UPDATED 2021: Description of activity subject to change without notice due to new limitations and updated capacities. Thank you.

Schedule:

• Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. (Closed Wednesday and Sunday)
• Tour Times: Varies from 1:25 PM to 2:55 PM
• Duration: 8 Hours*

*Travel time round-trip is approx. 3.5 hours from Waikoloa resorts.

Our journey from sea level to the nearly 14,000-foot summit of Maunakea reveals the wonders and world-class clarity of the Hawaiian night sky.

Highlights:

• Enjoy a warm picnic dinner and learn about Hawaiian star navigation.
• Learn about the historical accounts of early travelers through the mountain regions
• Delight in the awe-inspiring Hawaiian sunset at the top of Maunakea, the highest point in the Pacific
• Descend to a lower elevation after the sun sets and sip hot chocolate during a private star show with our 11” Celestron telescope

Includes:

• Picnic-style dinner, assorted teas, hot chocolate, and dessert.
• Warm wear including hooded parkas and gloves.

Recommendations:

• Closed-toe shoes
• Wear warm socks and/or leggings, long pants
• Bring a sweatshirt or sweater
• Bring a reusable water bottle.

Restrictions/Requirements:

• Children under 13 are not permitted on this tour due to altitude.
• Pregnant women are not permitted on this tour.
• Due to the high altitude, this tour is not advised for those with respiratory, circulatory, or heart conditions, or poor health.
• Guests must not have scuba-dived within 24 hours of the tour. If you plan to scuba dive, do not plan to go to the summit within 24 hours after you dive due to the altitude.
• Tours maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:14
• Guests should be able to walk on uneven or rocky terrain. There is minimal walking on this tour, the maximum being about 150 yards
• The temperature can dip below freezing when at high elevation on the mountain. We sometimes encounter cool, wet, or muddy conditions. The average mean temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 Celsius.
• Weather changes can occur quickly and the access road to the summit can close without warning, therefore we cannot guarantee access to the summit or favorable conditions.
• The summit and visitor center areas of Maunakea are generally above the clouds. Due to our high demand for this experience and the constraints of our permit, we are often unable to reschedule guests when cancellations occur. Therefore we try to avoid canceling tours if we can safely reach the visitor’s center and/or summit. Conditions constantly change on the mountain, and the weather is part of the adventure!
• Group sizes are limited to 12 guests.

Location: Round-trip transportation is included. Please see the Transportation tab for pick-up locations and schedule.

Special Notes:

• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled pick-up time.
• Rated: Easy to Moderate.
• This tour departs from Kona; our dinner location does not allow private vehicle parking and there is no safe and legal place for you to leave your vehicle along the saddle road late at night. Additionally, our permit does not allow guests to meet us at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center. For these reasons, we ask guests who are staying in Hilo to ask us for recommendations on other companies that go to the summit from Hilo.
• There are currently no observatories open to the public.