Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Star Gazing

Mauna Kea Summit Adventure Tour

Only on Big Island can you experience the planet's tallest volcano (32,000 feet above the sea floor), Hawaii's tallest mountain (13,796 feet), and watch the sun setting in the peaceful Pacific Ocean. You'll call it your most unforgetable adventure ever!
Join us for an intriguing and provocative journey through space and time. On your way to the summit you'll learn about the remarkable evolution and changes the Big Island has experienced.

Sunset at Mauna Kea Summit

Travel up the coast over desolate lava flows for about a half hour before proceeding up the rolling pasturelands on the flanks of Mauna Kea. Turning onto the Saddle Road that traverses the island between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, you’ll see a dramatic and diverse landscape of ranchland, sub-alpine dryforest and rainforest (with striking features such as cinder cones, lava flows, lava tubes and kipuka). We arrive at our private dinner location at Humuula approximately 2 hours before sunset for a hot, picnic dinner served family style. After dinner and with a winter-style parka in hand, we’ll make the 45 minute drive to the summit. As your make your way up, you’ll be fascinated by your Interpretive Guide’s interpretation of Hawaii’s remarkable natural, cultural, and geologic history.

Star Gazing & Talking Story
After sunset we descend to the Visitor’s Information Station at 9,000 foot elevation. Here we set up our own telescope and have a star gazing party. Wrapped warm in Arctic parkas, enjoying hot beverages and cookies, you will marvel at the brilliance of the Hawaiian night sky. Your Interpretive Guide will share with you stories of the observable universe, and offer you a personal and educational look at the heavens.

Mauna Kea Summit Details

Location: Mauna Kea
Schedule: Daily, year-round
Duration: 7-8 hours depending on pickup location
Time: Pick-up time varies between 1:40pm and 3:10pm depending on time of year. Pickup from selected Waikoloa resorts.
Group Size: Tours are limited to a maximum of 12.
Minimum age: 16 years old.

Included: Dinner, Chocolate Coma Cookies, Hot Beverages, Hooded Parkas, and Warm Gloves.
Dinner Menu: Picnic style dinner, assorted teas, hot chocolate, and dessert. Dinner selections are either Barbecue Chicken (served hot) with Homemade Cornbread and Coleslaw; or a Vegetarian Spinach Wrap (served cold) with Glazed Carrots and Tabouleh.

What to Bring: Long warm pants, closed shoes, layering garments, and camera.

Restrictions: Because of high altitude this tour is not advised for those with respiratory, circulatory or heart conditions, pregnancy, poor health, or children under 16 years old. Scuba divers should be aware of altitude dangers.