MKS1E - Kona - Hawaii Big Island Maunakea
Summit Stargazing and Sunset Tour

Kona in/out      Daily Daparture, Duration:  ~ 3:00p - 10:00p 

Highlights

  1. Mauna Kea summit measure 13,803ft(4207m) from Sea level, 33,000ft(10,000m) from sea floor;
  2. Mauna Kea's summit is the world best astronomical observation for its favorable conditions with average 280 days of clear night sky;
  3. World best sunset/sunrise viewing place;
  4. With legal travel-agent permit for organized tour;
  5. Professional four-wheel drive transportation;
  6. 3 sizes of hooded parkas and gloves, large portable telescopes;
  7. Prepare snacks and hot drinks;
  8. Free Photo

*Sunset hours are seasonally different, please refer to your confirmation for the actual departure time.

*Price surcharge during holidays, please check website.*

Tour Itinerary -

Meet at Kona hotel (2:30pm), leave for Mauna Kea on a 4wd passenger van, learn about island geography, geology and natural history along the way.  We will make first stop at Onizuka Visitor Center at 2800m, let our body progressively adjust to the high altitude, and put on the parkas and gloves provided by our company.

Leaving visitor center for the summit, our 4WD vehicle roar on limited access unpaved road, in about 30 minutes, we will see 13 scattered observatories such as Keck, Subaru and Gemini.  Arrive at the observation deck about 30 minutes before the sunset, see the color changes while the sun drops below the horizon, a beautiful and quite unearthly spectacle.  (The weather could get below freezing point, and if the unpaved road is closed due to icy and slippery, our activities will be limited at the Visitor Center area only)

Back to visitor center and enjoy hot drink.  At complete dark, we forward to the stargazing area, where the tour guide will setup the astronomical telescopes for you to get closer look at the stars, and have the professional camera setup for your galaxy background picture.  Before the extreme cold weather hits, we will leave the location back to hotel (arriving Kona ~ 10pm).


Remark -

  • All observatories on summit do not  open for public
  • Please keep warm clothing on during the activity.
  • Tours are not suitable for age 80 or above, 12 or below, pregnant, heart disease, or scuba dived in the past 24 hours.
  • We do not guarantee the visibility of stars sunset due to the weather issues
  • We reserve the right to change/cancel based on safety reason due to force majeure reasons such as weather and road condition

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