Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo
4.5
Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo
By Masashi's Nature School
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 16-70, max of 12 per group
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: English
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- BLT or Vegan sandwich (Please let us know by day before the tour or it will be automatically a BLT)
- Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves
- Admission Fee for Mauna Kea
- 4x4 Passenger Van to the summit
- Free DSLR camera photo of stars with you in it! (weather and moon phase permitting))
- An astronomical telescope
- Entry/Admission - Onizuka Astronomy Complex
- Entry/Admission - Mauna Kea Summit
- Entry/Admission - Onizuka Astronomy Complex
What's not included- An optional TIP per person for good service is customary in Hawaii.
- Guest under 16 years old or older than 70 cannot participate
- NO ENTRY INSIDE THE OBSERVATORIES
- Start:Multiple meeting point options.
- Option 1Target, 74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USAPlease park by the McDonald's in the Target's parking area. Our white tour van will park right by McDonald's.
- Option 2Queens' Marketplace, 69-201 WaikĹŤloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USAPlease park in the large parking lot at the back of this popular shopping mall, and wait for our tour van at the shuttle bus stop by the curb near Yoga Barre store.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 88002P3- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please check the message on Viator. We will send a message about pick up time and location after the confirmation of your booking.
- Please note that pick up location has a free parking lot but we do not take any responsibility or liability for any damage or loss caused through the parking
- Please note that in times of bad weather sunset or stargazing are not 100% guaranteed and moonphase will affect the visibility of the stars.
- Not recommended for person weight more than 300lb
- Not recommended for person having respiratory problem such as asthma
- Guest under 16 years old or older than 70 cannot participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 88002P3
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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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
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Riham E
2 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
My mom and I booked this trip last minute and boy were we glad we did! Not only was Francis welcoming and kind, but he was extremely knowledgable about the history of the island, Mauna Kea, and the science behind it all (NASA included). The drive up was scenic and the views from the summit were breathtaking, literally -- Francis helped all of us get acclimatized throughout the whole trip and made sure we were hydrated.
The sunset and cloud formations around the Mauna Kea were picturesque and the icing on the cake was stargazing afterwards. Wes, the other tour guide, pointed out many different constellations, planets, and the cultural significance to the Hawaiian nation. The sandwiches they provided for dinner were delicious and the hot chocolate we drank while stargazing created an unmatched warmth inside and out.
1000/10 would recommend and I would do this again in a heartbeat, regardless of weather. The guides themselves made the experience unforgettable. Thanks Francis and Wes! OH and they're multilingual :)
The sunset and cloud formations around the Mauna Kea were picturesque and the icing on the cake was stargazing afterwards. Wes, the other tour guide, pointed out many different constellations, planets, and the cultural significance to the Hawaiian nation. The sandwiches they provided for dinner were delicious and the hot chocolate we drank while stargazing created an unmatched warmth inside and out.
1000/10 would recommend and I would do this again in a heartbeat, regardless of weather. The guides themselves made the experience unforgettable. Thanks Francis and Wes! OH and they're multilingual :)
Written 8 September 2024
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.
Freya T
9 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We came to the Big Island as part of our honeymoon and we couldn't have been happier with booking this trip.
We were picked up at the local marketplace near our hotel and we made our way to Mauna Kea. A sandwich was included in the price of the trip which was lovely (but we really wish we'd brought some other snacks too! But that's a minor issue that didn't impact the trip at all) and we ate this while we were waiting at the visitor centre to adjust to the altitude.
We reached the summit (13,800ft) and the views were already spectacular above cloud level. Watching the sun set beneath the clouds was a once in a lifetime moment and the photos we took were spectacular.
After dark, we then proceeded back down the volcano to another little carpark where we pulled in for our stargazing tour. Our very knowledgeable guides talked us through the stars that were burning incredibly bright with the lack of light pollution (due to the strict laws on the island). I would recommend downloading a free constellation app beforehand (I already had Skyguide on my phone) which helps visualise the constellations. The mug of hot chocolate and our photo in front of such a beautiful backdrop was the perfect touch to finish the evening.
The stars were so bright, even my phone camera picked up the stars! A perfect evening and well worth the money. We were also lucky enough to see the glow from the eruption of KÄ«lauea in the distance (see photos) So thank you!
We were picked up at the local marketplace near our hotel and we made our way to Mauna Kea. A sandwich was included in the price of the trip which was lovely (but we really wish we'd brought some other snacks too! But that's a minor issue that didn't impact the trip at all) and we ate this while we were waiting at the visitor centre to adjust to the altitude.
We reached the summit (13,800ft) and the views were already spectacular above cloud level. Watching the sun set beneath the clouds was a once in a lifetime moment and the photos we took were spectacular.
After dark, we then proceeded back down the volcano to another little carpark where we pulled in for our stargazing tour. Our very knowledgeable guides talked us through the stars that were burning incredibly bright with the lack of light pollution (due to the strict laws on the island). I would recommend downloading a free constellation app beforehand (I already had Skyguide on my phone) which helps visualise the constellations. The mug of hot chocolate and our photo in front of such a beautiful backdrop was the perfect touch to finish the evening.
The stars were so bright, even my phone camera picked up the stars! A perfect evening and well worth the money. We were also lucky enough to see the glow from the eruption of KÄ«lauea in the distance (see photos) So thank you!
Written 2 July 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.
Eugene C
Vancouver, Canada7 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
Even with a promising weather forecast (80% chance of blue sky), Mother Nature did not let us have clear skies for a sunset and stargazing. Skies were blue on our ascent, acclimatization and observatory sections of the tour. Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in before the sun went down and we had an obscured sunset and could not see the stars for stargazing. Not anything in control from the tour guide's point of view, we just got unlucky. The views were fantastic when the skies were clear, however.
Wes, our tour guide, made the best of things and took some fantastic silhouette photos during sunset, even though the sun was behind the clouds that drifted in. He made sure to check in with people throughout the tour so as to ensure no one was suffering the ill effects of altitude sickness. He had some great historical background to all of the observatories built and the cultural information of why Mauna Kea is so important to the Hawaiians.
As a gesture of good will, the tour company gave us a partial refund because the weather took out the main viewing portion of the evening (stargazing). If I'm back on Kona, I'd definitely try this again to see if the weather cooperates. Goes to show that nothing is guaranteed in life, even with high probabilities in your favour. Make the best of the situation, like our tour guide Wes did. Thanks Wes!
Wes, our tour guide, made the best of things and took some fantastic silhouette photos during sunset, even though the sun was behind the clouds that drifted in. He made sure to check in with people throughout the tour so as to ensure no one was suffering the ill effects of altitude sickness. He had some great historical background to all of the observatories built and the cultural information of why Mauna Kea is so important to the Hawaiians.
As a gesture of good will, the tour company gave us a partial refund because the weather took out the main viewing portion of the evening (stargazing). If I'm back on Kona, I'd definitely try this again to see if the weather cooperates. Goes to show that nothing is guaranteed in life, even with high probabilities in your favour. Make the best of the situation, like our tour guide Wes did. Thanks Wes!
Written 3 September 2024
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.
Footprints815205
Buenos Aires, Argentina4 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Some will decide between sunrise and sunset, personally I prefer the last: the range of colors that are displayed and the encounter with the night and its millions of stars is moving. The tour with Maui All Stars amplified all that. Yoshi, our Guide was the most friendly and courteous host taking care of every detail, providing chairs, blankets, coats, tea, cookies, water and an exceptional telescope and 3D binoculars for night observation. Unforgettable. The most important thing about choosing this tour was being in the hands of someone who loves what they do and Yoshi shows it all the time.
I would certainly do it again.
I recommend it without fear of mistake.
I would certainly do it again.
I recommend it without fear of mistake.
Automatically translated
Written 14 October 2024
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.
Tiago C
3 contributions
Jun 2022
This tour was worth every penny! Both watching the sunset at the summit and the stargazing experience were unforgettable experiences. Our guide Shawn was amazing, always doing his best to ensure the experience was the best possible, and his buddy Hiro was also great on the stargazing piece of the tour, taking us through the constellations and all of that. This tour is also the only one I could find that actually provide you full clothing to be able to enjoy your time at the summit - the others either provide just a ski jacket or nothing at all, and to be able to stay outside the car and walk around and enjoy the views you will definitely need that.
Highly recommend in every way - If you're thinking about it, think no more, go for it, you will not regret it.
Highly recommend in every way - If you're thinking about it, think no more, go for it, you will not regret it.
Written 6 July 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.
victor
Merida, Mexico5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Impeccable service! They did everything to make it a memorable day, taking us to the best place to take photos, with a perfect timing to see the sunset up there.
They had pants and jackets for us and also sandwiches and hot chocolate.
They are very experienced and the star gazing session was very interesting. Also, our guide was a professional photographer so we have very nice photos.
Written 22 October 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.
Aarya M
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
The views at the top were unlike anything I've ever seen before. We were above the clouds the whole time! It was freezing at the top, but of course, Todd had thought of everything - he had ski pants, ski jackets, and gloves for us to wear. At stargazing, he also had hot chocolate for us, which was a lovely surprise. On top of that, the vegan + BLT sandwiches were delicious. From water and extra oxygen, to good music taste, to knowledge about seemingly every single star and observatory, Todd was the most informative and friendly tour guide who truly thought of everything to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. I highly recommend doing this on Big Island, it's probably the coolest thing you'll do! (We're still waiting for our photos from Todd but can post them here once we get them!)
Written 13 June 2024
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.
lazygirl09
Shibuya, Japan2 contributions
Apr 2023
Wes was a great and informative guide throughout the experience. The ride to the summit wasn't too long and the Wes did a great job explaining the many places and things we passed by. Going to the visitors center and the summit was timely and smooth. We were able to pass quite a few cars in our tour van. Unfortunately we were unable to directly see the sunset as there was a bit of cloud cover in the west but the view was otherwise amazing. Lots of time to enjoy the views and take pictures. Wes was also able to take some pictures for us but the quality may vary overall. Stargazing was also a fantastic time. The provided hot beverage were greatly appreciated and being able to use the telescope was neat. The provided jackets were also very clutch as it got quite cold once the sun went down. Wes did a great job pointing out constellations and planets for us to see as well as giving some backstory to each one. The only downside was that there were several other individual tourists with their vehicles and they kept driving around and flashing their lights. All in all, was a great trip even though we didn't get to see the sunset we wanted.
Written 3 May 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.
David H
2 contributions
May 2021 • Family
All the guide book and concierge recommended groups were booked so I was scrambling as I knew I wanted to do this. Found this one and happy we did, better value than others and great service. As Japanese tourists have not come back to Hawaii yet, this company has started catering to the US crowd, we are happy they have. So as others noted, this has everything that the other tours have, parka, pants, gloves. But they add some really cool bonuses like the free pictures with a real camera of you with the stars and sunset, as well as other photos they take, all AirDropped to you before you leave. Shoyo was a great guide and answered all our questions and gave us lots of interesting info. Also Yumiko, the scheduler, was super accommodating of any questions and issues we had and was able to help us with some other food options for us carnivores. Recommended them to our hotel concierge for other guests. Enjoy!
Written 28 May 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.
K_C
1 contribution
Jun 2023
Everything was on point. Very accurate on time estimation with great execution. The views on the mountain speak for itself but Joseph and his teammates were amazing through the journey from the point of picking up to preparing the climb to managing time in providing sufficient time for all experiences. There is nothing to complain about.
Written 26 June 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.
Tour says 16 above..can a 13 year old join the tour?
Written 16 July 2023
Probably better if you ask the tour group directly. As the trip goes up to high mountain above cloud level, not sure if such young age can handle the thinner oxygen level at that level....I guess the tour group does not want to take such risk but better to check with the tour groups.
Written 18 July 2023
hi it says message us for other meal option other than veggie sandwich,, whatcha got other than veggie? also what covid precaution s are taken if everyone is rubbing their faces up next to same telescope? it says included: snow parker, ski pants, so you lend people a jacket and pants? im 6 ft 7" football player build got a 2xl jacket and pants or shall I bring my own?
Written 21 June 2022
We will be on the island July 13-20 and I see there will be a full moon on the 13th.
I'm thinking that it could dramatically affect the star gazing. Has anyone been there during a full moon ?
Written 27 April 2022
If you get picked up in Waikoloa do you also go to Kailua/Kona for 2 hours or do you go straight to the Observatory/Summit/Observatory? Afterwards, do you go straight back to Waikoloa or through Kailua/Kona first?
Written 9 February 2022
No. The only stop we made was at a state park that's about 20 minutes before you make the turn onto the road that takes you to the observatory. It's were they pick up folks are coming over from Hilo.
Written 9 February 2022
I am a serious photographer and would like to know if I would have the opportunity and time to photograph the milky way in mid March?
Written 24 November 2021
Yes you have ample time to photograph the night sky.
Written 24 November 2021
Can you use the observatory's telescope and is dinner served on the tour
Written 26 August 2021
Can you use the telescope at the observatory to look through. Is dinner served on this tour?
Written 26 August 2021
The rour operator provided sandwiches. There is no tour that takes you in to the various observatories. The tour guides provide telescopes for viewing and photo taking.
Written 9 February 2022
We have one adult in our party who is very gluten sensitive. Is there a gluten free option for the food? Thanks.
Written 31 July 2021
They served really good vegetarian burger but im not sure if it's gluten free. They did not offer options so i suggest just bring food for your kid.
Written 1 August 2021
Hi I am trying to book and it was asking for weight, flights, departure date, place to be pick up etc. I am confused.
Thank you
Written 30 July 2021
Same answer as above. They provide jackets etc. There are 2 pickup locations. They need weight for van capacity etc.
Once you book they will email you a time to be at the pickup location based on your hotel.
Written 30 July 2021
Yes i believe so 10 is fine. My daughter is 16 and we had great time.
Written 28 June 2021
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