Hawaii Forest and Trail will take you in a van, feed you dinner and drive you to the top of Mauna Kea (13,400 feet above sea level) so you can see a spectacular sunset and check out the various observatories. After that, they drive down to the 9000 foot level and take out a telescope so you can see the...
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Mauna Kea Observatory, Hilo
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Mauna Kea Observatory
640 N Aohoku Pl, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720
(808) 932-2300
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Riverside, California
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See 2 more reviews by Toni S for Hilo
Manassas, Virginia
Senior Contributor
We visited with MK Summit Tours on 5/6/13. They provided us with a nice vegetable lasagne meal and a fantastic brownie for dessert when we made our first stop to acclimate. The drive up to the observatories to watch the sunset TWICE (the clouds provided that experience) was a very winding and steep road and made us very glad to...
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See 11 more reviews by Judith K for Hilo
Alabama
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The trip to the top of Mauna Kea was amazing, we used a tour company - our guide was knowledgeable and was able to fill us in on many of the questions about the island during the tour (why was the road to the top half paved? why was saddle road not complete? what are those little squirrels running around?...
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See 5 more reviews by Michael K for Hilo
Nashville, Tennessee
Senior Contributor
easy to see why this is so popular, no long hike required and yet so lovely. Can highly recommend! Definite must stop!
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See 6 more reviews by Lucy_Ott0 for Hilo
Flemington, New Jersey
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We drove up to the top where the observatories are, but unfortunately the public can not enter. Nonetheless, we saw a beautiful sunset and a vista that looked like a moonscape. The subsequent stop at the visitors center was also fantastic.
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Saint Louis, Missouri
Senior Reviewer
We visited Mauna Kea with Hawaii Forest and Trail. Our guide was very knowledgeable and interesting. It was very cold at the top, but the tour company provided parkas. The sunset was gorgeous!
We then drove down to the Visitor's Center. The guide set up a large telescope and we all took turns viewing the night sky. He took the...
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Minneapolis, Minnesota
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This is a very cool and free experience. We drove up before the sunset so we got to see the sun going down as we went up Mauna Kea. It was so pretty that we had to stop to take it all in. The visitors center is small, but they do a nice job providing information. The gift shop, which...
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See 3 more reviews by MWexplorer for Hilo
Derby, United Kingdom
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it was Freezing cold, with breathtaking views.
Wrap up very warm and go for sunset. After there is a free star gazing talk with is fun. We were told that most cars can make the journey up to the near summit so don't be put off by the info saying only 4wd s can make it. We had a Ford...
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See 5 more reviews by Pickalilli for Hilo
Florida
Senior Reviewer
Went with a tour and worth every penny. Fabulous sunset and educational guide on every aspect of the 6 hour jaunt. Stars show with expanded visual aids and commentary left me speechless. Certainly makes a person in awe of the Universe and our CREATOR. Don't miss this.
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Conifer, Colorado
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The drive was breathtaking and so informative. Make sure you bring a good warm jacket, gloves and hat. It gets cold up there!
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