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... More

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... More

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... More

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... More

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... More

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... More

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... More

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... More

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... More