is no light pollution there, you can really see a ton of stars. It is a truly magical experience.
There is nothing like Mauna Kea; it will be the highlight of your trip to Hawaii!
First off, go on your own and don't take one of the expensive tours.
The tours all rushed to the summit to watch the sunset, than returned to the center for a short period, than off they went to return their passengers.
We drove ourselves and thus got to look at the stars at the center for as long as we wanted without the pressure to leave.
Only negative was we couldn't do the summit because we had a rental car, but the stars and planets are the draw for us and the center was where the telescopes were anyways.
Be prepared as it is cold up on the mountain so bring gloves, a jacket, toque and pants.
If you are on the Big Island, a visit to Mauna Kea is a great adventure and worth the evening out.
This is an amazing place few in the world will ever get to experience. If you are on the Big Island, you must make time to see this. The visitor's center is at 9,200 ft and you should stay here to acclimate for about 45 minutes. Try to hydrate for a couple of days to counteract the altitude sickness that may come on. You do need a 4 wheel drive to get to the top. There are tour companies, but they are expensive. We packed a picnic supper and rented a car from Harper's Rental out of Hilo for the evening for $145. Pack for winter - It's cold up there. After watching the sunset, you drive back down to the Visitor's center where they have 4 telescopes set up and some astronomers that give a lecture with a laser pointer on the constellations. You can see 100% of the Northern Hemisphere and 80% of the Southern Hemisphere from here. I even saw the Southern Cross (cue Crosby, Stills and Nash). They have a hot water station, so bring some hot chocolate mix (they sell it, but it's expensive).
Amazing views from the top but worth taking an organised tour - if possible one with stargazing - you won't find a clearer sky anywhere!
We were unlucky with the weather. Arrived around 6:30pm and the information centre and surrounds were covered in cloud, so could not see the sunset. The clouds eventually lifted but mist stayed around so they could not bring out the telescopes for a while, and then had to bring them in early. We saw Saturn and the moon. The moon telescope was the least powerful of them all but of course it was a better view and my favourite. Saturn was disppointing. There were over 100 people there, so long lines to each telescope. It was freezing so wear as much as you can! Hot water is provided, you can buy coffee and hot chocolate packets in the info centre, but cup noodles for dinner was the best idea we saw, as you'll need to bring something. It was a long and cold night for very little gained, which was disappointing after reading all the great reviews. But sounds like it is worth it if the weather is good so worth the trip if this is your sort of thing.
Didn't do enough homework and missed out on the summit. Tried to hire a 4WD from Alamo, didn't get one and then found out wasn't allowed to go to top with that company anyway. The wall of shame at the visitors centre ( its a very small visitors centre)shows the disasters that have befallen others and most looked like FWD cars. Cloudy so missed out on the stargazing as well! Research people!
The trail can be in bad shape, so make sure you have decent 4x4 with low gearing! When coming down don't boil your brakes - use only gears to brake.
Rental cars are not allowed to go to the summit by contract, but if you dont tell rental company - they wont know ;)
We drove up to the visitor center in order to watch the moonrise and star gaze. We arrived just a few minutes before the visitor center closed and the staff were incredibly patient with us as we picked up a few souvenirs. Watching the moonrise was a tremendous experience. Star gazing was a tad bit disappointing due to nearly full moon plus cloud cover moving in but still a worthwhile trip. It was 86 degrees in Kona when we left and 43 degrees at the visitor center. Dress accordingly. Also, there's no need for your headlights to be on bright when entering the parking lot.
Went with my cuz' and her kid, as her child is learning the hula from the protesters. It's an experience if you're with locals and and emerse into the true Spirit and reason of the protest. One day I will get there, but the experience to listen to the chants and see the hula done by all generations was totally spiritual!!! A true amazing afternoon. Support the Mauna Kea protesters, bring them food! A well organized area and very clean. Others should learn from the Aloha pride and culture!!!!!
Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano in the Hawaiian islands standing at over 4000m. On it's top there is an observatory that is one of the best in the world. It is a wonderful and exciting place to visit. There are no tours of the telescopes themselves but tourists can walk outside them and experience a truly unique experience. There are many tour operatours who will take you up there. Mauna Kea can however be a dangerous place. It is very high and so altitude sickness can be a real problem. It is therefore essential that any visitor stops at the visitor centre to acclimatise. There is a rough road up Mauna Kea after the visitor centre so 4x4 cars are required. As an observer on the summit I regularly see 2x2 rental cars trying to make the summit and then see them when they are broken down. Both the rough terrain and the dust is a problem for non suitable vehicles. Weather conditions can also be dangerous, visitors should not travel up the mountain in bad weather. Sometimes the observer can only exit the mountain safely due to their experience with the road because seeing conditions are so bad. It is important to obey american road law and drive on the right not down the centre of the road. Take sunglasses if driving at sunset or sunrise and do not park just over the crest of the hill.
If people are safe Mauna Kea is one of the best things to see in Hawaii. Don't be the person who had their rental car roll down the cliff edge. If you are not travelling with a tour group (who will tell you what you need to bring), remember it is cold at higher temperatures and you also need to drink a lot more water than at lower altitudes.
We couldn't make it for the sunset, but we got there to see the star show. Have never seen so many stars so clear. It was like you could reach out and touch them. Very knowledgeable people to tell you about the stars and formations using a neat laser that seems like it touches the stars themselves. Make sure you where long pants and at least a sweatshirt as it gets cold up there. They do sell hot chocolate, tea, coffee along with some neat souvenirs to buy. If we ever get back there I will go back. They have lots of telescopes to look through so if your a star gazer this is for you….
Mauna Kea is visitor centre is located on 2800m above sea level, 1 hours driving from Kona city. From there, visitors can learn more before heading to the peak 4200m if wishes to do so. At this level, you can hike slightly higher on the trail but be careful with the strong winds!
However, I would not recommend visiting the peak, because parts of the road are not paved along the way. Also, the weather condition up there can change at any time, the wind can be as strong as 100mph, I was told that there is a risk of getting trapped along the way, and rescue team can only reach in days.
If you have decent 4 wheel drive, go up before sunset.
Bring warm clothes, water and camera.
You will be rewarded!
Loved being above the clouds!
The observatories are cool to look at!
just jot back from a visit to the mountain summit with my wife, she was scared at first after she heard from a woman working in the Visitor center that u MUST have a 4x4 to go up the mountain or else there is real danger of axle breaking, flipping to a ditch, frying your brakes, damaging your car and etc.. well i just got back from there with a private car and all i have to say about it that is BS! the road going up the mountain is unpaved only for the first 4 miles, after that the road is paved until the very top. no rocks or boulders on the unpaved road, just a flat gravle road similar to a scrubed road going up. you do need to know how to drive and moreover, how to drive downhill and not frying your breaks but this is driving skills, not car related, if it's not snowy or rainy i see no problem going up with a regular car. the view was awesome, like no other, we went up to see the sunset and the stars, it was amazing, you find yourselves above the clouds watching the sky and clouds change colors, then come the stars... afterwards a slow downhill to the visitor center to catch the stargazing lecture being held there and off you go. time great spent in Mauna Kea. a MUST when coming to the big island.
Mauna Kea is one of the best places for star gazing in the world. We had an excellent 8 1/2 hr experience of Star Gazing at Mauna Kea. We went with a group of 14 with Hawaii Forest & Trail. It's pricey at just over $200 each. We got 20% off w/ a Holo Holo Discount Card. The guide was excellent. The food was average. The experience of star gazing was exceptional with their powerful telescope and with the narration of the guide. We live in the city so we haven't seen this many stars in a long time. We saw the rings of Saturn, Mars, the north star, milky way, and the Aurora Borealis. Book before you get to Hawaii as they fill up 2 weeks or more in advance.
First of all I want to be as detailed as possible. #1 because this was a hike not a ride up to the top. #2 because I had a really hard time finding others who had wrote a review about their time hiking Mauna Kea. Here goes - we left the Visitors Center "base camp" at 0530 it was 48 degrees and is 9,200 feet. Filled out the required ranger form for what time we left and who was on the mountain. There were two vans of Japanese tourists changing into warmer gear and heading up in vans at this time. It was still dark and we had another hour til sunrise so the stars were easily visible. We were equipped with our camelpacks, flashlights, warm clothing and hiking sticks not to mention lots of snacks. Locating the trailhead can be deceiving in the dark. You will need to get on the main road go right and start heading up the mountain...it will be about a 1/4 mile on the left with signs denoting the start of the trail. Both my husband and I are avid hikers. Up to this point our highest climb prior to this was 12,600. Mauna Kea is 13,796. I can only compare this hike to climbing on Mars. Very desolate, no vegetation or wildlife not what you think of when you think Hawaii - but we knew this going in. The first 3 miles we climbed a total of 2,800 vertical feet - basically straight up...some of this was in black, thick sand - a double whamy. We took the extra time to view the sacred lake at mile 6 - not much to see basically just a body of water. Some area's on the trail are all lava rock - the trail itself is just a little lighter in color. Great views especially of the sunrise. I was never so happy to see the observation towers. Your last mile straight up is on the road. All in all the journey up took 5 hours. 7 miles and 4,500 vertical feet up to the top. A ride down from the top is not guaranteed, fortunately we met Ranger Mike at the top and he was gracious enough to take us back to the visitor center. I recommended this hike as it is a great accomplishment. But this is not for the occasional hiker - 4,500 vertical feet up and conditions can change quickly not to mention the rugged and tough terrain. I recommend this for the experienced hiker
Get a tour, best way to learn about the island and the observatory's. The summit is breath taking and the stargazing was amazing especially with a few thousand dollar telescope.
My visit to Mauna Kea was life changing. I went with Arnott's Lodge Tour where David, an avid astronomy student, was my tour guide. We traversed up to the top of the mountain via a 4-wheel vehicle, stopping at 9,000 feet to acclimate to the high altitude. When we finally reached the summit, it was simply spectacular and so so special. You really felt like you were on top of the world. We stayed and watched the sun set, which was easily the most beautiful sun set I have ever witnessed- 360 degrees of paradise as the sky lit up with the whole spectrum of colors. After the sun went down, you'd just look up and see the stars painted all over the clear black skies above. We were quickly reminded of our small place in the universe after having just experienced the grandeur of being on top of the mountain. David proceeded to give us an amazing star show telling stories of how the Hawaiians used to use the night sky to navigate the seas- just amazing. Thank you!
We timed our drive from Hilo to Mauna Kea Summit just in time for a breathtaking and memorable sunset viewing. We parked our vehicle for a first class, front row seating, with a view of the sunset right in front of us, it was just awesome. The colors were just spectacular. We took many pictures. It cooled down to the 40's when the sun went down, felt like I was back on the mainland. We were able to view the stars in the night sky. Awesome. The shorter telescopes didn't seem to be working at the Visitor's Center; there was a line for another one but the line was too long and slow. So, if you do have the opportunity driving up to the top with a 4wd, don't miss your chance!
Short drive up to visitors center. Need 4 wheel drive and full tank of gas. Wife got altitude sick so we did not go to top. Bring coats/hat lots of water
If you get the chance to go to Mauna Kea, do it. It is completely worth the money. As for Arnott’s tour, he delivered exactly what he promised on his website and more. Our tour guide was Daniel, a native Hawaiian, who was sweet, a great entertainer and really knowledgeable about astronomy, Hawaiian culture and Mauna Kea.
After picking everyone up at the various stops we went to Rainbow Falls (this stop was unnecessary – I would have preferred more time on Mauna Kea). The next stop was for food. Per the other reviews, you are better off bringing your own food. The food stop is a Seven Eleven. This is my biggest criticism of the tour - surely there are other places in Hilo to stop at for food!?!. We went to the Island Natural Market & Deli in Hilo before the tour to pick-up some prepared food (I highly recommend this place – the food was delicious and they had a good selection especially if you want something healthy).
We stopped at the visitor center for dinner and to acclimate. After dinner we hoped in the tour bus and drove above the clouds to just below the summit. The weather could not have been more perfect. Besides seeing all of the observatories, we had views of Maui, the shadow that Mauna Keu projects on Hilo as the sunset and the ocean.
After watching sunset from near the summit, we drove part way down the mountain, got out of the bus and got to see the stars. A lot of reviewers have commented that Arnott’s doesn’t provide telescopes and instead uses a laser pointer. This is true and I think it was one of the best parts of the tour. I live in a city where I’m lucky to see 3 stars on a clear night. On Mauna Kea we were able to see the night sky – hundreds of stars and numerous constellations. This is how the Polynesians made their way to Hawaii 1600 years ago! It was far more interesting to take in the vast night sky than to focus on one star. Although we were blessed with good weather, we were somewhat hampered by an early rising full moon. Daniel did a great job of pointing out important constellations before we lost the opportunity to see things. Afterwards, we stopped at the visitor’s center again and had the opportunity to use their telescopes.
I can see why this tour might disappoint some. It did not go too in-depth about the geology of Mauna Kea or the observatories. It was more of a general overview. This is one of those times where it is worth clarifying your desires before choosing a tour company. Daniel, our tour guide, was perfect. He helped break the ice in the group and kept checking-in to make sure we were all feeling okay with the high altitude. Plus it really made a difference to have the opportunity to talk to a local. He is very knowledgeable, especially when you ask him direct questions. On the trip home, he played some of the Hawaiian music he has recorded over the years. It was a perfect way to end the evening.
We went to the free star gazing last night. The drive up to the visitors' centre was fairly easy as Saddle Rd seems to have been recently improved. From the turn off from Saddle Rd, the visitors' centre is 6 miles further.
We got there at 7pm and saw a great sunset on top of the clouds.
The nightly star watching program starts at 6pm, with some informative videos and a talk from one of the volunteers. We got there at the end of the talk which was in the Q&A section and was very interesting.
Once it starts getting dark, the volunteers have a number of telescopes pointing at interesting things to see (last night it was the moon, the jewel box, saturn amongst others). As it got darker they went for some cluter nebulae. At about 8:30 there was a talk outside pointing out various constellations. As the moon was out and bright we were a little limited to what we could see.
It was pretty cold. I had all my icebreaker layers on and was still a bit chilly! So, to warm up, I kept popping back in to the visitors centre to warm up a little whilst watching an interesting video on asteroids, meteors, solar flares etc.
There is also a shop with merchandise and hot drinks.
The event got pretty busy around 7 - 8pm but people started leaving around 8 and by 8:30 things were pretty calm. We left about 9:30 when the shop was starting to close (no more warmth!). The gazing evenings run to 10pm.
Its a free event, run by volunteers so its nice to buy something from the shop or leave a donation, some of those telescopes cost quite a bit! The volunteers were also super nice and no question seemed to be too silly or dumb, all questions were answered!
Overall, it was a really enjoyable evening out, a bit different from our evenings so far in Hawaii.
We booked the Arnott's Lodge tour up. The tours are a bit expensive, but we didn't have a four wheel drive vehicle so it was really the only option to get to the summit. Seeing the sunset up there was a fantastic experience and having a guide to point out some of star constellations in the night sky was nice as well. This is definitely a must see if you are on the Big Island.
My preschooler and I had an amazing time visiting the visitor center on Mauna Kea. It was a great introduction for him to telescopes, planets, and stars. Being able to see Saturn was a pretty awesome experience! I would definitely go back if we have the opportunity. The drive up is a bit scary (for me!). We had fun watching the temperature on the car thermometer drop about 50 degrees from when we left the beach earlier that day. I would recommend bringing a jacket and/or sweatshirt as well as a hat. I was really cold (even with my Minnesota blood). The people that taught the group did a fantastic job. Very entertaining and informative!
We arrived at the Mauna Kea Visitor's Center late morning and had a picnic lunch at the tables behind the center.
Next we went into the fenced-in area right behind the center to see the Silversword plants growing there. When the sun shines on them, they look like they are made of silver.
At 1:00 we went into the Visitor's Center and watched a movie on the 13 telescopes on Mauna Kea. Then we got into a caravan with 7 other 4-wheel drive vehicles and drove to the Summit.
Our guides, Cliff and Joe, were full of information about Mauna Kea, and gave us guidelines on how to stay healthy while at 14,000 feet.
We were thrilled to be able to go into the Keck Observatory, and saw the scope being turned and adjusted.
The guides then explained each of the 13 telescopes, who built them, what they do, and gave us a lot of information.
The guidebook available back at the Visitor Center Gift Shop was also helpful.
We came to see the stars but were lucky to catch the sunset. It's just a magical place to go star gazing. It does get cold so make sure you bundle up with hat, mittens and a jacket. The park rangers are funny and informative about various astronomy facts. A nice surprise was seeing the Hubble telescope streak across the sky.
If you are staying in Hilo, maybe this is worth the trip, but in my opinion, not from Hilo. The situation at the visitor center at night is very chaotic, with kids and people, and dust everywhere. Car lights, flashlights, and people's phones ruin the viewing experience.
The telescopes that are set up were appreciated, but they weren't focused on anything out of the ordinary (in fact they weren't focused on anything at all). An out-of-focus Saturn on one (and even if it was in focus, it wasn't much better than seeing Saturn on my 10" Dobs), and I don't even remember the other...it was out of focus too. So the telescopes were a disappointment...that was one of the main reasons I was there.
There was no moon, and the stars were impressive, but it's no better than Volcanoes NP in the dark. I saw just as many stars, and the Milky Way, hiking to lava night. Personally, the best I've seen is on top of Haleakala on Maui.
We did this on the way back from Hilo (to Kona) anyway, so it didn't cost us a lot of time. But I didn't really enjoy the experience too much.
We went as far as the visitor center and walked up the nearby hill and watched the sunset. It was really pretty. We stuck around to look at the stars but with a half moon- really nothing worth talking about. Not sure I would recommend this to others especially with the drive from Kona. .
The review if for the visitor center -good road leading to the center, clean restrooms, outside table to have a lunch or snack, clean area. I wish it was less cloudy to see the surroundings.
We did not have a 4 wheel drive and did not want to chance going up to the summit. We were there in the mid day. Had a packed lunch, so we had a picnic. It was a nice 60 degrees, but windy. I had researched that it can get colder than this. The view is pretty cool looking at Mauna Loa. Some of the hills are above the clouds(pretty). There are a couple of trails and hills you can climb. Remember you are at 9200 feet-breathing is a little more difficult. The view from the hill directly across is amazing.
Once you leave Hilo, there are no facilities until the visitor center.
What a great place to visit with my wife , transported there by Arnotts who were great hosts and made the experience very memorable, we stopped half way up to Mauna Kea to help everyone acclimatise ,
We were allowed plenty of time to see the various observatories and even allowed into one such observatory to see the inner workings. All in all a great experience and if visiting the Big Island it must not be missed.
The date of our visit was actually Nov 2011 and Arnotts are still providing the same excursion.
Definitely this place is a must go. Highly recommend. We drove up to the top and the view is sooooooooooo good there. Sun set is so beatiful
If you've never drive a car off pavement, if you've never driven a mountain road, then you might consider the drive risky. Otherwise, it's a walk in the park. Do not miss this place, the views in every direction are fantastic, as is the sense of remoteness and desolation (when you're not looking at the observatories, of course...) I'm not a religious person, but even I felt a sense of inspiration.
When I started researching Mauna Kea, I was amazed at all the warnings of doom and destruction I read about this trivial mountain road. I thought, "trucks are bringing the world's most sensitive astronomical instruments up this road all the time, how hard could it be?" My thought was justified - it's just not that bad as mountain drit roads go. In fact, the dirt part is less than 4 miles long. The dirt starts at the Onizuka visitors center but the last few miles up to the summit are paved again, I suppose to keep down the dust that might affect the telescopes.
Technically my rental car company (Budget) doesn't forbid you from driving the road, but if you do have a problem, you're totally responsible. The only company that specifically encourages you to drive the road is Harper's, so I rented a 4WD for a day from them, although quite frankly and despite what others would try to tell you, any car can handle this road. A Honda Civic had no trouble at all reaching the summit. You should definitely use your lowest gear on the steepest parts - going up and going down.
On the negative side - even on a warm summer day, it's very cold and windy on top - dress appropriately. And you'll feel light headed going from sea level to almost 14,000 feet in a couple of hours. Some people will get a headache. There really isn't that much to see at the summit, the Keck telescope has a tiny visitors center and a side door off of it (which I didn't notice at first) which takes you to a viewing area where you can actually see one of the two telescopes. You know that there's amazing science and engineering going on, but it's hard to feel it while you're there. I actually considered the mountain itself and the drive up it more of an attraction than the telescopes themselves.
Drove up to Mauna Kea summit to watch the sunset. We specifically rented a 4WD vehicle to do this activity. When we got there, the park rangers checked (they check every car going up) our axels and would not let us go up since our back axel was not powered. Our rental car company had lied to us. We highly recommend you check your vehicle before you leave the rental lot if there is any doubt. We ended up watching the sunset from the visitor's center, which was beautiful and then stayed for the star talk at 7:30, which was the highlight of the evening. I would say the sunset/sunrise is dependent on conditions. I'm sure some days are more impressive than others. Wish we could have made it to the top but it was still a nice evening.
I was a bit worried about the drive up because I often get car sick on windy roads but that wasn't the case. We also almost didn't go because it looked cloudy but as soon as you get about half way there you break through the clouds to the most amazing mountain views. We brought a picnic lunch to enjoy. We knew it was going to be cold but didn't want to pack gear just for this evening, so instead of donating something (there is no charge for anything) we bought sweatshirts and gloves to support their program. We ate our picnic (most hotels in Hawaii seem to offer these btw) and then watched a program in the center about the observatory.
The center provides complimentary access to their telescopes and they did not disappoint. We saw Saturn and I almost couldn't believe it was real - it was that crazy to see so close. They also had telescopes trained on the bright moon and a few stars. Experts mingled around for questions. I probably looked at the Saturn focused telescope 10 different times. It was awesome to hear people exclaim loudly in delight (in several different languages!) when they saw it first time. Something I'll never forget and I hope to go back one day.
This was one of the highlights (pun intended) of our trip.
Since we did not rent a 4-wheel drive, and do have young children, we stopped at the level of the visitor center for watching the sunset and the star-gazing program.
The VIS is a bit over 1 hour drive from Hilo or Kona. Its easy to find and no special tour is needed.
A recommended time plan: The star-gazing program starts when its dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. I would recommend arriving ~20 minutes before sunset, because there is no direct view of the sunset from the VIS, and you need a short hike to a hill on its west side. You can also stop ~1 mile before the VIS to watch the sunset if you prefer not to climb in that thin air. The VIS is located above the cloud line, so even if it is cloudy and rainy below, you'll experience a fantastic sunrise above the cloud from the VIS area.
The star-gazing program was superb. It was given in a well-balanced way that made the science both fun, interesting and memorable (Thank you Pablo!). It kept two teenagers interested for the full 1.5~2 hours. Bring all your warm clothes, since this is given outside wit the guide using a green learn to point to the constellations. Starting at sunset, they setup telescopes so we could see Jupiter's moons and the Orion nebula.
Our family (2 adults and 2 kids - pre teen) were looking forward to this stop. It is an easy (a little steep) drive up to the VIS. Given our 2wd hire car we knew we would not be able to go further - the car would make it but it is not allowed. We were surprised to find the VIS tucked away in a valley on the side of Mauna Kea - we were expecting it to be out on the ridge with a great view. There is some interesting info at the VIS and an informative video. It was a little cool there today but not too bad, the kids didn't bother with their jackets. Fortunately it is just 6miles off the main saddle road so isn't too much time out to make the stop. Be warned, your car will use a little more fuel (gas) going up - but next to none coming down!
Before I was lucky enough to live on the Big Island, going to the top of Mauna Kea was a pilgrimage for me every time I was on the island. I have lived here many years now and I still go every several months. This is a magical, sacred place. I am filled with awe to be on one of the tallest mountains in the world (from sea floor to the top). If you can go for the rise of the full moon, you will see the moon as if you are above it, and depending on the time of year, the moon will rise in the shadow of the mountain, at the same time the sun is setting on the other side. If you go for sunrise or sunset, be prepared for COLD. A parka is best, but who has a parka in Hawai'i?
Off of Saddle Road is the Mauna Kea volcano mountain. Easy drive but watch for police cars (unmarked with a small blue light or none) on Saddle Road. There is a Visitors Center minutes from the Saddle Road entrance at 9200 foot elevation. Stop at the center to acclimate and take rest break. Summit is at least another 45 minutes drive with 4 wheel drive recommended. Great views of Mauna Loa.
80 degrees at sea level, 29 degrees at the top at 14,000 feet, bring your warm jackets and windbreakers. You will be above the Clouds with stunning views. Snow at the top with gorgeous sunset views. Plan to arrive at least an hour before sunset and stop at the visitor center once the sun sets. After dark at the visitor center they have telescopes to do some stargazing.
We went to the visitors centre at 4.30pm as advised. There is not a much happening up there until about 6 pm. At 7.45pm they give a free talk, so honestly I would just head up there later and hope you get a parking spot as it is a long wait, particularly if you have kids to keep entertained. I have never seen the star like that before, so it is worth the trip up.
It Is very cold up there, make sure you take very warm clothes. You can but coffee, hot chocolate and a sandwiches up there but the lines are very long so it is best to take your dinner and warm drinks up there with you.
We rented a truck from Harper's and drove to the very top and watched the sunset, wrapped in blankets in the back of the truck. IT was a surreal experience to sit there high above the clouds with our family snuggled together and watched this hour long event. then after the sun was completely down and the stars came out....we have never seen so many stars in our life and they seemed close enough to touch them. Unforgetable. The tours will give you jackets and gloves and they will help you identify the stars you are looking at. But it was a hole lot cheaper and more intimate to do it on our own. Make sure someone in your party isn't affected by altitude.
My partner and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to see the summit at Mauna Kea. A 4x4 is a must, however its really only needed to help with the sheer steepness of the mountain itself, the roads are quite fine. Its a mixture of dirt and bitumen, that experience a lot of tourists everyday, so there quite smooth and well worn. Plan your trip to enjoy the most out of it, we planned to make the summit 45mins before sunset and we had an amazing spot to park and view. Its terribly cold up there, we ended up reclining the rear seats in our 4dr jeep and looking out the back glass under some blankets. It was far too cold to get out and stay out of the car any longer than 10 mins! The View is amazing! After sunset we trekked down, and I was amazed at how many over cooked there brakes and experienced brake fade (google it) There was one particular corner that alot of people had to stop at and allow there brakes to cool. Keeping our jeep in low range, and in tip tronic mode meant we descended and never really used our brakes, A much safer approach. Dont forget the road is 12kms long and ascend to a height of 4.2kms so its steeep!!!!
The Astronomy show at the visitor center is amazing, however its completely pitch black and illuminated by a small red light. you need to use the torch on your phone to walk around it safely, but be careful of the "astronomy hardcore tourists" had multiple people try and knock my phone out of my hand, or take it all together. (people think your light will pollute the night sky so they turn into wangs)
There aren't many places on earth as accessible as the Mauna Kea Visitors Center that offer guided star tours above 9000'. In fact, I'm at a loss to think of one. Why then, for the love of God, would you hold these events in a parking lot with cars driving in and out with their lights on. Even at 9000' your eyes can only appreciate the contrast of an inky black sky against the whitewash of stars in the Milky Way when they are fully dark adapted. This adaptation takes about 20 minutes of darkness to achieve and only one second of exposure to headlights to destroy. There is no way anyone on this night got dark adapted so they might as well have been viewing from their own backyard. And the solution is so simple: have cars park at the level below the Vis and have people walk a very short distance up the hill with instructions to keep their flashlights, IPhones, IPads, Blackberries, Gameboys and every other kind of bloody electronic devices either turned off or turned down to the ground so as not to shine in the faces of people looking to see the stars!!! Is that so difficult? Provide a simple roll of red taillight tape for people to place a piece over their lighted devices that they can't seem to live without for even five minutes. Ok, I get that not everyone takes stargazing as seriously as I do. You may not appreciate books as much as I do but you still keep your voice down in a library, don't you? You remember libraries...big building, lots of books. It's where you rent videos. Anyway that's why I've given this magnificent experience only an average rating. I hope the good, decent, patient and learned docents who volunteer their time to run this activity will read this and respond.
We headed up to the Ranger's station (at about 9,000 feet) to get above (most of) the clouds and watch the sunset. Definitely worth the outing, but make sure you dress for what was a very cold outing - and I mean very cold. The short hike up the hill opposite the ranger's station gave a spectacular overview of the Valley below and of the sunset. There were so many people, we didn't do the activities within the Ranger's station, but it was still worth the outing.
Drive to the observatory level viewing point. This avoids all the down hill bike tour buses.
Yes, the road is fully paved to here. The rental car company isn't going to mind!
If you want to see stars avoid full moon; Doh! Sunrise was great and worth the chill 50F.
Quite a serene atmosphere until a spectator put his remote control drone up. Obviously didnt read the signs saying "be quiet and enjoy."
There was a Park fee for the car. $15 if memory serves this also covered entrance to another park.
The park shop was well stocked with memorabilia and had a very enthusiastic scientist on had to talk and provide answers.
To be said all the park(s) staff were fantastic and pro-active on our trip.
Drove from Hilo, Saddle road to the Mauna Kea Visitor center which is over 9,000 feet high. Didn't have 4 wheel drive so we didn't go to summit. But we were above the clouds and didn't need to go further.
It is strange to drive up the volcano with rain ,windshield wipers and all of a sudden you are above the clouds and no rain. Glad we didn't miss this.
We went for a night of stargazing and arrived quicker than we thought. We did have long pants and multiple layers but it was still cold, the kids couldn't take it outside for very long. We meant to bring our beach towels to use as blankets, but forgot them. The visitors center does offer hot water, and sells packages of hot chocolate and cup of noodles. They also sell other treats.
The staff had telescopes set up for the public to view and was very good overall. They were great with kids and also had stepstools set up next to the telescopes . They also pointed out constellations. There was a movie inside where some of us took refuge from the cold. It wasn't warm but it wasn't as cold. There are restrooms but they are very cold too. Frequent car headlights did affect the viewing, try not to look at the lights.
Being one of the highest mountains in the world, coming to Mauna Kea is truly a different experience. One can see a majestic view of the surrounding volcanos, including Mauna Loa. It is not accessible by public transport and a 4x4 vehicle is needed to reach the summit. All visitors are asked to pass by the visitors area to acclimatize since the effects of high altitude could really be felt. Warm drinks and clothes are also on sale at the visitors area. We were feeling a bit dizzy, wobbly and cold upon reaching the summit but the view was a sight to behold. Just come prepared with with warm clothes and some food. The temperature was 0 degrees centigrade when we came we really did not stay long at the summit. Aside from the view, we were also entered some of the observatories. It was well worth the trip.
Breathtaking. From sea-level to 13,700ft. The trip, and the 4x4, are well worth it.
Do not miss.
Star-gazing afterward is a must.
We went to the visitors center for sunset and stargazing - well worth it. Arrive with enough time to hike the small hill near the visitors center to see sunset then hang around for stargazing. The video wasn't very good that they show, but the stargazing was fantastic. The ranger said you will never see more stars in your entire life than right here - here was right. It was breaktaking. Be sure to bring snacks and food because there is very limited choices - just hot chocolate and some packaged sandwiches. Also dress warm - it is COLD!
Go for the sunset for an amazing view of the island below and the stars above. Make sure you bring something warm as it can get close to freezing on your island adventure.
If going to the big island, you must make the trip up to the summit. Make sure to be there for the sunset! Absolutely stunning sunset! Then after you head to the visitor center to see stars and you will see a lot of stars (full moon will affect the amount of stars you will see).
Make sure to bring:
Sun screen.
Food and water
Gas in car (no gas station close to the summit so have it full)
Warm clothing. Around 0 deg C at the summit. Toque, gloves, windbreaker with a warm base layer should be enough. You don't have to be out of the car that much if you want so no need to pack the full winter gear. Do not let the tour guides scare you with their gear! It isn't that cold. However, I am Canadian.
As for the car, make sure it has a good engine. The roads are not horrible but there are some good climbs so I don't think a four wheel is needed (although I had one and used it). The tour guides are just too expensive and you this can be done on your own. You can learn a lot from the visitor center.
We drove there in the morning to get a sight of the sunrise. It was really amazing (and cold). The way to the top was a little harsh, the way down even harsher. We only had small car and the tires and brakes had some problems witht he road. we had to do some rests the way down to cool the brakes. The view was worth it.
The peak is snow-capped, and makes an interesting site in a place like Hawaii. A VERY steep road takes you from the Saddle Road (200) to the visitor center. From there, not only do you need 4WD, but warm clothes, and be prepared to handle the high altitude.
Definitely a must to visit on the Big Island. We were going to book onto a summit tour but they were all booked out during our trip. We already had a rental car and we are glad we made the trip by ourselves from Kona. We left in the afternoon and arrived probably 45 mins before sunset. Don't get discouraged if it is really cloudy driving up and visibility is poor as eventually you arrive higher than the clouds and it is clear. You can't drive right up to the summit but you park your car at the visitor centre and there is a short walk up a little hill for spectacular sunset views. The path is well worn and you just follow everyone else who is doing the same thing. Don't stay up there too long after the sunset as the path back down isn't lit and you wouldn't want to roll an ankle. We went over to the visitor centre and once it is dark, they set up some telescopes to look through. Amazing viewing of the moon, stars and planets. All of the experience was free and all it cost us was fuel for the car and some food we took to eat. Saved hundreds of dollars from the tour price!
We went to Mauna Kea twice, once during the day and once during the night. It was an easy drive (about an hour) from the Waikoloa area. During the day, you can take short hikes around the visitor center. Three hikes are to the top of steep hills. Once at the top, you have vast views of the middle portion of the island where the clouds drift below you. The visitor center has solar telescopes which allow you to see solar flares and sunspots! The astronomers at the visitor center were knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. At night (bring gloves, hat, and a jacket), multiple telescopes are available to view various objects in the sky, including planets, constellations, and galaxies. I felt like I was in a planetarium and could have looked at the sky all night long! Both the day and night trips are well worth it!
great sunset, and the trip to the top looks like mars. worth the ride! clouds came in so we could not do the astronomy at night, but the sunset and trip to the top are worth it anyway. they had picnic table at the visitor center and we had a nice picnic before seeing the sunset from the visitor's area.
Well, at least the best you can drive to. We rented from the only authorized 4WD company that permits its vehcies to the top of Mauna Kea: Harpers. Be sure to check your car rental for this to make sure you are covered. Anyway the scenery is simply outstanding if you get the weather. Nothing compares to this view and I highly recommend you stay for the sunset because it sets BELOW you and below the clouds that may be in the valley between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. This trip is a must do if you are on the Big Island but check for the weather first and you must stop at the visitor centre on the way up. 2WD cars are forbidden.
Still closed, protestors are blocking the only access road. It is also winter season, I think they are closed during winter, check their website for daily updates.
Didn't go the top since our kids 2 and 6 so hung out at the car park and trekked 15min up side track. Glad we brought winter clothes as it got cold as the wind picked up and got great pics of mountain above clouds and sunset. We were looking forward to the night sky which was great but not awesome as the moon was up. Plan to go when no moon next time. The free telescope gazing was nice and the staff really well organized. The more you know about the stars the more interesting it would be but my 6yrold liked it and learning about planets and stars.
We made the mistake of going to Mauna Kea during the day, and wish we had gone at night instead. Home to one of the best observatories in the world, you can apparently see the stars here better than almost anywhere else. We drove the steep and winding drive from Kona during the day and did a little 20 minute trek to see higher ground from the Visitor's Center. Although it was pretty and neat to see, this would have been a much better attraction at night.
This was such a neat experience while on the Big Island this week. The drive up is worth it itself, but once you get to the visitor center the real views kick in. You are truly above the clouds, and it is a very neat feeling. I suggest stopping at the visitor center on the way to the summit as you climb very quickly. The visitor center is at about 9200 feet, so stop here for 10-15 minutes to acclimate yourself and relax before continuing on.
Coming here is a must-do if you are on the island. I went during the day and there is just so much to see on the way up and once you are there. Highly recommend!
Takes nearly two hours from hilo. But you can four wheel drive it yourself. Be careful though. When you get up there sit in your car and watch the sun go down. It's beautiful. Highlight of hawaii so far!
Arrived at Mauna Kea at 4:30PM. Sunset is supposed to be around 6PM. I only made it to the visitor center.
The sunset was beautiful and I stayed till dark to see the stars. This is a good place to take pictures so make sure you bring your camera.
Tip: As you drive visitor center, you will see a small dirt road on the left. The road goes up a small hill. I parked my car at the top of the hill. Get out of the car and walk up to the hill to capture the sunset.
What a fantastic experience !
We chose not to try for the summit - either on our own or with a tour - just made it to the observatory in our hire car: and we weren't in any way disappointed.
We had a truly memorable experience ( me, my wife and two teenage sons). I should add that we aren't really interested in astronomy or star gazing but this is something special. Once it's properly dark (an hour or so after sunset maybe - so a bit of hanging around) one of those who really knows their stuff gives a free celestial guided tour using a laser pointer - and, yes, whilst it seems odd, you really can see where the pointer's going - so fantastically clear - the milky way in its gloriousentirety and so on.
And there are loads of (huge by amateur standards) telescopes set up for you to look through both then and during the twilight - seeing Saturn's rings etc if you're not used to it is pretty amazing.
And there's a good souvenir shop too - which sells snacks, soup andhot chocolate too - make sure you take some layers - it can get cold as everyone warns.
So, whilst it's a bit of a drive, we'd really recommend it : I don't think anyone would regret going.
Truly magical, you drive through the clouds and come out in heaven. Not only will the summit leave you short for words, if you have time Lake Waiau is a must. I will push everyone to go and experience it! Make sure you look up the recommendation's before you go, it is not recommended for everyone due to the lack of oxygen.
My fellow reviewers have captured the experience very well but I'd like to add my tips. We first visited Mauna Kea several years back in the first part of April. Saddle Road was all it had been built up to be! Whoa, what a ride. There was still a fair amount of snow on the mountain which helped give contrast to the domes at the top. Snow really adds to the experience. We also did everything wrong - didn't stop to acclimate and drove a 2 WD drive rental car - but God smiled on us and gave us a wonderful visit. The next time we went the half of Saddle road coming from the west side was still pretty bad but new asphalt had been laid going towards Hilo. Still a very windy and dangerous road. Especially in rain and fog. We also dutifully stopped at the visitors center and the ranger talked my husband out of drivng up in our 2 WD out of respect for their concern about the roads getting dug up. Recently we returned the 2nd week of May 2009 and followed all the rules. This time almost the whole Saddle road has new asphalt! Darn near a boulevard compared to some other roads on the islands. We rented a 7 person SUV from Harper's, the only rental place that okays trips up to the summit, for around $160. for the day. Be warned...they are meticulous about any "damage". We backed too close to a lump of lava and scratched the hard plastic running board and were hit with a bill for $485.00!!! Do you think they will they actually replace the running board? We think after the SUV was washed the scratches most likely didn't show and if they did could have easily been touched up with some black paint. *shrugs* Oh, well. They are within their rights of the rental agreement so whadda gonna do? Moving on - We acclimated at the visitors center but this time had a much harder time with the altitude. However, I confess, I didn't follow the preparation tips such as drinking a lot of water before and during the visit. The University of Hawaii's Institute For Astronomy puts out a good information sheet. We got ours from Harper's rentals but I'm sure other places have them. Also, on Sat. and Sun. the University hosts free tours. Be at the Visitors Center by 1pm for instructions. No transportation provided, you must have your own 4WD. I don't know if individuals are allowed at the summit after dark but if so plan your visit to take in both daytime and nighttime. Be sure you have plenty of gas in the tank and food and water for everyone in your party. The Visitors Center had improved it's offerings since we were last there but still pretty light fare. Wear sunscreen, warm clothes, sturdy shoes and bring coats and sunglasses. When we were there it was oddly warm at 56 degrees (which meant lots of flies) but a week before it was 21 degrees with 75 MPH winds. My sons and husband did go the extra 1/8 of a mile trail and walked to what is considered the summit but do not even attempt if you feel the slightest bit odd from the altitude.
Spectacular stargazing ! You feel as though you've arrived on another planet- beautiful sunset views - Absolute clear skies. Once night falls all the stars are visible (have never seen so many). ONly went up to the Onizuka Centre - and a hill nearby - Took part in the nightly show, talk from the Observatory volunteers with numerous telescopes pointed to planets, galaxies, etc. Was able to see some clearly with naked eye (constellations, nebulae). Spectacular sights and very informative. Make sure to bring warm clothes, long pants and comfortable shoes (runners). As you leave in the black night you feel as though you're driving into the stars - a wonderful experience. An absolute must if you are on the Big Island.
The Mauna Kea access road is closed due to TMT (Thirty Meter Telescope) protests. 500-1000 people are "protecting the Mauna" and blocking the access road. At times, there have been Saddle Road closures due to protest activity. Be cautious when driving saddle road in the area of Maunea Kea access road.
We drove up to the summit of Mauna Kea for sunset. What a view! It felt like some futuristic space planet up there with the dome shaped telescopes, barren ground, and nearby cinder cones. We were speechless watching the sunset, it was gorgeous.
Afterwards we took in the astronomy presentation at the visitors centre - getting to view stars and planets through big big telescopes, and viewing constellations pointed out with a lazer.
What a magical evening!!!!
When we read that Mauna Kea was reopening a week before our arrival, we were quite excited because my stepson is a space and astronomy enthusiast and couldn't wait to go stargazing. Unfortunately after driving up there, the "visitor center" had no telescopes or any programs like they apparently used to (even though the outdated website said that there were programs with telescopes available 4 days a week). We did hike up the hill across the street to see a great sunset. After that we hung out for a few hours in the car waiting for the spectacular night sky, but it never happened, as the moon was too bright to see many stars. Very disappointing.
The star gazing opportunity was worth the drive (we were staying in Kailua Kona). We had minimal cloud cover, but the clouds that did show up would dissipate quickly. Definitely layer up - as in head cover, gloves, long sleeves with sweatshirt and wind breaker, pants, thick soaks, etc. There is access to hot water outside the gift shop, so consider bringing your own packets of hot chocolate and tea. Expect to go broke if you want any souvenirs from the shop! I would recommend staying for at least an hour...the longer you stay, the more you'll see!
We drove to the Onizuka Observatory for the sundown star talk. The ride up was interesting as you pass thru a dense cloud belt. A very knowledgeable man provided the star talk. there were about 8 powerful telescopes centered on various stars/galaxies.
(Hint) If you can plan it, go on a "new moon" night when the sky is at its darkest and the stars are at their brightest.
As much as I wanted to go to the summit, I have 2 young children that I didn't want to risk taking up to 13,000 feet. We decided instead to stop at the visitor's center for the nightly star viewing. I must say it was awesome. The center has volunteers who set up about 10-12 telescopes for people to look through. They were really knowledgeable and showed us many stars, nebulea, and planets. We were lucky because the clouds would clear long enough to get some star gazing in each time. My kids got to see their first shooting star and even a satellite. The sky is so awesome up there due to the absence of light pollution and relatively stable air. The drive up to the visitor center was just fine, and was really rather interesting. I mean, who knew there were evergreen type trees in Hawaii? I didn't until we drove through a grove of them. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.
One of the more remarkable things I've done on the big island and I've now spent a lot of time there over the years. This is by far worth it—even if you're only on Hawaii for 3 days. You'll eventually forget you were tired, but you'll never forget the views. Absolutely stunning and to be standing by the observatories as it changes from night into day is something that any celestial lover will remember for a lifetime. But DRESS WARM, cuz even us group of ski hounds from CO were not ready for that kind of cold.
Looking through telescopes at night was awesome. My 7 year old loved it. Dress warm, very cold at night. A little over an hour drive from waikoloa. $1 hot chocolate at visitor center.
This is an awesome experience if you can do it. I think you could drive it in a regular car, but I believe it is best to have a 4WD. There is a five mile stretch of road that is gravel and washboards. Take warm clothes along. It is cold up there. Take a camera and be prepared for one of the most awesome sunsets of your life! Try to get there about an hour before sunset. It is an interesting place at the summit. You can hike up a hill if you like. We took sandwiches and water. There are no facilities up there, however, so be prepared for that. You may want to stop for a half hour or so at the Visitor Center to get acclimated to the high elevation. This is a must-do on the Big Islamd! I highly recommend it!!!
My friend and I hiked up Mauna Kea or attempted to, we got about half way and decided to head back down. We totally underestimated the incline and boy, my calves were throbbing! We definitely learnt key lessons and look forward to going back next time, more prepared and hopefully reach the summit. I've got a detailed review of my experience on my blog if anyone is interested - link in my profile.
We visited Mauna Kea in a rental car. After reaching the visitor's center, the road is restricted to 4WD vehicles, for the last portion of the drive. However, the views going up to the visitor center and the return trip were great. Many places to pull off and take pictures.
Our family of six adults joined 7 others and the Hawaii Forest and Trails driver for an amazing adventure, Mauna Kea Summit and Stars, on 5/28/18. We met the tour bus at the Queen’s Shops at Wiakoloa about 3 pm. The trip consisted of a drive up the saddle road, stopping first at Wiakoloa Village to pick up a catered hot dinner, which we later enjoyed at a rest stop about the 6500 foot altitude. All three meal selections were well regarded. We then proceeded up the road to the summit, stopping briefly at the 9000 foot and 13000 foot altitudes. The road is a bit rough for a couple miles, but nothing too bone-jarring. Once at the summit, we broke out the hats, gloves, and parkas (provided by the tour for those who did not have their own). It was rather cloudy, but not enough to mask a beautiful sunset about 7 pm local time. We then proceeded back to the 13000 foot altitude for some star gazing. Despite scattered clouds, we were able to see four of Jupiter’s moons as well as some of the gas bands across the planet, a new experience for most, if not all of us. Our guide and driver, Heraldo, was literally a fountain of information, ranging from historical to scientific. Nothing stumped him and it made the journey all the more remarkable and enjoyable. Our family has visited the Big Island many times but had never made the effort to visit the Mauna Kea summit. Some people think they can do this on their own, but, even though we have driven and climbed to the summit of more than ten 14000 foot peaks in Colorado, we would not recommend attempting either on your own. Besides it being much more challenging starting from sea level, even for those accustomed to elevation, you would also miss the richness of the wealth of information about the island that the guide provides.
We drove up to the visitor center. It was chilly. Be prepared. I was a little disappointed that we couldn't see the summit from the visitor center. We ended up driving around the north tip of the island and had a spectacular view of the summit. There is a very nice view of Mona Loa from the visitor center. There was an astronomer at the center with a telescope set up to look at the sun. That was very interesting.
We had planned to go up to mount Kea Summit with an organized tour but the tour had to be canceled as the road to the summit was closed because of a forecast of snow showers. We went to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center and saw the sunset from a nearby hill, had a snack in our car, and than our own stargazing from the parking lot. The amount of stars we saw was really impressive. Still there was a lot of light pollution from cars arriving/leaving. Overall, in case the summit road is closed, I would recommend going to the Visitor Center and do some stargazing from there. Don’t forget to bring a lot of warm clothes and a snack/dinner.
Mauna Kea, is a Great Location to watch the Sunset. We even stayed longer and did Star Gazing. The view of the Stars was Extraordinary..
On another day, we went up very early and watched the Sunrise.
All three items are Must Do.
We drive a 4WD from KEAUHOU and leave for 3:00. Although starlit sky tour is also good, sunrise is the highest more.
After sunrise, when I was walking toward the summit, the double rainbow was visible to my shadow.
***Tips which do not get altitude sickness***
Drinking a little water is continued every from the entrance this side neighborhood of a saddle load.
30 minutes to one hour should rest by ONIZUKA CENTER.
All the members must not sleep absolutely until it gets down from the way back to a saddle load.
We have gone to this appropriately 14,000 foot summit twice. The most recent time we visited was in March of 2019. Its a fantastic view, but a difficult drive. As a result, We used Hawaii Forest and Trail tour company to get there. It is not cheap but it’s worth it. The guide is also the driver and is knowledgeable about the island, the stars and Mauna Kea. On the tour you get to Mauna Kea just before sunset. The air is thinner up there so you have to watch your breathing, it is also very cold. But it’s an experience you won’t forget.
The most unfriendly ranger of all time—arrogant and condescending. This is one way to drive visitors away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We decided to go to view the sunset and night sky. The drive from Saddle Road is a bit nerve-wracking, as the dense clouds/fog makes it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of your car until you break through the cover. We only went as far as the visitor's center as it is not recommended to travel to the summit with children under 16. The view from the visiitor's center is quite nice, as you can see the clouds below. The parking lot is very crowded with tour groups and the visitor's center is fairly small with a theater area that seats about 30 a small gift shop that sells sandwiches and packets of soup and hot chocolate. There are a few picnic tables outside next to the parking lot where you can sit to eat. Next time, we will certainly bring our own fod a s the selection is sparse. Telescopes were set up in front of the visitor's center, but due to the crowds you need to wait in line to view each one. As it is very dark, its difficult to move around without bumping into someone. All-in-all, it is a must see, so plan accordingly.
We were at the visitor's center at sunset and had the added bonus of seeing Saturn (complete with rings) from one of the big telescopes. The number of stars that can be seen is absolutely amazing and the Milky Way is stunning. We came to photograph the Milky Way tonight, but will go back tomorrow night for the "star tour" - it sounded like a great opportunity to learn more about what we are seeing. A great treat that I highly recommend. Dress warmly - hat, gloves, coat, etc. it gets very chilly (the car said 51 degrees).
Mauna Kea's visitor centre is a must stop on the way to the top. The drive up requires a 4-wheel drive, as the mountain has some very steep climbs, which will test your transmission and brakes. Our rented van struggled to make it up. The temperature undergoes a steep drop, and it might take some time to acclimate to the height. In fact, for someone who has asthma, like me, you will definitely need some time to adjust. The views are awesome. There are tour companies that take people to the top for the star-gazing experience, so you don't have to go up on your own. We were unable to go beyond the visitor centre, as they had closed the road above. This happens from time to time as they determine the conditions to be unsuitable...there will be snow on the top if you go in winter, as we did. There are plenty of beautiful vistas to photograph!
Mauna Kea hosts the largest observatory, you wouldn't be able to use the telescopes but you can get to the very top of the mountain and experience being on the top of the world. Many reviews will tell you that it's dangerous to go on your own because of hi altitude, but after doing some research and talking to our doctor we decided to rent a 4 wheel drive car (regular car wouldn't be able to get there) in Hilo and go to the top with out a tour. None of us felt any discomfort at all. The view from the mountain is breathtaking, but if you want to stay for longer than 15 mins, you need to bring warm clothes: jackets, hats, gloves, etc. It's pretty cold on the top at 14,000 feet. There is a mid stop with rest area and information center. You should stop there for a quick break before going to the top and on the way back. Time it so that you make second a stop when it gets dark, rest area provides telescopes that you can use to watch stars.
Visited on a clear night with a new moon. Saw Saturn, cloud nebula, andromeda galaxy, Mars, international space station, red stars, blue stars, summer arm of milky way, etc. from visitor's center. Local astronomy group was there, explained what we were seeing through telescopes, used super powerful laser pointers to help us see what they were talking about. Listened to 'star talk' by enthusiastic local astronomer. One of the best places in the world to study and view the sky. Simply unforgettable. Dress warmly. If arriving after dark, be aware of where your headlights are pointing (the brightness is harsh for those whose eyes have adjusted to the dark!) Hot water available--bring hot chocolate, tea, coffee or buy packets at visitor's center. Special presentations/performances the third Saturday of the month. Definitely go if you have the opportunity!
I chose Kona particularly for this attraction and I was NOT disappointed! It was beyond description the enjoyment of this trip. A strong word of advice though...dress warm!! My friend and I had been bumped off a different excursion there secondary to weather and the cancellation by one group, only to be lucky enough to find another going when we drove up to the base camp. So, we hopped on another excursion, improperly dressed but that didnt for one second diminish the trip. I think the group we ended up with was Bobs tours or something after having been booked originally with Mauna Kea summit tours which had cancelled us three times. I stronly reccomend this attraction. It was perfect!
Went there for a weekend and was blown away by the sheer beauty and magnificence of the place. Highest mountain in the world is well worth the climb
Only went to the visitor center at 9000 ft. Totally worth the trip. You can feel the difference in the air. Very desert like surroundings and some areas that seem to be used for spiritual things...got to hear the blowing of the conch looking at the clouds below us. Very cool.
We drove to Mauna Kea's Visitor Information Station in early July with hopes that the clouds we were seeing in the distance would retreat with the sunset. We did NOT use a tour group to the summit as we had our 2 children with us, both under the recommended age of 16. The drive up through the clouds with near zero visibility was a white-knuckle adventure, but I am so glad we forged ahead! Saddle Road is not a bad road -- it is well paved and marked -- but it is full of turns and the locals are capable of faster speeds than we were comfortable with. Fortunately, the clouds began to dissipate before we got to the Visitor's Info Station/Summit turn. Whew! We picked up dinner in Waimea before starting our adventure, and had just enough time to eat before heading inside for the 6pm movie. The movie is not exciting, and many people walked out, but I appreciated the history of the mountain as well as the time it allowed me to adjust to the altitude. There is a trail across the road you can take to view the sunset, but given the cloud cover and my need to adjust, we chose to stay at the VIS. We watched the clouds retreat as the volunteers set up numerous telescopes after sunset. The telescopes allowed us to see Venus, the "jewel box" star cluster, omega centauri and Saturn, complete with rings and moons. Magnificent! The sky exploded with more stars than I've ever seen (due to typical light pollution) and the volunteers gave a "star tour" of the night sky, pointing out constellations, Southern Cross, North Star and both dippers, to name a few. We had a fantastic time! Words of advice: bring a picnic dinner, bring sweatshirts and wear or bring long pants - it gets chilly! There is no cost for the stargazing program, but they do sell snacks, coffee/tea/cocoa and small souvenirs at the VIS. You can also call ahead to get the weather report.
Whether or not you climb 14ers (I'm not in good enough shape to), it's unlikely that you'll have an opportunity to watch the sunset with 360 degree views from atop an old volcano most other places. Add to that a stargazing portion of the tour with crystal clear skies free from light pollution, and it's a must-see stop if on the island.
I'm not quite sure how to contextualize the needed physical condition for the trip, as it's such a fast ascent to high altitudes, but you can chat with them about it if unsure. Should something unfortunate happen, it takes about 45min for an ambulance to get there, even if a life and death situation. That said, I was concerned about it and didn't need to be. I'm in kinda poor shape, have asthma, and was a bit run down at that time in the trip. Dave, the tour guide, was exceptional at checking in with ample oportunities to slow down. You've also got a good amount of time to acclimate on the way up, hydrate (drink so much more than you think is needed), and a chance to move reasonably slowly once up top. I did feel a bit of altitude sickness (light headaches) the next day but would chalk that up to not drinking enough.
As for the scenery itself, it's almost indescribable. You can see the other volcanic peak most of the time, not to mention all the observatories. And as it gets darker / colder, the cloud layer drops dramatically and you'll see another volcano at about 8,000ft. The sunset is fast but it still feels like a lifetime, watching the endless sky change so strikingly in all directions as the sun disappears below the horizon and the moon appears.
In addition to the sights, there's something to be said for being in the space itself. This is apparently a deeply meaningful and spiritual place in traditional Hawaiian culture and there was a tangible feeling of awe to be present. Historically, it was used for a variety of activities, including mining much needed hard rock for their weapons and tools. More notably, perhaps, it was and continues to be used for rituals. You can see the shrine from the sunset lookout spots. If you are also interested in experiencing some of the places of deep meaning to the ancient Hawaiian people, this is certainly one of them. And sadly, you can also watch tourists miss-use it nightly. There are signs to respect the space and culture by not walking beyond a certain point to that spot. However many ignore it and from some directions, if you jumped the fence, you wouldn't see it. The spot is left accessible for locals to continue to use in their practices, which they seem to, and this has left it vulnerable to defacing and less-than-respectful treatment. I'm so grateful to Dave at Arnott's for highlighting this. It's not every day that a tour group honors the local community and culture of the spaces they travel. Dave and Arnott's do. In fact, they have cultural consultants that work with their company that no doubt help to highlight pieces such as this.
As if experiencing the sunset and the highest points of the volcano are not enough, the tour ends with a stargazing portion and the clearest night skies I've ever experienced. Because of the observatories, the cars are kicked out after sunset, and this leaves the skies almost immaculate. Dave, with a background in these studies, was an informative and enthusiastic guide outlining the different constellations, their movements, navigational purposes and more. It was a treat to not only view them in this way but with such a knowledgable person.
This is a trip I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting the island. Given the challenging road conditions, challenging-for-some quick ascent, and the incredible wealth of knowledge in both the space and physical care of Arnott's staff, I would recommend their tour in particular.
The rating we are giving in this review reflects our experience going up Mauna Kea, not the actual Stargazing program itself. If you are lucky enough to have a clear night up top, I’m sure it is as spectacular as the other reviews say it is. The Stargazing program at the Visitor’s Center runs from 6 to 10PM. My husband and I decided to make the drive from Hilo to Mauna Kea, and we were very excited to make the trip. Let me warn anyone who is nervous about driving. Take a tour, or drive it during the day, otherwise do not attempt to go up and down the mountain at night. It was a white-knuckle trip the entire way.
I did my homework ahead of time and decided that I was up to the drive on Saddle Road since it was repaved and supposed to be in good shape. Many reports sited how hazardous it is. Well, Saddle Road was no problem at all, at least not from the Hilo side. It is in excellent condition, in fact it looks brand new. There are reflective markers in the road all the way through and the road is like a superhighway. However, it is very windy, and it seems to take forever to get there. Still this part of the drive was just fine. It was a completely clear night and we didn’t expect any problems.
Well, as we made the turn to go up the mountain, conditions started to deteriorate. I had read that it can get foggy in sections, but that it can clear up as you ascend. So being optimistic I just kept on driving. That was a big mistake. By the time I was halfway up conditions became extremely poor. It is only one lane each way, and there were a lot of cars coming down the mountain, so I figured it was safer to keep going up instead of trying to turn around on a windy foggy road in the dark. After what seemed like an eternity, we reached the Visitors Center. It was just as foggy up top.
We stayed for an hour or so, hoping it would clear up, but it didn’t. It was cold (around 40F) but with a jacket and gloves we were just fine. We also didn’t notice any effects from the thinner air. They have telescopes set up outside the building, each manned with someone to guide you with the stargazing. They said it could clear up quickly or stay fogged in all night. There was no way of knowing. They said it was clear an hour before we arrived. Just our luck! They do have a video presentation inside where you can sit and watch various topics on telescopes and stargazing. Aside from this, the Visitors Center is a very small place, with another area setup with souvenirs.
So, disappointed, especially after braving the 2 hour ride to get there with nothing to show for it, we decided to leave since we didn’t want to return too late. We thought the drive up the mountain was bad, well it was a piece of cake compared to the drive down! I swear, I could only see 1 or 2 reflective markers in the road at a time. Visibility was zero, with my foot on the brake the entire time. I’ve driven a lot of places, including the Road to Hana, which I thought was a lot of fun. Driving in bad conditions usually doesn’t faze me. This was the worst driving experience I’ve ever had. That’s including driving through blizzards in Buffalo!
Later that week we visited Volcanoes National Park, and talked to several others who tried to go to the Visitors Center. Apparently it was fogged in most of the week. So much for them boasting it is clear over 90% of the year! In addition, others had tried calling to check conditions, and no one answered the phone all week. Also, the website doesn't give up to date conditions. And even if it did, conditions can change very quickly.
This was so discouraging especially since we saw all the great reviews about how spectacular it is. Obviously we were unlucky to have picked a very bad time to go. Although it sounds like it is clear most nights, there seems to be more fog in winter. That makes this drive extremely treacherous at night. Even without the fog, it is very dark and very windy, and not an excursion for the faint of heart.
This is a beautiful sacred place I wanted to experience and see. Out of the blue our plans were blocked due to the protesters and as a result- a ton of police activity. We were unable to get to the summit as planned. This was ridiculous as we were not their enemy .
Mauna Kea offers a wonderful view at the summit, but I wouldn't call it breathtaking. It's quite a while to get there and you need a 4x4 car to get there plus some time. If you want to do it I'd recommend one of the tours for an overall much better experience since there's truly not much to see for most of the ride up there.
If you're into seeing sunsets from unique places then by all means check it out, just know it'll be a long journey.
We were staying at Hilo. It is a nice drive to Mauna Kea. The volcano was errupting so there was a plenty of Vog on the drive. But when we reached the summit it was amazing. Its cold so definitely need good warm cloths. Go across the road for a Sunset hike. I would recommend reach atleast 90 minutes before sunset. Take a hike to the sunset hill and enjoy the sun going down and stars coming out. It was spectacular. It is usually quite chilly and windy so be prepared. After sunset, it was time for star gazing. Love the Visitor Center. The volunteers there are really helpful. As the sun went down they brought out the large telescopes. It was amazing experience. We saw Moon Craters, Venus, Mars, Saturn and much more at the laser talk.
I would highly recommend to go there...
We drove to Mauna Kea, took the road to the visitors center. Arriving there we saw that the road further up was closed due to snow and icy road conditions.
The visitors center itself is nothing special.
So check before you go!
This is a must visit for anyone travelling to the big island. Amazing views and depending on the tour group can be very informative. It's very cold at the top so layer up!
Take your vehicle up to the 9,000 ft point on the mountain. It is very cool and windy. If you want to go farther, there are tours that you can take to go to the 13,000 ft mark.
We did not go to the summit due to the fact that we had a rental car AND we had a 4 year old child. They do not cover rentals to go past the visitor's center and the visitor's center doesn't recommend anyone under the age of 16 to go past the visitor's center. Having said that, people can get altitude sickness at the visitor's center as well so keep a close eye on all the people you travel with.
It is worth the drive just to go to the visitor's center. We went at night to look through the telescopes and it was amazing. Everyone in my group loved it - ages 4, 28, 58, 70. You do have to have a little patience and wait in line though to look through the telescopes. They do little presentations to explain the solar system as well. We could clearly see Venus without a telescope which I wasn't even aware was possible!
The visitor's center offers cups and hot water, so you can walk inside and buy a cheap packet of hot chocolate which is nice since it is slightly chilly up there. The visitor's center has very good prices and has food and packaged snacks. I lived in Hawaii 4 months and I think this was my favorite thing I did the whole time.
We drove to the observatories in our 4WD and enjoyed a fantastic view above the clouds. We were there in late afternoon and not sure what sunset would be like. The sun would drop below the clouds and it might be spectacular but you likely wouldn't see it below the clouds. It was windy and chilly at the top too, with the sun out. I think that watching the sunrise atop Haleakala on Maui would probably be more spectacular than sunset here but that's just a guess.
We drove the highway through the island at night (which is the road Mauna Kea is on)
I have never seen a night sky like that before. It was awe inspiring.
It was the first time I had ever seen the Milky Way. And not just a haze; it was in full view.
Really wonderful!
You really feel the sacredness of this place, and you'll know immediately why the Hawaiians regard this mountain as the most sacred. Never mind the telescopes, explore its majesty and stillness. I promise you that you'll appreciate our planet more when you come visit here. Be reverent and reflective, and you'll appreciate the rugged terrain, the thin air, the uneasy wind, the changing temperature... Check the weather and the website before you come. Make sure you use a 4x4 vehicle, pack warm clothes and water!
Walked up the small hill from the visitor centre to see the sunset. Stargazing wasn’t great because of a full moon but still a great visit. Road up was a fun drive.
This was on my must see list for this trip to the big island. I reviewed the website and thought we were a go for the summit, we had a 4 X 4 vehicle and warm clothes etc. The Rangers will check your vehicle at the visitors centre where you will have acclimatized to the altitude for 30 mins prior to ascent, but the Ranger in a detailed manner determined that our 4x4 in low wasn't going to handle the downgrade on the return and would not allow us to proceed. Though disappointed, I appreciated their expertise and in the end it all worked out for us to have a beautiful sunset view from the top of the small hill to the southwest of the Visitors centre. This was a short hike 10-15 mins and if you have someone less fit, you can park at the bottom of this hill. We left the hill before it got really dark as the rocky path was loose and we wanted to get safely down. I recommend a flashlight, and warm clothes, my hands were quite cold by the end. Once the sun goes down, so does the temp dramatically.
We stayed at the VIS until it got quite dark and the views of the stars and Milky Way were stunning.
If you're taking young children up this hill to view the sunset, I'd recommend keeping them close by once up as the rock is very loose in spots.
Parking is on 3 levels at the VIS and there are flush washrooms on the East side of the building outside.
Go to the visitor center for the free movie and telescopes, but arrive before sunset and park about a mile before the center for what may be the most amazing sunset you'll ever see. We were above the clouds so you have the sun setting on one side of the road and the gorgeous reflection in the clouds on the other side. Wait until the sun is down for about 15 minutes more because the whole sky goes an amazing fiery red color and it's amazing!
Be prepared for cold temps and wind. You really need winter clothing or at least a jacket with hood. Stargazing at its best after dark. When we were there we saw Jupiter with its rings and 4 moons, as well as Venus. We drove down after about an hour, and stopped along the roadway just to get out and really see the sky when there is no light to interfere. I have never seen so many layers of stars. Simply something we will never forget. You must do this if you have a car!
On a whim, we decided to drive up to the parking lot and store towards the summit of Mauna Kea after a full day around the island. We were in absolute awe of the amount of stars in the sky. It was truly an amazing free experience!
Wonderful trip worth taking to the top of Mauna Kea at 13,000+ feet. All the guide books say 4wd only, we used 2wd rental car, admittedly a large SUV, and had no problem at all. It is a gravelled road, steepish, for the middle part of the drive above the visitor station. It is tarmacked at the start and finish. Really no problem to drive at all, go at sunset, the views are simply breathtaking.
We wanted to go to the summit, but was not able to because of it being sold out. We decided to stay at the visitor center for the star gazing. I cannot say enough about how informative this was. It happened to be a clear night and you could see the Mars rising out of the glow of the volcanoes 70 miles away. We even came back the next evening and climbed the two mountains near the visitors center. We watched the sun go down and stayed up there to watch the stars come out. It was very windy and cold so we came down and layer down on the road to get an even better view of the sky. Definitely wear warm clothing.
We tried to go up to the snow on Maura Kea. There was a tent city of protesters at the turn off to the mountain but they did not bother us. We were able to get up the visitors center, but not the last 6000 feet on the dirt road due to not having 4 wheel drive. The visitors center has a cool solar telescope that’s open to the public and picnic tables.
we visited Mauna Kea on the advice of a Big Island guide book that highly recommends a visit for an "off the beaten track" experience while on the Big Island. Feeling adventurous, we took our rental family SUV for this trip and boy, what a ride we were in with nothing but the guidebook as our guide.
First of all the guidebook mentions that the trek up to the summit to see the observatory is very manageable. Well I think through a combination of lack of any skills and experience of off road driving and the fact that our vehicle was a family SUV with part time AWD system, it took quite a while to reach even the halfway point of the trail and during a descent of a narrow slippery slope downwards with nothing separating us with a huge drop to a sure death, we were teasing with our lives and the car could not keep traction and I lost control but luckily, I managed to steer the car to safety (narrowly).
Then by late afternoon, with us getting lost and the summit nowhere in sight, our vehicle was stuck in a deep hole on a trail with soft, rather muddy ground and unable to proceed any further. That's after approximately 4 to 5 hours of off road driving. Since we were stuck in the middle of nowhere, we had to call for help so we called 911, who pointed us to call the fire department, who again pointed us to call the army!
While we were waiting for the Hawaiian army rescue team to find us, we took the time to reflect on our journey up so far. Along the way we saw magnificent views and even though we were not at the top, we were still above and among the clouds. However if you do get stuck like us, do wait in the car when it gets dark as the wildlife is out in full force. Overall a great day and a very unique experience.
Although is not an easy hike the sunrise it’s amazing
At 13500 feet everything looks like a lunar lending site
After you reach the summit you are out of breath because of altitudine and vista that surrounds you
The trail is 12 km long and all the way to the top the views are incredible on a clear day
We wasted time and money. Drive to the visitor center in your own car and save the $168 per person. The tour groups are a rip off. They will tell you that a light dinner is served. Our light dinner included vegetable lasagna in a tin container, and a brownie!!! No drinks were provided. You will be eating in the van or standing up!!
Rest room are dirty, and the lines at the visitor center are extremely long.
We went with the Mauna Kea tour company!! Trust me, spend your money on a nice dinner and watch the sunset somewhere else.
Since we were already in Hawaii Island, I decided to join a tour with my daughter, a high school freshman, to watch the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea and the stargazing from the middle of the mountain. I had heard that the Taikobo Hawaii tour was recommended, so I applied in advance. There were eight of us, including a family of four from Switzerland and a couple from Australia, and the guide was Japanese. He was considerate enough to say, "I'll explain in English, but I'll follow up in Japanese at the end." He gave me easy-to-understand explanations that even my poor hearing could understand, and I was able to learn about the history and nature of Hawaii Island. We were picked up at 3 p.m. in Waikoloa, and first headed for the Onizuka Center at an altitude of 2,800 m. As an aside, I recommend that you do not eat anything that is hard to digest before joining this tour, and never join on a full stomach. Otherwise, you will feel sick on the bumpy roads going up or down the mountain and have a hard time. I was worried about the cloudy weather on the day, but by the time we reached the summit, the surroundings were clear and a carpet of clouds spread out below us. First, we listened to an explanation at the 13 observatories from various countries, and then we finally went up to the spot to watch the sunset.
We were already much higher than the summit of Mt. Fuji, and the spectacular sunset sinking into the sea of clouds was so moving that it was hard to put into words. We could see the mountains of Maui in the distance, and even the shadow of the summit of Mauna Kea was reflected in the sea of clouds.
It was also interesting to take a three-shot photo of the full moon reflected in the sea of clouds.
I was very interested in what to wear, but even in the middle of summer at the end of July, cold weather clothing is still essential.
After wearing heat tech tops and bottoms, long sleeves, long pants, and a light down jacket are the minimum.
If it's even colder, ask the guide in advance to borrow a cold weather jacket top and bottom.
Otherwise, you will definitely not be able to endure the approximately 1 hour of watching the sunset at the summit or the 2 hours of stargazing that follow.
You may want to put on layers at the Onizuka Center rest stop on the way.
Tour participants must descend from the summit within 30 minutes after sunset, so we once again head down the bumpy road to the stargazing spot halfway up the mountain.
Each company seems to have their own territory here, so we enjoy stargazing in pitch darkness for about two hours.
Unfortunately, it was the day before the full moon, so the moonlight was too bright and we could barely see the Milky Way, but it seems that the sky was literally full of stars.
After that, we headed back and arrived in Waikoloa after 11pm, but we were really happy to have had such a valuable experience.
If possible, next time I would like to participate in the stargazing and sunrise tour as well.
We are back in Puako after our second failed attempt this week at stargazing. The cloud coverage was thick and horrible and didn't allow for any stargazing whatsoever. Nobody's fault obviously but disappointing nonetheless. Apparently the winter months mean more clouds and less chance at seeing any stars which would have been good to know before the 2 hour return trip from Puako. If you are travelling from afar specifically for Stargazing keep in mind that even on a clear day clouds can roll in at the last minute and NOT descend which means you will see nothing therefore you are taking your chances going up to the visitor centre and especially during the winter. Stargazing has a webpage but it poorly describes the current conditions if at all (not that it would help anyway because the weather could be drastically different up top by the time you get there) so I would recommend somehow checking the weather for the area and if you see clouds coming into the island before you leave then postpone for another day. The 6pm film in the visitor centre is 8 years old but is quite interesting and focuses primarily on the Hawaiian cultural significance of the Mauna Kea versus the astronomical importance and how the two sides have managed to co-exist. Yes it does get cold up there so wear running shoes. If you get hungry I saw sandwiches in the small refrigerator.
Was absolutely amazing and definitely a highlight of the trip. Some things to know, you need a 4x4 to get to the summit from the visitor's center. Anyone under 16 should not go to the summit as it is not recommended because of lack of oxygen (40% less oxygen at the summit) Rental cars are okay to get you as far as the visitors center which is at 10,000 feet. Great spot to watch the sunset and the stars. Great highway on the trip up.
A lot of things have been said about a visit to the summit of Mauna Kea and I don't think I can add much. Yes, it's amazing, yes, it's fabulous, yes, it's worth it, yes, it's an unbelievable experience, yes, it's magic.
It's worth it. Definitely. And the most interesting thing is that you can easily do it by yourself and there's no need for organized tours at all.
1) Be at the Mauna Kea access road no later than 3/3.30pm. It takes you 1 hour from Hilo or from Kailua-Kona.
2) Go to the Visitor Centre and spend at least 45 minutes there to get used to the altitude. There's a very short walk on the left side to a nice look-out. Perfect to get used to the altitude.
3) At around 5/5.30pm start your trip to the summit. It's 8miles (13km) and the elevation gain is 1,400m (from 2,800m to 4,200m). Drive slowly and equilibrate as long as you go up. You need a 4WD vehicle. The road is not so bad: most of it is paved and you can probably do it with an ordinary car, too, but in any case I wouldn't risk.
4) Spend as much time as you can on the top. It's gorgeous. And freezing. It's really really freezing and cold, especially when it's windy. Wear a warm jacket and gloves if you love taking pictures. Enjoy the view and the sunset.
5) At around 6.30/7pm go back to the Visitor Centre and enjoy a free stargazing activity. There are a lot of volunteers who point their pro telescopes to specific stars, galaxies or Moon and explain you what you see and how. Very nice.
If you are interested in other activities (ie hiking to the summit either from the Visitor Centre or from the telescopes), check their web-site. I know the Visitor Centre takes people up to the summit every day for free: check out the details.
Extremely grateful to the tour company for providing parkas for us! It was 85 degrees at sea level...minus zero with near 50 mph winds by the observatories! Wait....where'd Hawaii go? But it was awesome...sunset at the summit, then telescopes later to see all the constellations....up close and personal! Answers below are considering going with a tour.
We almost didn't get to visit because of the protests but thankfully the access road reopened a couple of days before our arrival. The drive up to the visitor center poses no challenge. The road to the summit was closed that day because of (apparently) inclement weather conditions but we didn't have a 4WD anyway so it wasn't a big loss. Once you're at visitor center level, you absolutely need to climb the rocky outcrop across it or you'll be missing all the sights. It's a relatively easy hike and the (daytime) views from up there are magical.
Fabulous view from the summit. Must stop at park station at 9k to ensure altitude adjustment, you'll need at least 30 minutes here to ensure you're "safe" before proceeding to the top. Suggest a Jeep of 4 wheel drive vehicle.
Park staff was friendly and accommodating!
We stopped at the visitor center parking (visitor center closed). We hiked up the little viewpoint for a great view. The view was already above the clouds and was a great view. My husband who is a mild asthmatic (uses his inhaler about once a year) had an attack from the lack of air. Needless to say we didn't go any higher. Make sure you have your inhaler up here!
Like the volcano, I think your experience is all going to be based on timing. It was a clear night and we were able to see constellations very clearly. However, the moon was way too bright to allow us to see any difference in the Milky Way, compared to where we we could see it from our lodging in Pahoa.
The drive up was super easy (and much easier than Haleakala) but we did not drive all the way to the top of the summit. Luckily, we had no issues acclimating.
Flying out of Kona, it was cool to be able to see Mauna Kea from the plane and be able to see where we were the night before.
I am not a volcano person! I much preferred Volcanoes National Park. The drive to the Vistor's Center on Mauna Kea took a long time and was through desolate land. There were a couple of cool things to see, but not enough to keep my interest. The Visitor's Center had little more than a film and souvenirs.
I couldn't go further than the Visitor's Center, as altitude sickness was already kicking in.
We decided Not to go up to the summit not only due to the higher altitude (I have asthma), but also because many people told us it really isn't worth it. The drive is easy and good with paved road all the way to the Visitor's Center. We watched a one hour video about the mountain and the observatory. It had a strong political correctness to it, but if you get past that, it was informative. It was followed by an excellent 15 minute talk from one of the knowledgeable staff members and answering questions. Many telescopes were moved outside where we could see the planets, nebula, etc. The same staff member used a laser pointer to point out various stars, clusters, planets and more. If it were not for the idiots snapping their cameras, using their flashlights, we would have seen more. It takes almost 30 minutes to really acclimate to the night sky. The staff continually asked people not to use flash photography, but there are always the few that don't listen, and don't watch their children. We were told by other people who have been to the summit that it was not worth the money just to walk around and see the observatories (obviously you can't use the telescopes as they are for research, etc). So, in conclusion, I would have to say that due to all the tourist vehicles, people with flash cameras and car lights, it took away from the experience, and we saw more stars and night sky over at Volcanoes National Park, even though the elevation was about 5000 feet less. If you were to arrive later at the visitor's center when the tourist vehicles are returning to town, and people are heading back to their destinations, then I think it would be an amazing experience. I suggest getting their later around 8. We arrived at 6 to watch the film and listen to the staff talk, but you can do that if you arrive later as well.
The ride from Kona to the Visitor's Center at Mauna Kea not too long ago was not for the faint of heart (or for the rental car companies). Now the Saddle Road (now named for the late Senator Inouye), is a beautiful drive and only gets a bit exciting on the ride up to the center from the highway. Great views, snacks/hot chocolate available. Volunteers bring out telescopes for viewing planets. Drive up to observatories should be done by tour companies, not really for rental cars. Four wheel drive needed. Allow lots of time if you want to see sunset or sunrise as it's a long drive from Kona, shorter from Hilo. Interesting views of Mauna Loa. Might even get to see military exercises underway near turnoff to center.
I apologize, don't remember the name of the tour group, But it is worth booking a tour, as the information on the way up was interesting. You have to stop for an hour at the visitor's center to acclimate to the altitude. Many people there doing the same. Getting to the observatories didn't seem that difficult, but they highly advise not driving your own car. That is primarily because of the drive down in the dark on a very steep road. You can't get into the observatories, but have the opportunity to see through very good telescopes set up by amateurs at the visitor center on the way back. Wear long underwear, hat, gloves, scarf as it is VERY cold and windy at the top. The tour guide provides a heavy jacket. If star gazing at the visitor center is your goal, pay attention to the phase of the moon and weather conditions.
Beautiful place to just see the sky! We went during the moonlight so we didn’t get to see much stars with our eyes. However, my Nikon D850 captured it! Next time we go, we’ll plan for late night during no moon (New moon) for much better visibility.
Amazing, stunning, breathtaking, beautiful. It was very cold so wrap up but it is oh so worth it. The sky was sensational! The band of stardust in the milky way, the zodiacs, shooting stars, looking through the telescope to see Saturn and its rings. Unmissable
It is possible to visit the summit on your own for a fraction of the cost of a commercial tour. We rented a 4x4 SUV with low range from Harper https://www.harpershawaii.com/, and with layers of clothing, plenty of water and food, we headed for the Ellison Onizuka Visitors Center where we had a picnic, watched videos, geo-cached and got some souveniers. Schedule a couple of hours stay there to get used to the elevation before ascending to the summit. Altitude sickness is a very real possibility; read the brochure on visiting safely and responsibly available at www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/uploads/images/Visiting%20MK%20safely%20121204.pdf. Free escorted public tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays -- check the website for details. We joined the tour led by Ranger Pablo McCloud. Extremely knowledgeable and articulate, Pablo provided information about the cultural, geological, and scientific significances of Mauna Kea. We went into one of the Keck Observatory visitor galleries for a prearranged turning of the mirror. Our group opted not stay for sunset because it was cloudy and the forecast was for it to remain that way on the day we went. The road is steep, but well maintained. Up is easy. The descent is manageable in an appropriate vehicle when taken slowly and in low gear.
We took a tour with Hawaii Forest and Trail to Mauna Kea. Our tour guide Nate, kept us bombarded with information on the drive there, coming back he was quiet and some of us slept.
We stopped at an old abandoned sheep station for a meal before heading up to the summit. I spend a lot of time doing winter sports in the mountains and thought I was prepared for the cold temperatures at the summit, wearing 7 layers, including a snowboard jacket and the parka provided by Hawaii Forest and Trail, 2 pairs of gloves etc.... but I have never been so cold! We watched the sunset and were outside for about 10-15 mins. All the batteries on our camera's died.... apparently this happens in extreme cold temperatures.... wish I had known this as I'd have kept them somewhere warmer, in a pocket of one of my many layers! My husband was frozen also, and this is someone who watched the sunrise on Haleakala (Maui) in shorts! I wasn't bothered by the altitude (13,796') although my husband did feel a bit dizzy.
After the sunset, we descended to close to the visitor centre where Nate assembled a telescope and we looked at the Milky Way.... stars, star clusters, constellations etc.... awesome! Nate was passionate about the night sky and really enthused this into his information.
Visiting Mauna Kea Summit is a "Must!" Make sure you have a 4x4 vehicle. Recommend fleece or jacket and long pants. We arrived at visitor center about 10 A.M. driving from Kona. The road to the summit from the visitor's center is unpaved for a little over 3 miles, then is paved for the final 4 miles. Road is steep and narrow, but well worth the trip. Plenty of parking around the amazing telescopes and observatories. Spectacular views WHEN the sky is clear!! It was partly cloudy, cleared off and on for about 90 minutes. Quickly clouds rolled in and then rain, so we drove back down and stopped to see visitor's center. Enjoyable experience!
Perfect weather allowed us to drive to the top taking in the breathtaking scenery and observing the observatories still got cold so a jacket is a must even long pants as I said our visit was perfect weather
The 2 days that we were on Saddle Road traveling from Kona to Hilo we had hoped to travel to the summit of Mauna Kea, but it was closed due to weather conditions. One day it was too windy at the top, and the other day they were expecting 9" of snow. We drove to the Visitor's Center in our own car, and saw several tour busses up there that weren't able to make it up to the summit either. It was very cold up there, but the Visitor's Center provided a movie and interesting photos about the area. I would have been VERY disappointed if we had paid for a tour and only made it to the Visitor's Center, but since we were in our own car it wasn't a big deal.
Review is for the visitor center. Note that the observatories at the summit are not open to the public.
This was a great place to learn about the heavens and see them first hand - like no place else on earth. Really appreciated the staff, both paid and volunteer (from University). Had a great time of discussion just after dark and answered questions all night (or at least past the time we left). Lots of telescopes for public use. Think about leaving a donation to support this awesome location.
We wanted to drive up to the visitor center but were surprised by protesters who blocked the only access road . Police on site did not know when it will be open again. Extremly difficult to find info about protests and closure. A good alternative is mauna loa but to reach the summit you will need to hike 10 miles on high altidude. We were exetremly disappointed.
We accessed Mauna Kea from the Kona side. This meant going on the infamous Saddle road. The road starts off in bad shape but it's legend isn't as bad as it's cracked up to be. In fact, the road is no worse than a poor surfaced city street. Keep the speed down and you'll be fine. There's a couple roller coaster sections along the way but that just adds to the charm. Much of the middle portion of saddle road has undergone massive, expensive, reconstruction in recent years aided by Federal funding (the army training center is located here). Therefore they have realigned the road so it's straighter and is paved ultra smooth!
You're on high plateau grounds up on the saddle road so once you turn into the Mauna kea access road you're already some 5k feet high. The first stop is the visitor's center at the 9k elevation. It's advisable to stop here to acclimate to the elevation. The visitor center has a small store with very expensive food and souverniers, and also general info.
The road beyond quickly turns into an unpaved route. We had a Jeep; never saw a need for four wheel drive on this road but it IS a very bumpy road that wouldn't be kind to a normal passenger car's tires. During the descent you also want to be in low-range which normal cars don't have; else you risk using your brakes too much and running them red hot. Hence, the recommendation for a 4x4.
After a few miles of the rough packed road, it turns again into a beautifully smooth paved road. I'm wondering why they don't pave the whole road distance and I guess it's because keeping the mass of visitors out is the goal. Makes sense and sounds perfectly good!
At this point the elevation is 13k+. Pretty dizzying high. You're at the alpine snow level here so there are patches all over the ground in the winter. Our goal was to park the vehicle and walk over to Lake Waiau, one of the highest alpine lakes in the world. However, this plan was cancelled when we realized there was too much ground snow cover and we weren't prepared for it wearing just sneakers.
All the observatories up here are not open to the public without a prior tour engagement so keep that in mind. There was not much in the way of views while up here either as you're way above the cloud line so can't really make anything out.
One does need to worry about the elevation on your health. I'm a pretty fit person but found myself getting a headache and dizzyness when lightly jogging up the hill. Elderly needs to be careful. Limit movement and you should be fine though.
aloha from Kona Hawaii! I wanted to go see the sunset and the stars at night from the top of the 14,000ft volcano on Big island...A.k.A- Mauna Kea!.... but I found outfrom the nice concierge in the royal kona hotel lobby that you can't drive your rental car to the top..they stop you at 9,000ft due to rough roads an no rental car has 4x4 :-( but Im glad they told me about HAWAII FOREST AND TRAIL tour company....they were amazing...the drive is a little scary since your going up this super steep volcano...---so glad we didnt have to drive!!! They fed us great food and even hot coco an brownies later on! They even had a veggie option!!!
So this tour is all about the view from the tippy-top of the 14,oooft volcano..you can see Maui from up there .and you can stand right next to the fancy huge telescopes and get the best sunset views!!!! It is cold up there but the tour driver gave us all big warm coats and gloves..which i loved!!! After the sunset we checked out the stars through a big telescope that the driver sets up ..I saw the rings around saturn!!!!! Super amazing and breathtaking...if you want to learn about starts an get the best sunset view..take this tour--dont drive..cant see as much if you drive as you can with the tour!!!!
i love hawaii!!!
Our sunset and stargazing trip up the 14,000ft mountain of Mauna Kea was breathtaking. Mauna Kea is snow capped year round, and even has ski/snowboard slopes, we could see the ski tracks as we ascended. The temperatures at altitude on our trip were about 5 degrees below freezing. Not to be worried, our outfitter had cozy down winter parkas and ski gloves for all. The ride to the summit is via a steep, 4X4 only, dirt road. The views going up were spectacular, you could see all the way to Hilo. We drove through some thin cloud banks on our way up, once we popped through the full moon was just cresting the summit. It was the biggest moon I have ever seen. The summit is dotted with modern observatories everywhere set on a very mars like landscape. As the sun sets, and night approaches, you begin to hear the mechanical whine of their huge protective doors opening, exposing the massive telescopes hidden inside. Time on these telescopes costs around a dollar per second, now that’s expensive! The reason is these all digital behemoths are situated in the cleanest air mass at the greatest elevation found on Earth, Mauna Kea Summit. We parked at the summit and viewed the best sunset ever. After checking out the sunset and observatories, from the outside only L, we headed down to slightly warmer elevation and setup our own 2 telescopes. Our guides, experts in astronomy, took us on a 2hr journey through the stars. From here you can see both the northern and southern hemispheres due to Mauna Kea’s close proximity to the equator. It was neat being able to see stars and constellations I can’t see from home. Here is a link to a great write up on Mauna Kea by Outside Online. We arranged our tour with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures. They are the original and absolute best outfitter on the island. We got to see the others while on our trip and they didn’t compare. Everything was done top notch and our guides were extremely knowledgeable about the Big Island, Mauna Kea, and astronomy. The trip starts with a long, but fascinating drive to the mountain. They drive the rustic and infamous saddle road, which was off-limits to my jeep because it voids your rental agreement, to the mountain. It is an interesting road for intrepid travelers, with its close-up views of the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes and the lava fields covering the "saddle" between the two. Overall I highly recommend this trip to everyone. It is a must do for sure!
Check out my whole Hawaii Itinerary at http://www.jheary.com/itinerary/hawaii.htm
Mahalo,
Jamey
I went to Mauna Kea on my last night in Kailua-Kona and I am so happy that I could end it in spectacular fashion. It took about 1.25 hours to drive from Ali'i Drive. I have pretty severe asthma, so I knew I wasn't going to the summit, but other reviews said it was still a great place to visit even if I stopped at the Visitor Information Station, which is also above the clouds. If you walk for about 20 minutes from the VIS (up the side of a steep hill) you can see the sun set into the clouds. The panoramic views of the clouds and the top of Mauna Kea were amazing. I can't describe how worth it it was. After the sun went down it got significantly colder. I wouldn't say you need a parka, but I was cold in runners, pants, a light sweater, and a north face rain jacket. Take lots of layers. The stargazing was also pretty great, although it was hard to trump the amazing sunset. There were telescopes pointed at the moon, mars, and saturn, as well as an employee giving a laser-guided tour of the planets and constellations. I would definitely do this again if I tried.
We went here to see the sights at sunset. We were prepared and came with a four wheel drive. Looking at the website it is very confusing what is going on. First of all, there is a drive to the top where they say you need a four wheel drive but I saw lots of people going in cars. It takes quite a while to drive the road so plan accordingly. We didn’t allow for enough time and one person in our party got sick before reaching the summit so we had to turn back plus it was starting to get dark and we missed sunset. On the website it says the best time to visit is between 730 pm and 930 pm but that is NOT for the summit drive. That is for star gazing at the visitors center. There were a lot of people and very little parking. Overall I think this could be a good experience but it’s not very clear what to do on the website and it’s quite a drive from either Hilo or Kona. I must say I was disappointed because I was unclear of what to do and I feel we missed out. We couldn’t go back another day because we had other things planned.
Went to the visitor center at Mauna Kea - 9000 feet or so above clouds - never seen so many stars / absolutely amazing finally seeing constellations, milky way etc.
Try to arrive before dark to see sunset and get parking - gets crowded.
After dark visitor center has red lights in bathrooms and center so as not to ruin night vision - unfortunately there are MANY inconsiderate people who decide to walk around using the light on their iphone - invariably they shine it in your eyes and ruins night vision for everyone. would be nice if they were more considerate especially as there are stations set up with telescopes and / or presentation on the different constellations.
Hopefully these people read this review and be respectful with their lights - but for the most part they seem oblivious.
However despite this - well worth the visit
We went all the way to the summit (renting a 4-wheel drive at extra cost to get there) and then were disappointed with the summit itself. The day we went all you could see from the summit was the tops of the clouds below you and the observatories. Then the sunset, which was supposed to be so spectacular, was very tame. The summit is a pretty long drive over mostly dirt roads with very desolate scrubland or desert around you, so not picturesque. There is nothing to do at the top but wait for the sunset.
We enjoyed the stargazing at the Visitor Center much more. Because of light pollution It had been 50 years since we’d seen the Milky Way! But because of going to the summit for sunset, we had a long wait for the stars to come out—at least an hour after sunset itself. So if I did it again, I would not go to the summit. I would have rented a regular car, waited until sunset to set out from Hilo, and just gone to the Visitor Center for the stargazing.
It is COLD at this elevation and gets even colder after dark. We wore down jackets, long johns, ski caps, and mittens and we STILL froze. I would bring every blanket you can beg or borrow from your hotel. Also make sure you have a reliable flashlight, because the whole reason you are here is because it is DARK! My old reliable punked out on me at the worst time despite brand new batteries (some loose connection), so we had to share one.
Altitude sickness is a real thing. We already felt a little headachy at the Visitor Center at 9000 feet and did not feel like walking around much at the 13,000 foot summit.
By the way, there isn’t much to see at the Visitor Center either, so don’t think there is a great educational exhibit there. I got so sick of hearing about native Hawaiian mythology on our whole trip and got more there too. How about some science?
Just simply amazing. If you have any time at all on the big island, you need to go. If possible, plan for a moonless night. Cloud cover seemed not to matter, as at the very top, you're above the clouds!
we visited the mauna kea and took the free tour did by a volunteer of the visitor center. if you want to visit telescop on the weekend take this trip. you have to arrive by 1pm at the visitor center. take sure to have full gaz in your 4wd ! the hill is big and its take lot of gaz
the view is spectacular, thought i was on the moon actually. do the little walk to the hill with the little budis monument.
stay until the sunset it worth it. take good warm clothes with you.
when you got back to the visitor center you can stargazing with the volunteer and drink hot chocolat (sold there).
Bring your warm clothes with you, because it's very chilly up there. I drove up to the visitor center, because I haven't had a 4x4.
While you up for the sunset, you should join the stargazing. Astronomer built up their telescopes, so take the chance to look through.
There are many people at the visitor center for the sunset, but I was nearly the only one for the sunrise.
Definitely worth the need for a 4-wheel drive vehicle and altitude acclimation at the visitor's center at 9,000ft. The trip to the summit makes you feel as if you are accomplishing something not everyone is going to do on a visit to the big island. The fact that it's cold at the summit and that you might see snow add to the experience. The view is the ultimate reward. You will feel like you are on top of the world. The highlight of our trip!
Words and even pictures can't do justice to our trip to the top of Mauna Kea. Sunset was spectacular and star gazing from a small side road near the visitors centre on the way down was stunning. It's one of the best places on the planet for stargazing - hence all the best telescopes in the world are here. Trust me when I say the naked eye will give you an amazing experience too. We had a cloudless and moonless night and were stunned to be able to see the southern cross and North Star in same sky! Also saw Milky Way and a fly past by the Hubble telescope. The road up to the visitors centre is ok for any car. The road from there to the top would need a 4x4. If you're having trouble finding one there's a place in Hilo that will allow you to take their cars up (the main rental companies don't). Definitely a once in a lifetime thing, so if you're going you must go all the way. Hot chocolate at the visitors centre on the way down never tasted so good. Dress warm and bring gloves.
A must see on the big island. We spent the earlier part of the day at Mauna Kea beach sunbathing, and 4 hours later, were bundled up in our ski jackets at the Mauna Kea summit.
We did rent a 4x4 to get up to the summit. It is an unpaved gravel road on an incline. I don't think its a "must", I'm sure a normal car would make it as well, especially if the driver is pretty experienced with unpaved roads and going down slopes without wearing the brakes to nothing. I think its more a matter of you'd be covered with a 4x4 rental taking it on the unpaved roads.
I was okay with a fleece at the visitor center (around 9000 ft), but needed to be fully bundled up at the summit. Winter parkas and gloves needed at the top! Its COLD! Also try to acclimate for at least 30 minutes at the visitor center before continuing. We did so, and were still lightheaded at the top. And just walking around got me breathless. Lack of oxygen really takes a toll.
The sunset is beautiful and I'm glad we did this. I can't put it into words, you just have to go. But even before reaching the top, I saw cars pulled to the side taking photos. Its sort of amazing that you are standing right next to the clouds.
Finally, stay after sunset at the visitor center for some astronomy/constellations lessons. They set up telescopes and you can see various constellations through them. The sky is SO clear at that elevation you can really appreciate the stars. Fun fact I learned--it is actually better for people to see the stars at the visitor center elevation than it is at the summit elevation, because the lack of oxygen affects your sight too.
I went to the summit of Mauna Kea with Arnott's adventures -I definetely recommend it, it is less than half the price of the other guided tours, I posted the link below for those interested.
I guess most people go to Hawaii for the beaches, but to me Mauna Kea and the Volcano National Park were THE things to see. The trip is a one hour drive from Hilo, with a 45 minute pause at the astronomy guest house, to get used to the high altitude. You can observe some very beautiful silverferns that I belive are exclusive to this area. The view is already quite impressive, high above the clouds. Then is the rather scary ride to the top on the bumpy unpaved road, so I was pretty relieved when we got to the top! Some of the most powerfull telescopes on Earth are on the summit, so anyone interested in astronomy will love this place!
In my opinion being on Mauna Kea felt like being on Mars... reddish soil, tons of craters, and a feeling of isolation as you cant really see anything that seems alive, just clouds and surrounding peaks ... and snow!
We watched the sunset, the most beautiful I have seen in my life up to now. The shadow of the mountain on the eastern side is very beautiful as well!
The tour then has to leave, not to disturb the astronomer's observations, and on the way down we make another stop and the tour guides explain some of the Polynesian and actual constellations, and answer any questions the visitors have.
Unfortunately the night I was visiting had a very bright moon, and I would suggest you pick a night without one, as it is easier to see the incredible night sky of the Big Island.
Great tour, great guides, totally worth the money!
We drove to Mauna Kea from Hilo on October 26th. We immediately drove to the summit and we were just fine (had an AWD vehicle not a 4wheel drive). The car did overheat, but my husband managed it well! The drive up provided spectacular views but by the time we arrived at the summit it was completely cloudy! Went to the Visitors Center and saw the video. Only complaint was that it was difffcult to hear due to the other visitors talking throughout! We were so blessed when at the the end of the video, the staff informed us that the skies had cleared and we had an amazing opportunity to view the stars. Well worth the drive!
We drove up to the visitor center during the day as we never could work a night visit into our trip. The drive up was beautiful. The center had a film running that we all enjoyed. We would have loved to go to the summit, but had kids under 16 with us, so decided based on the recommendations that we should be safe and stay at the lower elevation. Driving back down, we stopped at a splatter crater where the access road intersects Daniel Inouye Highway. We highly recommend taking the half mile hike to the top - the views are amazing.
As a solo traveler in a rental Jeep, hindsight is 20/20! Having a decent amount of 4wheel drive experience helped to ease my worries -- since the road really is just a wide washboarded gravel road. It is steep and your read end will slid out from under you even in a 4x4, but if you have the least bit of confidence you will be just fine! Coming down, put the truck in 4hi and avoid the breaks as much as you can. The view from the top is amazing and the sunset was the highlight of my 4 nights on the Big Island. I drove all the way out to the end of the road on top - and, although a bit freaked out being the only one out there - I don't regret the risk at all! The tour trucks (which you will pay $200/head to ride in) park at the top next to the telescopes. I recommend driving down the mountain a hundred feet or so to where you can't drive any further. Desolate and amazing!! Enjoy your adventure!!
This was once in the life time experience.But you need to be aware of luck of oxygene. In fact, one gentleman in his 60's got quite sick and needed oxygen mask. I also felt light headed and nausea for a while. Besides that, it was fantastic. When you go to the top of the mountain(14000 feet above the sea level), you got to see the most beautiful sunset of all. The sun was setting into the clouds amd we were looking down it. Amazing stars as well. Got to see satelites. It looks like starts moving the orbits. If you are healthy, highly recommended. I used Hawaii Forest & trail and they were fantastic.
We visited Mauna Kea on the spur of the moment. We were on the Saddle Road on our way to Hilo when we pulled over to check where we were and saw the sign. Intrigued, we decided to drive up to the visitor center. The views from 9,200' were quite impressive. The ranger was very helpful. They take safely seriously as they were checking each vehicle who were going to the summit if it wasn't AWD or 4WD, you weren't going. You also weren't going if you were under the age of 13 or if you weren't carrying water or even if you car was dirty. Our car was so we don't think he would have met us go. However, we did enjoy the visitor center and that was worth the drive.
We attended the star gazing program at the Mauna Kea Visitor center. This is a great option for those who don't want to go all the way to the summit. The program starts at 6:00 with a one hour documentary on the mountain. While it was interesting, the stars themselves are the real attraction. There will be telescopes to look through. We were able to see Saturn. Be sure to bring warm clothes. There is a lovely presentation by the staff who point out lots of constellations. You'll never see stars like this anywhere else. Great for all ages and the kids are warmly welcomed by the staff.
You must rent a 4x4 to make it to the summit. The only way that you can ensure that you get a 4x4 is to rent a Jeep as they all come with 4 wheel drive. The Visitor Center is at the 9,000 ft level. Go there and stay for about 30 minutes or so to acclimate to the elevation. They can also give you some conditions reports for the top.
Then drive up to the top. They advised to drive in 4L up and down to the summit. The first half of the trip is on a gravel road with many switchbacks. The second half is paved. It is another world at the top!!
Go for sunset for great sights!
Go on a night the visitor center provides telescopes for star gazing. I would arrive by 6:30 and stay to 10. You can also see the glow from the lava fissure 8 way off in the distance while star gazing, as well as the lave later when heading back to the visitor parking lot from the road only.
No need to head all the way to the summit.
We went here to watch sunset at it was very amazing!
Be so high up in Hawaii and so cold!
Be here in time cause it gets dark fast and you have to use a 4wheel car and wear warm clothes and bring camera!
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On the Mauna Kea You feel on top of the world or maybe... on another world! You need just a 4x4 car and a heavy jacket (even in summertime) is a very windy place. Sunset is so romantic (i add some pics), but you have to come down from the mountain quickly as the sun fell, there are no streetlights on the way! I suggest a few breaks during the climb to avoid headaches and don't forget to bring a bottle of water. In the middle of the climb there is a center that provides information (the Visitor Information Station - V.I.S.). Going down in the evening, in the same center, some astronomers organize a free observatory for tourists. I saw for the first time Saturn with its rings .. was very exciting! A last tip: If You don't have a 4x4 car don't try to climb.. Ask for a hitchhiking to some other visitor at the Visitor Information Station.. It's safer and You can find new friends!