Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour

Wonderful once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the sun set above the clouds on Mauna Kea! Stargazing will depend on the clarity of the sky and brightness of the sky. Guide was very knowledgeable about astronomy, the telescopes, Polynesian cosmology and anything else we wondered about. Good dinner too!

Our outing to Mauna Kea to see the sunset and then star gazing was wonderful. From the time we left Kona, our guide, Justin, was extremely helpful and informative. We stopped for a delicious dinner in a pleasant setting under lovely trees, then went to the top of the 14,000 foot volcano! It's the highest volcano in the world. There are several observatories doting the top. We enjoyed seeing the sun set. It was very clear and the temperature was about 25 degrees, and even colder considering the wind chill factor. But we were provided with very sturdy and warm parkas and gloves. At this time of year there was still snow on the summit, and we found it amusing that would be touching snow in Hawaii! After the sunset viewing, we went to a lower elevation where Justin set up telescopes and proceeded to show us several beautiful star formations. His knowledge of the night sky was impressive. The stars were gorgeous. Finally it was time come down from our mountain experience!

We were not sure what to expect and at the end of the trip had so many emotions it was not easy to identify all of our feelings. Jerald was so gracious and kind. But a powerhouse of information. The picnic in the wind was fun and funny. The van was very comfortable and made the bumpy road bearable. And the adventure had so many aspects. Snow, high altitudes, wind, beautiful sunset behind the clouds and stars. Oh, the stars!! It was a total experience affecting all of the senses. And thanks to our guide, every bit of the experience was exciting and awe inspiring.

Amazing and awesome!

It was amazing. The tour guide Jeff was excellent! He provided a great narrative with information along the way. Every detail was taken care of from the dinner to the hot chocolate and awesome brownies. Jeff's knowledge of the stars, planets, and what we were witnessing was exceptional. This is the second trip we've taken to Mauna Kea.

Amazing trip. Our guide Justin was very knowledgeable and informative. He was very kind and explained to us in detail. He was very passionate about his job and an enthusiastic person. The scenery and the sunset were amazing. Stargazing was amazing, and we were speechless to see the beauty. We had another couple with us, and they were great company and very entertaining. The food was awesome, and the hot chocolate and the brownie to die for, especially when it is chill weather. Overall an excellent and unforgettable tour. Thank you Travel Shack for arranging this wonderful tour for us.

Amazing experience!!!!

Jeff was knowledgeable and gregarious. Very friendly and helpful. Not only were the sunset and stars amazing, we learned so much about astronomy and the volcanos of Hawaii. Dinner was good and we also had a lovely nature hike.

What an awesome night! Our guide Justin was super helpful, knowledgeable, and funny. We had a great time with nice folks, good food, wonderful scenery, and the stargazing was so much fun.

Though the road to the summit was closed due to the peaceful demonstration regarding the addition of a new telescope, it was a beautiful and intellectually stimulating tour!! Jeff, our guide, is well informed and entertaining. Well worth the time and money. [TravelShack Note: if the summit is still closed for a scheduled tour, guests have the option to do a modified Mauna Kea tour at 15% discount or receive a full refund]

This was an amazing experience! Our tour guide Jeff was very knowledgeable on the island's history. He pointed out areas of interest all the way there. His enthusiasm was contagious; everyone had a wonderful time. The Summit makes you feel like you are on top of the world. The skies were so clear, I have never seen so many constellations and stars. Jeff set up a telescope and we were able to see Jupiter, Saturn and its rings. The moon felt like it was so close you could touch it.

It was awesome. Our guide, Justin, was very informative and made the trip and stargazing very enjoyable.

Mateo (guide) was very professional in all areas, food service, compassion for his clients, sensitive to sacred Hawaiian culture and knowledgeable in history and his star gazing. I would recommend your team anytime.

Just wow! Our guide, Kim was so knowledgeable. It was a feast for the ears, eyes, mind and soul!

Absolutely fantastic. I have been to the Big Island a number of times but have never done this. A must do! Kim our guide was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Very, very pleased with this tour.

I purchased this excursion for my son for his 21st birthday. I have done this myself 3 times before. He was so impressed with the entire experience and with the incredible knowledge of the guide that he couldn’t stop talking about it. Thank you so much for making his birthday gift unforgettable!!!

Amazing experience. Our guide/driver/astronomer Jeff was great. Lots and lots of information. Had a great telescope for almost 2 hour stargazing session-which included humongous chocolate brownies and hot chocolate. Lots of time at the summit for the sunset. The food on the way up was from Lava Java and was great. Choice of Chicken, beef or Vegan meals. Gloves and parkas provided and were great but dress appropriately. Cools down quickly after sundown. 12 Passenger van was stout and handled the 4 miles of unpaved road near the top well.

One of the best experiences of my life… thank you!!

Amazing experience. Matayo was a wonderful tour guide! He was extremely knowledgeable, kind, drove very well such that he was careful and made us feel safe because he didn’t drive fast. The entire experience was very well planned! Appreciated the multiple bathroom breaks, the food was great, the parkas were a great addition, as well as the hot cocoa and brownies. Loved both Kim and Matayo’s explanations of the constellations. The laser pointer they had was really helpful to see which star they were referring to. Matayo did a great job setting up the telescopes. The sunset was stunning. Everything was amazing. The only recommendation I would have for any fellow guests is try to avoid doing it on a full moon where there is a lot of light from the moon because it was noticeable the minute the moon went up you could see less stars. Overall though incredible experience and highly recommend everyone do it! Altitude sickness was not a problem. Appreciated Matayo always checking up on us as well to ensure we all felt well.

Amazing tour!!!! I booked my entire trip to Kona to visit the summit of Mauna Kea on a full moon and the view from the telescope was UNREAL. So detailed and beautiful. That was my personal highlight, but honestly the entire trip from pick up to drop off was excellent. Heraldo was so knowledgeable on, it seemed, every subject from Star gazing, to Hawaiian traditions, history, plants, volcano's, owls, royalty. He was patient, kind - again so smart - and happy to share all he knew making everyone feel equally important. Wonderful tour guide, amazing mountain! Mahalo.

Tour guide was great. Very knowledgeable and easily shared interesting information. Would like to tour again and would recommend to anybody.