Big Island
Adventures
Mauna Kea Summit Trips on the Island of Hawaii - Begin Your Adventure With Us!
Description:Mauna Kea Tours - Hike, Sunset and Stars! Mauna Kea is home to the world's largest telescopes and has atmospheric clarity better than anywhere else on earth. Cutting edge science and new understandings of our universe are constantly flowing from the summit. Mauna Kea has something for everyone, with wonderful
Ice age scouring, road cuts revealing strata and a well defined
Volcanic history. This tour leaves Hilo at seasonally adjusted
times, stops briefly at a store for food shopping, then goes
directly to the Onizuka Visitor Center (VIS) at 9200ft (3000m) where
you may do some vigorous short climbs or watch videos on Astronomy.
The VIS also has hot drinks, snacks and a large range of Mountain
and Astronomy related souvenirs and educational materials available.
Following a 30 minute acclimatization stop at the VIS we ascend to
13600ft where our guide will explain the various telescopes in view.
We then ascend the last few hundred feet to the road highpoint where
those in good physical condition may hike to the actual summit if they wish, and if conditions permit. The summit hike and sunset are often at the same time affording spectacular views of sunset and the famous "Shadow" to the East. Following this we descend to the Visitor Center for hot drinks and bathrooms, then go to our own Starshow location where binoculars are made available and our guide, using a high powered visible laser, leads you on a journey to major celestial objects and Polynesian navigational Stars. This tour is designed as an overall experience of an incredible mountain it is NOT an astronomy tour. We return to Hilo usually by 9:00 to 10:00pm
Tour Length/Departure Times:
6 to 7 hours
Price with Tax:
$225 per person from Kona for Hilo call or email for pricing