Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
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About
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures offers daily trips to the summit of Mauna Kea for sunset and stargazing. We are the pioneer service of this kind and we have over 30 years of experience. Our daily trip starts off on the Kona coast 4 hours before sunset and returns 5 hours after sunset. We travel in custom built 4x4 mini coaches with panoramic windows. Our guides are experts in island geography, geology, culture and astronomy. At the 9,000FT.level, we stop for the better part of an hour to dine and experience the visitor's center. We arrive on the summit before sunset and we stay until the best of the color has faded. Afterward, if natural conditions allow, we put on a highly informative stargazing session with large, computerized amateur telescopes. MKSA does not guarantee the weather in any way. Although the mountain enjoys mostly fine weather, there is the possibility the tour may be canceled, and refunded or may encounter poor conditions in the field.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
2,148 reviews
Excellent
1,856
Very good
184
Average
39
Poor
23
Terrible
46
Jennifer L
2 contributions
Dec 2022
12/10 recommend, especially if you get Arthur as your tour guide!
We stayed at a resort in Kona, HI so we selected to be picked up at the Kona Crossroads Shopping Center. It was a convenient location to where we were staying and a relatively empty parking lot. Their signs were pretty easy to spot but I would make sure not to leave anything in the car in the event it gets broken into.
The Mercedes Sprinter van picked us up and off we went! The seats are pretty small and it's fairly narrow inside, so it's a little tough to move around in your seat if you're wearing big jackets. There are overhead compartments where you can store your backpack and jackets. There are also charging ports on the side of the van in case you need to charge anything.
As we made our way to Queens Marketplace (the second stop to pick up other adventurers), Arthur gave us a tour about Kona, Hawaii, and a little about his background. This man was born and raised on the Big Island and has great stories! He's full of knowledge and encouraged us to ask him questions about things to do and eat on the island.
After the second pick up, we headed to the Mauna Kea Observatory (visitor center) to eat our dinner. As a party of 4, we decided to order 2 lasagna dinners and bring some musubis and sandwiches as well. The veggie lasagna wasn't bad, but because it's so cold up there the food gets cold quick. After about 35 minutes, we were headed back on the bus up the mountain!
It was a breathtaking view as we climbed up the mountain to the summit. We stopped by the telescopes and Arthur gave us some background on them. It's amazing to think that these huge buildings are essentially telescopes that are being controlled elsewhere. We got to the top of the mountain and spent some time wandering around and watching the sunset. Many others (that were not on the tour) were up there as well. It was cold, cold, cold but so worth it!
After the sunset, we headed down back to the visitor center to do some stargazing. Arthur and Addison (his trainee) showed us Mars, Jupiter, Saturn AND THE LAVA GLOW. The eruption happened about a week before we arrived so there was a slight glow left, but being able to see it through the telescope, even though it was small, was incredible.
I would highly recommend Mauna Kea Summit Adventures for your stargazing needs! Yes, you can drive a 4x4 up to the summit to watch the sunset, but you won't have the $8,000 telescope to help you see the stars. We're hoping to come bac
We stayed at a resort in Kona, HI so we selected to be picked up at the Kona Crossroads Shopping Center. It was a convenient location to where we were staying and a relatively empty parking lot. Their signs were pretty easy to spot but I would make sure not to leave anything in the car in the event it gets broken into.
The Mercedes Sprinter van picked us up and off we went! The seats are pretty small and it's fairly narrow inside, so it's a little tough to move around in your seat if you're wearing big jackets. There are overhead compartments where you can store your backpack and jackets. There are also charging ports on the side of the van in case you need to charge anything.
As we made our way to Queens Marketplace (the second stop to pick up other adventurers), Arthur gave us a tour about Kona, Hawaii, and a little about his background. This man was born and raised on the Big Island and has great stories! He's full of knowledge and encouraged us to ask him questions about things to do and eat on the island.
After the second pick up, we headed to the Mauna Kea Observatory (visitor center) to eat our dinner. As a party of 4, we decided to order 2 lasagna dinners and bring some musubis and sandwiches as well. The veggie lasagna wasn't bad, but because it's so cold up there the food gets cold quick. After about 35 minutes, we were headed back on the bus up the mountain!
It was a breathtaking view as we climbed up the mountain to the summit. We stopped by the telescopes and Arthur gave us some background on them. It's amazing to think that these huge buildings are essentially telescopes that are being controlled elsewhere. We got to the top of the mountain and spent some time wandering around and watching the sunset. Many others (that were not on the tour) were up there as well. It was cold, cold, cold but so worth it!
After the sunset, we headed down back to the visitor center to do some stargazing. Arthur and Addison (his trainee) showed us Mars, Jupiter, Saturn AND THE LAVA GLOW. The eruption happened about a week before we arrived so there was a slight glow left, but being able to see it through the telescope, even though it was small, was incredible.
I would highly recommend Mauna Kea Summit Adventures for your stargazing needs! Yes, you can drive a 4x4 up to the summit to watch the sunset, but you won't have the $8,000 telescope to help you see the stars. We're hoping to come bac
Written December 16, 2022
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.
BreZB
Sacramento, CA2 contributions
Dec 2020
Mike was an amazing tour guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about the information he was sharing regarding the history of the island and the astronomy. Given the restrictions for COVID-19, there were only 10 people on the 14 person van (including Mike), which made it feel much more personal. Masks were worn the entire time, we never felt unsafe. The veggie/cheese lasagna dinner was gourmet and the portion was so large, I couldn't finish it. The brownies and hot cocoa were a great addition as well. It definitely gets cold up there and the parkas they provide were VERY necessary. Dress warm! There was a temporary road closure that delayed our trip to the summit, but Mike did everything in his power to get us up there safely just as the sun was setting. Gorgeous views (literally breathtaking given the altitude) at the top! Highly recommend this tour!
Written January 4, 2021
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.
Travelgirl0607
Rocklin, CA115 contributions
Apr 2021
Yes, you will need the parka and gloves offered to you by your guide! Hard to believe that in an hour or two, you will go from 80-85 degree weather in your shorts and flip flops to wishing you had boots and thermal undies! Great experience to see this other side of the island that is so different. Snow on black volcanic rock. The views are fantastic and the sunset is spectacular. Fun telescope viewing of the night sky. Our trip was well organized and our guide Maka explained the itinerary well, pointed things out in the sky and was very interesting and personable. Even the lasagna was very good. I do recommend you wear thick socks, heavy pants (ladies, leggings under might be helpful), your own sweatshirt and their provided parka and gloves for both the dinner stop and when you get to the summit.
Written May 6, 2021
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.
connietallen
Mukilteo, WA1 contribution
Dec 2022
Absolutely worth every penny - we found our guide to be very informative and knew all the best places to stop on the way up to the summit. We had ample time to explore at the summit and to capture beautiful images of both sunset and of the Mauna Loa eruption. The telescope used for stargazing is well beyond your average consumer-grade scope and the guide did a great job of finding points to view in spite of partially cloudy conditions. This was a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.
Written December 8, 2022
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.
Theo C
Sydney, Australia152 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Fantastic tour with a knowledgeable guide, tasty food and warm Parker provided.
Travis, our guide, was entertaining and happy to field questions on pretty much any topic (geology, geography, history, politics, zoology).
All the questions we had from several days on the island were answered.
We had a 40 min acclimatisation stop at the visitor centre during which we ate a yummy dinner of lasagne (served in a reusable tin, with metal cutlery) and a brownie.
The summit is cold, so it's worth overdressing. I wished I'd worn my merino leggings under my pants (I had a merino vest and a fleece jacket under the Parker plus scarf and gloves). The COVID face mask helped keep my face warm.
After sunset, we went back to near the visitor centre to look at celestial bodies through telescopes and enjoy the enthusiastic descriptions of what we were looking at.
There were hot drinks served halfway through the viewing along with biscotti.
The tour is well worth the time and the quality of the guides (the two on our tour were highly qualified and experienced) was exceptional.
Travis, our guide, was entertaining and happy to field questions on pretty much any topic (geology, geography, history, politics, zoology).
All the questions we had from several days on the island were answered.
We had a 40 min acclimatisation stop at the visitor centre during which we ate a yummy dinner of lasagne (served in a reusable tin, with metal cutlery) and a brownie.
The summit is cold, so it's worth overdressing. I wished I'd worn my merino leggings under my pants (I had a merino vest and a fleece jacket under the Parker plus scarf and gloves). The COVID face mask helped keep my face warm.
After sunset, we went back to near the visitor centre to look at celestial bodies through telescopes and enjoy the enthusiastic descriptions of what we were looking at.
There were hot drinks served halfway through the viewing along with biscotti.
The tour is well worth the time and the quality of the guides (the two on our tour were highly qualified and experienced) was exceptional.
Written March 8, 2022
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.
be1oved
1 contribution
Aug 2022
We were lucky to get Arthur who is the most experienced guide, and we could tell MKSA is a great company that is great to its staff. Arthur was full of entertaining commentary through the whole trip out to the mountain, while on the way back explained he'd be quieter for safe night driving. We learned so much that is still seeping in, and we appreciated all the tips Arthur gives for navigating not only the summit experience but the whole island. What a great steward of his home island. The trip itself is a steep ascent up to 13,800+ feet where you will be happy for the parkas as well as the helpful guidance for dealing with anything that may come up in terms of effects of elevation. I felt we were all well cared for and given a safe container to feel a little disoriented being mountain-high and chilly. You'll get time to acclimate at the visitor center (with optional lasagne), a view and explanation of the observatories, a chance to take in the sunset at the summit, and then a star party with telescope views, warmed by a beverage. It's a long outing but a rich experience, and so cool to get above the clouds. Aloha and mahalo, MKSA!
Written September 9, 2022
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.
luv2trvl2012
Las Vegas, NV146 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
This was a great tour and overall a wonderful experience despite some less than ideal weather conditions. I met my guide Travis in Kona and we drove up the coast to pick up the rest of the tour group. Travis was extremely knowledgeable and I thoroughly enjoyed his commentary. I learned all about the lava flows, Hawaiian culture, flora & fauna, history, politics, etc. He is one of the best tour guides I have had on a guided tour. As we got closer to Mauna Kea a steady fog and rain set in calling into question whether we would see much of anything. After an obligatory stop at the Visitor’s Center for a meal (vegetarian lasagna) and to acclimate to the altitude, we went to the top of Mauna Kea. It was odd to see snow in Hawaii. Luckily the tour provided warm parkas and gloves. At nearly 14,000 feet I will admit the altitude did get to me a bit. Through layers of clouds we were lucky to see a rainbow and then as it seemed like we would miss the sunset, the clouds broke and we had beautiful colors against the backdrop of telescopes. After taking some pictures, we returned to the Visitor’s Center for some stargazing. Again, the clouds were a bit of a nuisance but we managed to catch enough breaks to get some great views through the tour’s telescopes. I really enjoyed seeing the moon’s craters, newly forming stars, another galaxy, Orion’s Belt, a double star etc. The break for hot cocoa and biscotti also was a nice touch. Other than the night swim with manta rays, this was my favorite thing I did during my 8 days in Kona. If you book, I highly recommend this particular tour company as they seem very established/professional. If you are lucky enough to have Travis as your guide you also are going to learn a lot about Hawaii. Kudos to all!!!
Written March 11, 2022
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.
korenna s
6 contributions
Jul 2022
Our family of four thoroughly enjoyed the Mauna Kea Summit Adventure. It was the highlight of our trip! Our guide, Travis, was incredibly knowledgable. As I listened to him speak, I couldn't figure out if he was a Cultural Anthropologist, Historian, Astronomer, Geologist, Biologist, or all of the above! Even my 16 year old teen (who prefers screens to anything else), listened intently and said "the tour guide is so interesting. He knows so much! It's like listening to an audiobook and I don't want to stop listening!" Additionally, Travis, who was born and raised on the Big Island, was very respectful to the land. He chanted (asked permission) for us to drive up to the summit and again chanted gratitude as we descended. He was very concerned about all guests health and safety, giving us tips altitude sickness, night vision, and reminding us to use the restrooms (he even cleaned the porta potty for us!).
The views from the summit were breathtaking! Sitting above the clouds, watching the sunset, steps away from observatories was unforgettable. After the sunset, we drove down to 12,000 feet to view stars through a huge telescope! The sky was so dark and clear, we could see the Milky Way with the naked eye! Incredible! Travis showed us nebulas, star clusters, double stars, and Saturn through telescope. He also used a laser to point out several constellations, and there were too many shooting stars to keep count! What a spectacular experience!!!
My teens (16 and 13) said this was the highlight of the trip. They did not expect the incredible views and we all agreed that we would love to return!
I highly recommend requesting Travis as your tour guide. He is THE BEST tour guide we have ever encountered (and we book a lot of adventures!)
The views from the summit were breathtaking! Sitting above the clouds, watching the sunset, steps away from observatories was unforgettable. After the sunset, we drove down to 12,000 feet to view stars through a huge telescope! The sky was so dark and clear, we could see the Milky Way with the naked eye! Incredible! Travis showed us nebulas, star clusters, double stars, and Saturn through telescope. He also used a laser to point out several constellations, and there were too many shooting stars to keep count! What a spectacular experience!!!
My teens (16 and 13) said this was the highlight of the trip. They did not expect the incredible views and we all agreed that we would love to return!
I highly recommend requesting Travis as your tour guide. He is THE BEST tour guide we have ever encountered (and we book a lot of adventures!)
Written July 25, 2022
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.
kelcummings23
Newbury Park, California2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This is a one of a kind experience you don't want to miss! Mauna Kea Summit Adventures and our guide, Travis Kailikea, were top rated! We made reservations the week before our arrival putting in our 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices for doing the excursion. We got our 2nd choice for a Wednesday night. On the day of the adventure, we were greeted and picked up at the Waikoloa Starbucks in Queens Marketplace around 2:55pm. Two very nice 4WD vans holding 13-14 people each loaded up with 2 separate guides for the hour or so trip to the Visitor Center. Immediately, Kailikea, our guide made sure we were comfortable and could hear him on his mic before he started educating us about everything we saw along the journey. We arrived at the Visitor Center before we knew it for the yummy lasagna dinner, brownie and walk to see the one of a kind Silversword plant during the 40 minute stop to acclimate at 9,000 elevation. Next, we headed up to 14,000 elevation to see all the enormous telescopes that many nations use to view the night sky. Long pants and close toed shoes were a must! We also brought our own beanies and gloves. Warm parkas were provided. There wasn't snow at the Summit in October but it was cold enough to snow especially with the wind chill factor. Everything was beautiful high above all the clouds and we felt like we were on another planet! It was an otherly world feel for sure! We stayed for the sunset and just before the rangers kicked everyone off the summit. Kailikea turned on the heater in the van and drove us back down the mountain to find a good spot, clear and protected from the wind, for viewing the night sky with the telescope brought in the van. We first viewed the moon (it was so bright even as just a sliver so would not recommend doing this tour during a full moon). We also viewed Saturn, Jupiter and many constellations. The guides used green laser pointers to help us find things in the sky. They also had red lighting in the van to help our eyes adjust to the night sky. We took a break to warm up with hot chocolate, coffee or apple cider. Kailikea was always asking if we had any questions and would answer to the best of his ability. He was like a walking encyclopedia regarding Hawaiian history but even better because he is a local and has a deep respect for Hawaiian culture. We got back to the Starbucks at Waikaloa Village just after 10pm. We want to go back and take our adult children. Very special experience!
Written October 22, 2023
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.
ninorajic
Hamilton, Canada1 contribution
Dec 2023
Our trip to the top of Mauna Kea for sunset and star gazing was truly spectacular! The late afternoon tour began with a pick-up at Queens Market near our timeshare at the Hilton Grand Vacations Waikoloa.
Our tour guide, Maka, created a cultural atmosphere with a fantastic selection of Hawaiian music, and real-time narration with stories of the many local sites and geography along the way up to Mauna Kea. Maka's knowledge and deep understanding of the area made this experience incredibly educational and unique.
Upon arriving to the visitors centre at Mauna Kea, roughly 9000 feet of elevation, we received a delicious meal of vegetarian lasagna and a delicious chocolate brownie. During this stop, we had time to acclimatize to the elevation before reaching the summit.
At the top of Mauna Kea we had a chance to learn about the global community of telescopes and observatories. Mauna Kea is one of the best summits to observe the constellations and planets in the world! There was even snow on the mountain!
We were very fortunate because our tour took place on what our guide said was one of the most visible nights in all his experience of giving tours (over 750 tours).
After sunset, we drove back down to the visitors centre to do star gazing with a telescope. We saw Saturn, Jupiter and several constellations.
This tour is a once and lifetime trip that I would recommend to anyone interested in nature, astronomy and a desire to learn about the history of Hawaiian culture.
Thank you, Maka and Mauna Kea Summit Adventures for giving us this special experience!
Our tour guide, Maka, created a cultural atmosphere with a fantastic selection of Hawaiian music, and real-time narration with stories of the many local sites and geography along the way up to Mauna Kea. Maka's knowledge and deep understanding of the area made this experience incredibly educational and unique.
Upon arriving to the visitors centre at Mauna Kea, roughly 9000 feet of elevation, we received a delicious meal of vegetarian lasagna and a delicious chocolate brownie. During this stop, we had time to acclimatize to the elevation before reaching the summit.
At the top of Mauna Kea we had a chance to learn about the global community of telescopes and observatories. Mauna Kea is one of the best summits to observe the constellations and planets in the world! There was even snow on the mountain!
We were very fortunate because our tour took place on what our guide said was one of the most visible nights in all his experience of giving tours (over 750 tours).
After sunset, we drove back down to the visitors centre to do star gazing with a telescope. We saw Saturn, Jupiter and several constellations.
This tour is a once and lifetime trip that I would recommend to anyone interested in nature, astronomy and a desire to learn about the history of Hawaiian culture.
Thank you, Maka and Mauna Kea Summit Adventures for giving us this special experience!
Written December 15, 2023
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.
Does this include any photos or do the guides help with photo ops? Leaning toward this tour of all the Mauna Kea options but would like to get some nice photos of the experience too.
Written March 14, 2023
There are plenty of stops for photos, if Art is your guide tell him what type of photos and he will point out the location where you can get that .. he was an amazing guide.
Written March 14, 2023
How much of the trip is spent stargazing? An hour? More? Less?
Written March 21, 2020
I'd say about 90 minutes including set up time, the guides use a laser pointer to really help you understand skies. Don't go near full moon time, a new moon would be ideal.
Written March 21, 2020
This question is a follow-up for the BMI over 40 question...
So a person with a BMI between 30 and 39 can go on this tour as long as they don't have lung or heart issues? How do you determine the person's BMI? Do you need a doctor's clearance before going just for being overweight?
Written January 17, 2020
Around what time do you return to the Marketplace in Waikoloa?
Written June 29, 2019
We returned around 11:30pm. Slept the whole back on the bus! :)
Written June 30, 2019
Why is there mention of restricting people with a BMI over 40? This is a poor indicator of healthy or not healthy in general. How do they know your BMI for this trip?
Written January 9, 2019
It is hard to breathe at high altitudes. People who are obese may have an even harder time breathing.
Written January 9, 2019
Is the star gazing tour ok for people with asthma?
Written September 5, 2018
It is safest to consult your physician. We have had many asthmatics over the years with no problems. If your asthma is well under control and your inhaler is 100% effective there will likely be no special cause for concern. Upper Mauna Kea is a very sterile sort of a place and has few antigens.
Written March 19, 2019
Aloha , avec mon compagnon en arrive le jeudi 11 janvier et en aimerais faire le MAUNA KEA summit adventure le vendredi 12 janvier , mais en ligne c’est Marqué que se n’est disponible.
Merci d’av Pour votre réponse.
Written January 9, 2018
Is there enough "downtime" either at the summit and/or at the visitor center to kind of stroll around on your own and take in surroundings without feeling like you are being constantly herded around? We are hoping for this to be a semi-romantic experience and not sure whether or not to go with this tour or to go to the VIS on our own.
Written September 19, 2017
I think is enough time to just stroll around on your own, yes. I had plenty of time to walk around and take in the sites, and even pop the big question without feeling rushed or left out of anything!
Written September 23, 2017
Our company(MKSA) has a minimum age limit of 13 years. Each company has their own policy. If you attend public programs on the summit the limit is 16 years. Experience has shown us that children don't adapt to the rapid altitude change nearly as well as adults. If some gets a headache or nausea it isn't a medical emergency but it is disruptive to the tour and we try to prescreen our passengers to minimize that risk. Thousands and thousands of Big island children go to the summit without serious medical incidents but many get ill while they are up there.
Written January 1, 2018
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