Mauna Kea Observatories
Mauna Kea Observatories
4.5
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:30 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
116 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
17
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Frank S
Plano, TX30 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We did not have enough time for a full tour of the observatory, so we headed out to the visitor center. The roads to the visitor center are great and it is an easy drive up the mountain. We arrived around 8 PM and joined the crowd. I would suggest a later visit to avoid some of the people, but the staff had the parking and telescopes well organized. It is very chilly, so bring your warm clothes and a few one dollar bills for the hot chocolate.
The views and the stargazing are awesome. Some of the darkest skies and brightest stars you will ever see. We were fortunate to be there for a meteor shower also, so that was an extra treat. It was worth checking the calendar for!
The views and the stargazing are awesome. Some of the darkest skies and brightest stars you will ever see. We were fortunate to be there for a meteor shower also, so that was an extra treat. It was worth checking the calendar for!
Written January 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aviatrix2000
Arlington Heights, IL249 contributions
We decided after some research to save the money on a guided tour and drive ourselves up the mountain. Our rental car was a two-wheel drive Ford Escape. My husband has a lot of experience driving on gravel in his home state of Oklahoma, so we didn't think this was out of our league. When we went the roads were in great condition, very steep, but well-maintained. There are many stretches with no guard rail and still a steep drop-off, and switchbacks. I spent much of the drive being afraid of the heights!! We did follow the advice to stop on the way up at the visitor's center to acclimatize. This is interesting; they have a gift shop to poke around in, and show movies. If you bring your own hot chocolate or tea, you can use their hot water to make it. But they also sell packets if you forget. Once at the top, there's not much to do. You can go look at Keck One, where we were surprised when we got lower to see how blue all the signs were in our photos. We had lost quite a bit of our color vision due to the altitude! The experience at the top is all about enjoying the view. The day we were there, there was an undercast, so much of the island was not visible. Oh well. We decided NOT to make the drive down in the dark. Please use your best judgement about this. We had gotten up there early enough to go into the Keck building before it closed. We would have had to wait another 90 minutes for sunset. This did not seem to be a good idea for us to spend that much time at nearly 14,000 feet. We drove back down to the visitors' center, where we hiked up a cinder cone to watch the sunset from there. After dark, there are telescopes set up at the visitors' center. We were able to see the moons of Jupiter. There was a talk given by the center about the stars. All in all, we felt that we got the experience that we wanted, part of which was to drive the road ourselves. One of the most amazing parts of this whole excursion was to see the endangered silverswords in the enclosure behind the visitors' center. I'm mostly an animal person, and a plant has to be pretty interesting to get me excited. These are some fascinating and beautiful plants. Don't miss the short walk to see them. If you go, listen to your body and descend as needed if you don't feel well.
Written January 13, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travellingsoulottawa
Ottawa, Canada99 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
My husband and I went to the Onizuka visitor center on Maura Kea the other night where they have the stargazing program. It is totally free and you should arrive no later than 5:30. The evening starts with an introductory film at 6:00 about the mountain and the symbolism it holds for the Hawaiian people. At 7:00, the highly knowledgeable guides will invite you outside to look through a variety of telescopes that they have arranged to see different things in the night sky. During this time, a guide will also use a laser pointer once it becomes dark enough to point out constellations, nebula and other cool things. An amazing opportunity well worth doing! The visitor center is 9200 feet above sea level so you are really up there. You can also go to the top of the mountain if you have a four wheel drive jeer but NOT a standard car.
Written February 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mtboger
Alamogordo, NM35 contributions
Drive to visitors center: Go around sunset so you can hike up a hill to see an amazing vista and see Mona Loa while standing on Mona Kea! After that hang around for the students to set up some very expensive telescopes to view the moon, nebulas and the specific planets. Bring a picnic dinner - the visitors center doesn't have food. DRESS WARM! It was 50F, but the wind easily dropped it to less than 40. Rental cars cannot go past this point.
Written March 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KQQ
Vancouver, Canada77 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
I loved seeing these telescopes! I loved loved loved it! Recommend going with a 4X4 and they dont recommend anyone with a heart problem or anyone over the age of 65, or under 16 as it is almost 14 thousand feet above sea level. At around 10 thousand feet there is a little shop and visitor center, they recommend you staying there for around a half hour to get climitized which I did and every thankful since you do feel very strange! We went to watch the sunset, then headed back down to the visitor center where they had telescopes set up for everyone to look through, some were faced at certain things, some you could move around yourself. They had people pointing out certain stars and told you the history of it. It was absolutely amazing! It is free to go up. I highly recommend bringing lots of close, it's very very cold! There is snow, and it
S very windy up there!
S very windy up there!
Written March 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olena F
Zurich, Switzerland29 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
Stargazing on Mauna Kea was very high on our Big Island to-do list 💫. The experience is unique. The change in landscape is surreal and dramatic. From beaches, palm trees and +27C to pasture lands and +4C. Arrive at the Visitor Center wearing jeans and a warm jacket ;)!
The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station offers a terrific FREE stargazing program. Many telescopes are set up outside the station, and a star tour is given, using a laser pointer to point out the objects visible that night.
This time we got really lucky, the evening was clear and moonless (new moon). Someone in the crowd said "What you will see is going to blow your mind". As the sky darkened there began to appear dots of light, Mars' orange-red shine was visible without any optical aid. Slowly over the next hour, hundreds more were revealed and pointed out by extremely knowledgeable staff: Cassiopeia, the Pleiades, the Andromeda Galaxy; it really was mind-blowing.
The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station offers a terrific FREE stargazing program. Many telescopes are set up outside the station, and a star tour is given, using a laser pointer to point out the objects visible that night.
This time we got really lucky, the evening was clear and moonless (new moon). Someone in the crowd said "What you will see is going to blow your mind". As the sky darkened there began to appear dots of light, Mars' orange-red shine was visible without any optical aid. Slowly over the next hour, hundreds more were revealed and pointed out by extremely knowledgeable staff: Cassiopeia, the Pleiades, the Andromeda Galaxy; it really was mind-blowing.
Written February 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana B
Brisbane, Australia25 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
This was hands down the highlight of my stay at Kona. We took our own car up (easy drive no matter what all the scary signs say). If you've ever driven the ski fields in NZ this is a walk in the park. One road up and one road down. Given the lack of oxygen in the air you do want a decent AWD or4WD in case you need extra grunt. The half way point is worth a stop as a bathroom break... Do not be fooled by some of the local taxi drivers or shuttles who tell you there is nothing else much to see beyond this point. Unfortunately if you've been told this (as my parents were) you've missed a phenomenon. The 30 minute drive to the very top made me think I was driving on Mars. The air at the top is so crisp and clear that I saw a view of the sky I've never seen before. We managed to luckily do it at dusk and was sooo worthwhile. On the way down stop at the store and they put telescopes out for you to look through. That was also pretty cool as the visibility was great as you're still above the clouds. It was freezing! Literally minus 5 C and with the wind chill probably -20C. Rug up... Prepare to freeze and be blown away! Even the four kids loved it even though they froze...
Written May 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
weetys
Bethesda, UK83 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
Took a trip up to watch sunset and star gaze
The observatories are amazing when they open ready for the night sky .
With no pollution you stare upwards in amazement at the night spectacle. The Milky Way is visible , Saturn and it's rings then viewed through the telescope it was breath taking.
Returned part way down mountain and spent several hours being taught the constellations and stars. From shooting stars to Orion's Belt the guide was superb and knowledgeable laser pointer enabled clear views and the two telescopes set up allowed you to look at old and young stars -fabulous . Different tours offer different things check out what they do to make your choice- some offer hot food and drink on the way .it is a bumpy ride so people with back problems consider it carefully. Make sure you have warm coats it's 13,000 ft . Watch for altitude sickness. But what a reward!!!
The observatories are amazing when they open ready for the night sky .
With no pollution you stare upwards in amazement at the night spectacle. The Milky Way is visible , Saturn and it's rings then viewed through the telescope it was breath taking.
Returned part way down mountain and spent several hours being taught the constellations and stars. From shooting stars to Orion's Belt the guide was superb and knowledgeable laser pointer enabled clear views and the two telescopes set up allowed you to look at old and young stars -fabulous . Different tours offer different things check out what they do to make your choice- some offer hot food and drink on the way .it is a bumpy ride so people with back problems consider it carefully. Make sure you have warm coats it's 13,000 ft . Watch for altitude sickness. But what a reward!!!
Written September 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg D
Potomac Falls, VA110 contributions
Jul 2011
Mauna Kea is an excellent trip that costs nothing but time. We did not pay a tour company $200 but went on our own to the observatory (Not the summit. No star gazing at the summit only sunset).
We went with the purpose of the star gazing. It was better than advertised.
About 1:20 from Waikoloa. To get to the observatory only any rental car will make it with no issues. Once on Saddleback road it is a little rough for aout 5 miles. Then the road had been re paved the entire way to the observatory turn off. The observatory turn off is not to be confused with the Mauna Kea state park. Pass the state park for about 7 miles and the turn off is on the left. Drive up the turn off for 7 miles (uphill) and the observatory cannot be missed.
The star gazing startes really around 7:45 due to it must be dark. The staff had 12 telescopes setup that proviided excellent views.
Some of the excellent sites
Moon
Saturn (Yes Saturn and the rings)
Space station passed overhead
Big dipper
Little dipper
North star
Southern Cross
Staff provided a narrated star gazing info presentation that was excellent
Be sure to carry warm clothes.
The Summit I was told was over rated. The only thing that is seen is the sun set.
All star gazing is at the observatory at 9200 foot level.
Beautiful must due. Best of all.....is free.......
We went with the purpose of the star gazing. It was better than advertised.
About 1:20 from Waikoloa. To get to the observatory only any rental car will make it with no issues. Once on Saddleback road it is a little rough for aout 5 miles. Then the road had been re paved the entire way to the observatory turn off. The observatory turn off is not to be confused with the Mauna Kea state park. Pass the state park for about 7 miles and the turn off is on the left. Drive up the turn off for 7 miles (uphill) and the observatory cannot be missed.
The star gazing startes really around 7:45 due to it must be dark. The staff had 12 telescopes setup that proviided excellent views.
Some of the excellent sites
Moon
Saturn (Yes Saturn and the rings)
Space station passed overhead
Big dipper
Little dipper
North star
Southern Cross
Staff provided a narrated star gazing info presentation that was excellent
Be sure to carry warm clothes.
The Summit I was told was over rated. The only thing that is seen is the sun set.
All star gazing is at the observatory at 9200 foot level.
Beautiful must due. Best of all.....is free.......
Written July 8, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chrisandsteph2017
London, UK124 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We went up there to the visitor centre about 6pm, we were in time to see the sunset which was about 7pm and then admired the fully lit star sky. It is an awesome sight and we had never seen so many stars in our life.
Our tips to enjoy the visit:
- get there around 6 pm to ensure you get a place in the car park as it operates on a first come, first served basis
- check that it will be a clear night, no clouds before you go as this will limit what you can see
- take warm clothes with you as the difference in temperature with the valley is very high, it was about 15 degrees when we got there dropping down to 10 later in the evening and that was in August
- bring a picnic and make an afternoon of it
- check out when it is an open night with access to some of their telescopes
- go up the hill opposite the visitor centre to see the sunset, the colours are amazing
Please note that if you want to go to the summit, you will need a 4 wheel drive car. We did not do this but had great views from the visitor centre.
Our tips to enjoy the visit:
- get there around 6 pm to ensure you get a place in the car park as it operates on a first come, first served basis
- check that it will be a clear night, no clouds before you go as this will limit what you can see
- take warm clothes with you as the difference in temperature with the valley is very high, it was about 15 degrees when we got there dropping down to 10 later in the evening and that was in August
- bring a picnic and make an afternoon of it
- check out when it is an open night with access to some of their telescopes
- go up the hill opposite the visitor centre to see the sunset, the colours are amazing
Please note that if you want to go to the summit, you will need a 4 wheel drive car. We did not do this but had great views from the visitor centre.
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wondering about the drive back down from Mauna Kea Visitor Center to Waimea after dark. Is visibility OK? Road in decent condition? Thanks for any info!
Written September 23, 2017
Yes. It is safe since roads are decent. Few times, here and there, you may have to put high beam. But otherwise not a challenging drive. ( btw we left around 9PM from observatory)
Written September 24, 2017
You manage to go to observatory (13,000 feet) with 2WD?!
Written August 30, 2017
No, only able to access the visitor centre with 2WD. The CCTV in the visitor centre shows you the conditions at the summit. Unfortunately it was cloudy (foggy) at the summit and there would have been little point to go farther. Great trip anyway! Next visit in 2018 I'll have 4WD.
Written January 23, 2018
If you are going for the stargazing how early is it recommended that you arrive? I hear that they turn away cars after a certain amount. Thanks!
Written July 19, 2017
Hi,
we went around 7 PM and left around 9PM. When we were leaving, we saw many folks coming at that time. So car parking is not an issue. Also, they do not have maximum people limit.
Written September 25, 2017
Hey, do you need to make reservations to be able to see from the telescopes??
Written April 22, 2017
No. reservations not required.
Written September 25, 2017
I heard you couldn't take rental cars to the observatory. Is that correct?
Written February 23, 2016
Hi, We are planning to go for Dinner on Scenic Rail-Road to Barlette in October but as sun sets at 6:00 PM and dinner train starts at 6:00 PM also, will we able to see any views of fall foliage?
Written September 20, 2015
How much do you climb with the tour? Do you need hiking boots? How steep is the climb? How fit should you be?
Written April 10, 2015
Kann man übernachten beim Observatorium? Wenn nicht wo ist es zu empfehlen?
Written February 22, 2015
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