Mauna Kea Summit Reviews

We were able to go to the visitor center and do a 30 minute acclamation. (We are from Minnesota so we are used to cold.) it was about 20 degrees and very windy. Thought the doors of the Tahoe were going to fly off. Winds are about 80 mph.
Did not hang around for star gazing do to cold and the full moon out.

Our family of 4 rented a Jeep Compass for a week, and we drove it to the summit of Mauna Kea. Risks included:

1. Rental agreement specified “pavement only”. No agreement language specific to Mauna Kea.
2. Possible to overheat the engine or brakes if you don’t operate the vehicle properly.
3. Vehicle could break down.
4. Driver might be impaired from altitude sickness.

Here’s what I did to mitigate risk:

1. Spent some time in advance familiarizing myself with the 4WD system. Spent some time on google and tried a few test runs as we were driving up and down the steep slopes of Kona. I own a 4WD truck at home.
2. We spent about 45 minutes at the visitor’s center (9000ft) to acclimate to the altitude. Ate lunch, watched a video (outside, the building itself was closed due to covid).
3. Spoke with the ranger before going to the summit. He advised us to use “Low 4WD”, which made for a slower climb, but helps prevent the engine from overheating.
4. Back up plan was to hike to “sunset hill” (15min) from the visitor’s center if we judged the drive up was too risky. Having a back up plan helps overcome “summititis”, where you feel like you have to get to the top.

The experience:

We left Kona around 4:00PM. The drive to the visitor’s center is straightforward on paved roads. After about 45 minutes at the center, we checked in with the ranger, and started the climb around 6PM. The road turns to gravel immediately after the visitor’s center. The road is fairly wide (2 lanes), some sections have guard rails. The road surface is somewhat washboarded. Speed up the climb was about 15 mph, slower in some bumpy spots. In several sections, glare from the sun made it hard to see the road. Reached the summit around 6:30 PM, parked facing the sun to watch sunset at 7:13pm. Parking space filled up fairly quickly after we arrived.

Sunset itself was fast, lasted about a minute. We drove down to the visitor’s center while we still had some twilight and did our stargazing from there. The trip down is really the more difficult part. Put the vehicle in 1st gear, and engaged the 4wd. In a few steep sections, had to use brakes as well. Drove down to the visitors center parking lot. Parking was crowded, glad we decided to come down shortly after sunset. Additional cars arrived at the parking lot from downslope just for the stargazing.

The sky was dark and clear. We saw several satellites, the southern cross was visible in the southern sky. The milky way was easy to see. Polaris was visible just over the top of the mountain. A hundred cars with headlights entering/exiting the parking lot interfered with the stargazing a bit. We stayed about 30 minutes and drove back to Kona.

Saturday, March 27th at 8:30 AM the local Rangers wouldn't let us drive up. We were told to go back down. What happened? We pulled up in a local 4x4 vehicle, waited 30 minutes, tried to drive up but they turned us around and told us to wait longer so we complied. We waited another 30 minutes then drove back to the ranger tent and tried to turn but we were stopped again and we had to go through another round of questioning - same as we just had 30 minutes previously. Then we were turned around and told to go back down the mountain immediately. Whoever is the senior ranger there should be fired. In addition, an access and discrimination lawsuit should be filed.

Two weeks ago it was tough to find a sunset and star gazing tour. Thank goodness I found one: Mauna Kea Sunset & Stars Tour on Tuesday, November 23 2021. The tour was awesome. We had a knowledgeable and friendly guide and more importantly the skies were clear above the low hanging clouds. This tour provided us with snacks all created from local merchants. The sunset was spectacular and the stargazer was awesome. We even saw three planets and several shooting stars. Our guide John did a very good job educating us on the various constellations.

It's is cold and refreshing on top of that mountain! Tallest mountain from underwater where it begins.

If you have time and a car..it is a visit you have to make. Excelled views and nice drive along the way. Bring your own snacks !

Beautiful! We went up in a passenger car, WITHOUT 4-wheel drive. There are many cyclists who venture up the hill. Desert climate. We were literally on cloud nine. I took a specific coat to wear, I forgot it at the hotel, but I didn't miss it. If you are in Kona, it is totally worth it!!

So - we didn't make it to the summit ( no 4WD and kids under 13 ).

But we stopped at the visitor's center, and sunset hill.
Great experience.
Fun, short hike.

Definitely worth it. With view of the sun via telescope and screen,
Great merch.
Friendly and helpful staff.

The right back down to Kona or Hilo after sunset is no-joke. Especially with the fog, dark, lack of lights, and grade of decline.

Would recommend: Yes
Would re-patronize: Yes

I was going to Hilo anyway so breath taking drive by but unfortunate it is closed over the protesting of the installation of a new telescope at the summit. Did a little research to attempt to understand the issue but it made no sense to me to see the squalor of humans living in scattered tents and plastic tarps in the name of respect for the land. I have always been in awe of the polynesians reading, navigating and study of the stars and truly wonder what ancestors would think. Have always loved the Hawaii state motto: The life of the land is perpetuated in the righteousness of its people.

This drive is not for the faint of heart. The last 7mi you must be in a 4WD (not AWD) that can go in to 4WD low. On the way down you need to also shift to very low gears so as not to ride the breaks. People have burnt out their breaks and crashed. BUT if you are prepared with the right kind of vehicle, you will be rewarded with AMAZING views. Additionally, you end up at about 14000ft. At this altitude, all people feel a little symptomatic from hypoxia (low blood oxygen). Some will develop symptoms of altitude sickness. It’s no place for people with chronic medical illnesses (particularly cardiac or respiratory), but even healthy people can develop altitude sickness. The only treatment is to come down in elevation.

Once a failed hike & then decided to drive up to the top to watch the telescopes, it was breathtaking!
Then again for a free stargazing on a Monday night, it was just spellbinding! The commentator was very funny & very knowledgeable.
The sky was beautiful, 85 constellations were visible that night! One of life's best moments!

Really wanted to visit independently but protests have closed access road highway so were unable to. Not sure whether tour companies can still go but think unlikely as even observatory staff only just got access recently. Low rating because did not go, friends all highly rec though.

Summit closed right now. But the views from the visitors center are top notch. Go to the trail across the street and walk up to the top.

This was our second visit to the summit. Our tour guides were fantastic. The star gazing was amazing. We saw Jupiter and its four moons and Saturn. We learned about the stars and constellations. We heard about the Big Island, its history, the volcanoes. I said it the first time we did this and I'll say it again: If you only do one excursion on this island, this is the one to do!

This is one of those "You have to do this" experiences on the Big Island. We rented a Jeep from a local company because many of the major rental companies have fine print in their rental agreements which prohibit you from bringing their vehicles up here.

You are advised to spent at least an hour at the Visitor Centre to acclimatize to the elevation before you begin the final ascent. Before you start up you are questioned by a Park Ranger. I've crossed international borders that involved less questioning. He made me show him that I knew how to engage the low-range four-wheel drive of the vehicle, confirmed our fuel level was sufficient, made me demonstrate I knew how to manually select gears on our automatic transmission, asked if we had anyone under the age of 16 in the vehicle, did we have any pets with us, any heart or medical conditions, etc. Once assured we were good to go we were sent on our way. with strict instructions to keep the Jeep in low-range 4WD the entire time, even on the paved sections. We were also told we could use Drive on the way up but to manually select 2nd gear for the trip down to minimize the use of our brakes.

The road up is not really as dangerous as it is made out to be. We were expecting it to be much narrower but after seeing a full size semi-truck hauling telescope parts up, we knew it couldn't be that bad. The first and last section of it is paved, which really caused a lot of tire scrubbing being in 4-Low. It is steep and has a number of sharp corners but it is plenty wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other.

At the top we enjoyed the views. Be sure to read the sign and do NOT attempt to hike to the true summit, despite the well-defined pathway leading up there. It is a sacred spot for the Hawaiian people. We got quite a lesson from a Park Ranger about that one. Dress for cooler weather, that's for sure.

The drive down in 4-Low and 2nd gear really allows the engine to handle the braking. We didn't need to use the brakes once. At the visitor center you will the rangers will check the temperature of the brakes to make sure you are safe to continue down the hill to the highway. They advised me to continue to use 4WD for the descent, but I did not as I know operating in 4WD on hard / non-slippery surfaces are murder on your drivetrain. By not using the accelerator and not riding the brakes we had no problem getting back to the main road safely.

This is the ultimate adventure on the Big Island as far as I'm concerned! I will remember this trip for the rest of my life...WOW! There are two ways to get to the summit of Mauna Kea...rent a 4x4 and drive up the steep and rough road yourself, or take a tour and let someone else worry about the driving. We went with a tour and are so glad we did. The tour van started in Hilo and drove up to the visitor center at 9,000 feet where we stopped for a half hour to get somewhat acclimated. We then climbed back into the van and rode up to the summit and the group of observatories up at the top. We stopped a few times on the way up to enjoy the views and arrived at the top in plenty of time to watch the sunset...ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR! Tallest mountain in the world! Far above the clouds. Only three things rose above the endless sea of clouds: Mauna Kea itself, Mauna Loa (300 feet shorter), and Haleakala the great volcano on Maui in the distance. I could not stop smiling...absolutely breathtaking! I give this place my absolute highest recommendation ever! After the sun went down, the stars came out. We were there during the new moon so the sky was absolutely amazing! Never seen anything like it!

Caveats: (1) It is very cold at the top so be sure to bring plenty of protection. (2) There are restrooms at the top. (3) We used Arnott's Adventures, which was excellent. They provided extra coats for us and were very good. However, I'm sure the other tour companies are also good.

It was a cool experience to drive up to Mauna Kea, to be above the clouds and to watch the sunset. Then the second part of the excursion, our guide Aidan gave us an astrological tour of the stars. We capped off the tour with some hot beverage and snacks and a cool picture of the stars.

We were told before visiting HI that this was a must do on the island and I can confirm that it definitely is! The views from the top are just incredible and if you can time your visit for sunset, then it really is something special. My son is really into astronomy so we booked a stargazing tour and he loved being able to see the night sky so clearly

We used Hawaii Forest & Trail excursions to go up to the Summit. If you don't have a 4WD vehicle you will only be able to go to the Visitor's Center, elevation 9000 ft, where Mauna Kea Summit is a 14000 ft elevation. After sunrise you are required to leave the summit and then can go down to a parking area at 12000 ft elevation to enjoy the stars, but be mindful of your lights, including phone light, when entering the parking lot as they deter from others viewing the stars. Was money well spent!

Even without four wheel you can get to the visitor center at the 9000 foot level and a short hike up sunset hill to get a view of the ocean. They will close the upper road if too windy or new snow.

After many different assessments from previous years about reaching the summit, here is a recent experience
You can only drive the last stretch to the summit with 4WD or AWD, a ranger checks this
The question of whether you can do it with 2WD is not an issue
The journey with 4WD is no problem
It is 8 miles from the visitor center to the summit. Half of the route is unpaved, the other half is paved.
There are even trucks on the road, so it is relatively wide and not much steeper than the approach to the visitor center
The ranger not only checked the condition of the vehicle, but also explained to us how the 4WD works and pointed out the use of the engine brake when descending
Our conclusion: easy with the required vehicle, not without it
We were up there in the morning with good visibility, it was 8 degrees and it was an experience.
You can feel the altitude physically though
On the subject of sunset or sunrise, the following thought: on every night flight I see a sunrise above the clouds. At sunset I drive up in the light, I don't have to get up early and it's not so cold

Amazing and highly recommend!! You for sure need a 4WD and a stop at visitors center to acclimate. Take a jacket, it’s really cool at the top. Be sure and hike to the lake, it’s pretty.

Super tour of the huge volcanic mountain - complete with dinner, history, sunset on the top, and telescope viewing after dark.

Wonderful way to spend an afternoon and evening!

Sunset at Mauna Kea is like a religious experience. Even if you don't go all the way to the top, from the visitor center there is a little pull off to the left just before the visitors center and it's one of the most beautiful things we've seen. It is very cold up there! Make sure you have appropriate clothing and blankets.

We had a great experience with this tour. Our tour guide Wes was very informational, trusting and friendly. He made sure we all equally understood things and had a good experience. I would definitely recommend this tour and our tour guide Wes!

This tour was a little different than I expected. I know the plan was to go to Mauna Kea to see the sunset and star gaze. I would like to have stopped along the way to take pictures of some of the beautiful views. It was too hard to snap pictures out the window while the bus was moving and there were lots of turns in the road. We first stopped at the visitor center/gift shop to eat at a picnic area with restrooms nearby. We did not want the listed menu and when I called the company ahead of time, we found out we could get sandwiches. I had ordered a ham sandwich and a turkey sandwich, but then we got two ham sandwiches, and I don’t eat ham. I took off the ham and had a cheese sandwich, but was pretty disappointed. For some reason, my sandwich also came with a jalapeño chips which I couldn’t eat! I had clearly told them one of each when I set it up, so it was very frustrating. That was the last place we were at with a regular bathroom; the rest of the night was porta-potties until the way home. There was a section of unpaved road that ran for 4.5 miles which was rough travel. When we got to the summit, it was very cold and the altitude was a little difficult to deal with and made me really tired. I had to take a few minutes to catch my breath a few times. I actually waited in the tour van until it was close to sunset then got out to watch the sunset and take pictures. It was hard to get a good spot for the sunset since people were walking around and there was no defined area to stand and watch the sunset. It was a pretty sunset, but the journey there was such that I don’t think I would do it again though I can now say I was at almost 14,000 feet altitude. The observatories were really interesting to see. The highlight of this trip was the star gazing. John, our tour guide, was so knowledgeable in all areas of our tour, but especially in star gazing. He used a laser to point out constellations and the telescope to show us Saturn, Jupiter, a nebula and the moon and they were absolutely beautiful! It made us so excited seeing constellations through a telescope! He also took pictures using a special, expensive camera the company has, and then emailed them to us! The star gazing was the highlight of the whole tour. I would have enjoyed just doing the star gazing since the summit, though pretty, was to me not what I expected for viewing from that point. Mostly I would say be prepared for altitude issues and porta-potties. If you don’t mind that, the tour would be good.

We left our accommodation in Kailua Kona in balmy 30 degree heat (celcius), and arrived at the Mauna Kea Summit just under two hours later at -1! What an adventure! It really is a fantastic, and you do feel like you are in another world feeling at the summit, even our photos don't look quite real! We planned our trip to arrive with time to see the sunset, our family will never forget this afternoon above the clouds! As we flew to the next island we were visiting we flew right past the summit in the plane, and got another great shot from the plane window!

the stars the trip was all very good. enjoyed and learned a lot. nice mix of people on bus. a little tedius picking up everyone but all in all a wonderful experience. dinner was early. our trip was modified due to protesters, which we could have gone all the way up.

The summit of Mauna Kea is one of the most beautiful places I have been too! Not only is it an amazing place to watch the sunset, but the night sky is amazingly clear for stargazing! We make this a must do every time we come to the island! You can drive up yourself (with 4x4), hike, or take a tour to the top. The road from the visitors center to the summit is around 5 miles long with 3 miles being unpacked. We have used Arnott’s Lodge for a tour to the top when we visit the island and the guides are always fun and very knowledgeable! This is definitely a must do on the big island!

Make sure you check the weather before you go because the summit might be closed. You can go up to the top IF you have an SUV with all wheel drive. If you do not have this they will not allow you up. The drive is steep but nothing an AWD cannot handle and the views are spectacular. Go at sunset if you can and enjoy the views. Often you will only see the clouds below but on a clear day you can see more. I highly recommend the tip if you’re up for it!

It was a beautiful clear day. The road was rough past the visitor center but we passed the road grader. The weather was perfect and the view spectacular. Rent a Jeep and take the trip. It’s well worth your time.

We were fortunate to get a tour as someone had cancelled right before we called to book something. The guide was very informative, the whole experience was amazing. Really enjoyed the walk around the visitors center to see the silver sword plant, and of course the telescopes, the sunset and the star gazing on the way back down. So cool to see Jupiter and Saturn so clearly.

Worth the trip up a step road and the final 30 minute walk. The popular times are obviously sunrise and sunset. Our sunset views were amazing and some of the best memories of our trip. Be sure to rug up, as. It was just about freezing and sunset and is very windy. Enjoy.

One of the best tours we’ve ever done will definitely do it again in the future...incredible...amazing...breathtaking!!!

On the way back to Waikoloa from Volcano National Park, we made a quick stop off of the Daniel Inouye Highway up Mauna Kea. Got up the the visitor center for sunset, and it was really spectacular. If you have a 4WD, you can get to the summit, but the view from the visitor center is fantastic and much less stressful from a driving perspective.

This was something my husband had always wanted to do, and I had talked him out of it on previous visits as I didn't want him taking a rental car up the mountain. For his birthday this year I booked a tour and with tip it was $500 for the two of us. Considering most of the "tour" is a bus ride I would have to say that the tour is overpriced by a lot! Especially since we didn't get the Professional Celestron telescope viewing or FREE night photo with professional camera. We got to wear parka's and gloves though... Aidan our guide for the main 4 X 4 bus ride to the summit was the best part (aside from the sunset at the top of Mauna Kea). Aidan recited the history, and the science of the mountain (and the island) with a lot of expertise and passion. It was very clear he had a strong interest and was happy to be sharing what he knew. It wasn't a good night for star gazing, and the trip was cut short so we were left feeling cheated, and certainly gouged on the price of this tour.

We visited the visitor center but were not able to visit the summit, arrived too late. Note: you need to be at the visitor center earlier - if you intent do star gaze at the summit. Before 6pm for sure but I would check. Acclimate for 30 min at least, and have a 4X4 car with lower gear so that the troopers let you drive up, and you must make it to the top before it starts getting dark. On your way back you need to adjust to altitude change again. Tho use with sensitive ears will certainly feel it even going down from the visitor center.

I have asthma and curvier than most :) That being said I had a wonderful visiting the highest point of USA. I took 45 minutes to acclimate at the Visitor Center. 4WD vehicle non-negotiable. We drove around to different viewpoints and thoroughly took in the experience. Any hop, walk or so much as adjust my jacket - I was out of breath. Just take your time and enjoy the moment! Shortly after 1 hour my head started to hurt just a little and we left. It was plenty of time.

We visited in June and were fortunate to spend time at the Imiloa Astronomy Center before driving to Mauna Kea and having some in our party to actually drive up to the summit and see the beauty of the creations. The air does get thin due to the high altitude, so some (like myself) can't make it to the top without feeling the effects of the altitude.

While currently closed to the public, this is a beautiful and special place to visit if you have the chance.

I visited the Mauna Kea in May. I recently went ago to the Big Island and this place was first on my list; however, the road to the top is closed due to the telescope and sacred ground issue. I’m hoping one day to go. But please check the road closures before planning your trip if this is a definite must. If it’s open, it’s a definite must!

Jason was the consummate host for our trip to the summit of Mauna Kea. His knowledge of the Hawaiian culture, geography and history plus the night sky wowed up beyond our expectations. This is a long day/evening though you will not be disappointed in the experience that will stay with you a lifetime.

Mauna Kea is a must see place on Big Island. Many have reviewed it ad we agree it is spectacular. But there is so much rubbish written about driving to the summit, here is the things you need to know. It costs around US$400 for 2 px to go up on a tour. But in your own vehicle it is only the cost of your car hire. Most car hire companies ban you from driving up there, so factor that in. The Visitors Centre is closed for renovations for the foreseeable future. The 4m dirt summit road section is rated by the Park as 4WD only - it is NOT. You can happily drive up in an AWD (all wheel drive) SUV. But make sure you lock the AWD option on and drive with manual gears, . Leave it in first gear for steeper climbs and descents - ie ride the gears. I would NOT risk it in a two wheel drive car - and I have done a lot of off road 4WDing. Watch for larger rocks on the road - punctures not good. If you have no off road experience, take it easy. If the car has a lower capacity engine, then it will struggle on steeper sections, but just plug along in ! or 2 gear and you will be fine. It gets very cold on the summit so as a minimum take wind proof jackets and long pants. You can park behind one of the telescopes up the very top and watch the sunset from the car - or get out and take photos. A good time to arrive is about 5.30 pm in summer to avoid the hordes of tours that get there a bit later. It takes about 45 mins to get up from the Saddle Road turn off. Do not force it going down as it will be dark and you will in a convoy with other cars, unless you leave earlier. The Ranger will kick you off summit straight after sunset.

My family and I got super lucky and were able to summit Mauna Kea during perfect weather conditions. The other travelers are absolutely right, you need to bundle up because it is extremely cold, even if the winds aren't very strong. If you're from flat land like us, I really recommend waiting at the visitor center for more than 30 minutes, minimum an hour. Just take your time going up and coming down and you'll be okay. Make sure you have water and food too!

It’s worth the driving all the way up to the summit and we made it to there safely. We visited Mauna Kea on a full moon night so we went up there primarily for sunset. The whole time we were like “wow”. The view was amazing!!!The sky was so clear and the sunset was breathtaking!!!

Summit is ONLY for sunset. There are rangers reminding people to leave the summit after sunset. Stargazing is done on your way back to the visitor center (there are some places to park) or at the visitor center (the free stargazing program offered at the visitor center is not currently available). When it’s under the best conditions for stargazing, people can see galaxies from eyes.

Check the moon calendar before you go. If you are going primarily for stargazing, avoid full moon night and nights around full moon. The strong moon light will prevent you from seeing stars.

Road conditions: if you don’t have a 4-wheel vehicle, DO NOT GO. When we were at the visitor center, we saw a 2-door Jeep Wrangler (2-wheel) being towed down. There were people sharing experience of driving 2-wheel vehicle to the summit but we do not recommend people to take the risk. 4-door Jeep Wrangler is fine because it has the 4-wheel driving mode. Starting from the visitor center, it takes about 30-40 minutes to drive to the summit. The first 3/4 is unpaved road and it’s narrow and steep, one lane each way. The last 1/4 (close to the summit) changes back to paved road again. It is better to follow other cars up and down. Driving alone turns out scary especially when you drive down after it goes completely dark.

Before you go up there, fill your gas tank and check the weather from the official website. One last thing, dress warmly and get ready to be amazed!!!

The routes to the summit are closed due to local protesters. Google will route you across Mana Rd if coming from the North side of the island. Do not take this dirt gravel road unless you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle and want a 5 hour scenic tour (round trip). The road is closed after a 2.5 hour drive right near the summit and a paved road but you MUST go back the way you came.
With that said, the drive is beautiful but can become foggy quickly. My recommendation is find another scenic drive less remote.

We took a family tour to the summit to view stars from a telescope. My daughter and husband thoroughly enjoyed it although the altitude made it a little difficult health wise. It’s VERY COLD at the summit - be prepared to bring warm clothes. Our tour provided parkas and gloves. It could be Difficult to breathe and walk for those affected by the altitude. My son, who suffers from anxiety did not enjoy it at all. He found it hard to breathe at the high altitude which made his anxiety even worse. Not recommended for those affected by high altitudes or not in good health.

During our visit last December it was impossible to go to the observatory by road due to local protests have closed the road. We decided to take the 90 min airplane Sunset adventure departing from Kona airport. It was the climax of our big Island visit.

A favorite by nearly everyone in our group! You can go without a tour as long as you have a substantial 4 wheel drive vehicle. Normal rental agencies do not allow it so you will need to rent from an off road rental car place if that's your plan. We went with Hawaii Forest and Trail and it's worth the $200 not to have to navigate up and down the summit, especially after dark. You get dinner, star gazing, and history of the island and Mauna Kea if you go with a tour too!

Spectacular views! I do not recommend for young children (12+). We took our older 3 kids and our 10 year old had some altitude issues which we hear is common for younger children and much older adults.

First of all, you must have a 4 wheel drive to advance beyond the visitors center. Apparently this changed in 2020. We went the first time in 2016 and 4 wheel drive wasn't required. The view is breathtaking. Since we didn't rent a 4WD this time,we turned back. Some chose to hike further up, but just know, the elevation can be dangerous.

We joined tour to visit here, the sunset and stars was amazing, should be come back here again when we back to big island.

This literally feels like you’re standing on top of the world! When the sunsets you can so you don’t fall Milky Way galaxy and it is absolutely mind blowing! This is a big five star

We rented a 4WD Jeep and drove to the summit. The park ranger makes sure you have at least 1/2 tank of gas and that you know how to put the Jeep in the correct gear, etc. We had no problems at all and the road is paved for at least half the distance from the visitors center to the summit. If you are not a confident, capable driver I would not recommend driving yourself. There were several tour buses at the top but a lot of people in their own 4WD vehicles too. You must stop at the visitor center for at least
30 minutes before going up. They have a nice gift shop and the rangers are informative. We left our lodging in Volcano about 4 pm and had plenty of time to get there, visit the visitor center, drive up and explore before watching the amazing sunset. It is really cold up there so take a jacket. We bought a blanket at the visitor center and we were glad we had it. There are portable restroom facilities at the summit too but my kids said they were pretty nasty.

The experience was amazing - I stayed close to the summit at https://www.konahawaiirentals.com/kona-vacation-rentals/fairway-villas-waikoloa-beach-resorti24

This is a must see if you’re on the island. Be sure to get there early because the drive can be a bit treacherous. You will have to acclimate to the thinner air at the entrance to the peak, which is at 9000 feet. And be sure to have a four wheel drive vehicle because they will not let you drive on the dirt road without this. The dirt road is only for the first half of the trip, so the roads at the top are paved. Also be sure to wear a sweater or jacket because it is cold and windy up there. But in the end the sunset is amazing and it really is one of the most memorable spots on the island.

The clouds, the sunset, the star gazing. This was probably the highlight of the trip for all 4 of us.

I suggest a guide to do the driving on the no-guardrail gravel road to the summit and to share info about the observatories and views. Sunset into the clouds is fabulous AND you can see Haleakala (Maui) in the distance.

We weren’t sure how steep the road up was, but for anyone wondering...It’s not a bad road at all! Would be totally doable in a 2WD. If anyone has driven off road for more than a few minutes in their lives then this won’t be a tough road for them.

Little tip...if you get turned away for not having a 4WD... you can go after dark and there’s no one at the entrance so you can just go up. But we just used our rental jeep 4WD and the guard didn’t give us any problems.

Totally worth it as well. We saw so many things on the island but this was honestly the most breathtaking and will be the highlight.

Bring binoculars to the island if you’re into astronomy! The sky was so incredibly clear and dark, even just at the visitors center.

Beautiful in every direction. The Big Islands are amazing. Once you’ve seen them, you’ll never forget how gorgeous they are! Mauna Kea Summit is the most beautiful of the Islands. A must do. We took our sons to Hawaii a few years ago and they still talk about Hawaii!

I can't believe people are worried about the drive. It's an easy drive the only thing I can think of is it's a dirt road. Not more dangerous than any other dirty road you would have to go to a cabin. Just go slow and there is no danger. Watch the website to see if the road is open (can be closed because of ice). After reading the comments here I thought I was going to face hardcore off-roading... None of that. Many 2wd at the top.

It's worth going it's a total different vibe than the rest of Hawaii. It's cold and windy up there bring a jacket or at least a hoody.

You can go to the visitor center in a regular car. But you MUST have 4-wheel drive to be allowed to drive to the summit. We had a jeep and put it in 4L and kept our speed below 25 mph. The photo is not the greatest, but it shows snow on adjacent terrain and the white cumulus clouds at elevations beneath it.

The entire trip up to the summit was fantastic. Beautiful scenery, a priceless sunset above the clouds, some spectacular stargazing. I highly recommend!

It's almost impossible to reach the summit on your own! (Or so I had heard). I decided to go there first and decide, so my wife (who was negative from the start) and I went out together. We rented a 4WD at Hilo airport and drove to the Onizuka Visitor Center to check it out. I asked the local ranger in my barely speakable English and somehow got the feeling that it would be possible, so two days later, after stargazing at the visitor center (which also helped me get used to the atmospheric pressure), we set off for the summit. It was true that the road to the summit was rough and difficult, but the ranger showed us how to use the 4WD's low gear, and we climbed slowly and were able to reach the summit. The sunrise view from the summit was more beautiful than I had imagined and I was moved. Although I was a little short of breath from the altitude sickness that I was worried about, my wife and I were in good spirits. It was a 3-night, 4-day trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, and we were blessed with good weather, making it a wonderful trip that will remain in my memory for the rest of my life.

Apparently, the protest is about instaling the worlds biggest telescope. Looks like a sort of commune with scruffy tents, occupants and flags. Never stopped as noticed what I assume to be police officers with guns?

Don't actually know what all the fuss is about, it's just a big lava-covered lump in the middle of nowhere..... and it's about 20 colder than lower down.

Hi guys just for your info. The protests have the Mauna Kea road blocked for the last few weeks and it appears will remain closed for some time. The only thing that remains in effect for tourists are the speed traps on either side of the last bathroom stop before the mtn road. This coincides with the government base as you come up from Kona. 60 to 40 to 60 but it comes up fast and the 40 sign just doesn't seem easily found as you come down the mtn into the sun and around a corner. Honest it's the best speed trap going. 172$ if you're still doing 60 and looking into the sun going home to Kona and disappointed that the mtn sunset did not happen! Not making this up...but the young officer was very nice and he did say write the judge. I smiled back and said thank you. Ah vacation Hawaii style. Welcome to the island.
The funny part...I was warned about the speed trap and did great coming up the hill. Not so good going down! So let my pain be your gain, if your doing the saddle road and heading to or from Kona to the protest location be ready and go 40 if you can see the signs!

As a side note the locals know all the locations so they ride your bumper or pass on the double yellow up and down the hill.
It can be very exciting at times. Just stay in vacation mode and pull over a little.

Happy Travels

The views are amazing! Especially at sunset! Worth to go! Also stay for the stars as the visitor center is open until 9:00 pm.

Wonderful experience. First thing, try to schedule your visit around the new moon so you see more stars. Bring a HEAVY tripod - it can be quite windy on top.
Travis did an outstanding job as a guide - a LOT of Hawaii's history and culture as well as knowledge of astronomy.

The Hawaiians are not giving up thier need to protests the proposed new telescope on the top of this mountain. It is holy ground for them and it has now been chosen as a opportunity to unite themselves. One can drove the freeway past the inference but not turn up toward the summit. Stop ,talk to the people but u understand they are not moving. Lovely dances at times, and beautiful people are there.

This was such an awesome experience! Driving up, it was drizzling and so foggy I was worried we wouldn't get to see anything. I was praying God would let us see just one good view of the susset. Walking up it was all still foggy and cloudy, we started to leave, but dragged around a little bit then the fog started to lift and we started to see the mountains peaking... next thing we knew the sunset starting turning all colors of red. What a beautiful sunset! So glad we did it and didn't turn back.

On a side note, a kid ran up and fell to his face. His siblings were giggling so we laughed too until we realized he wasn't playing. His mother said he ran all the way up, with the altitude change, just nearly fainted. We were only at the visitor center but it still is no joke. Please take pre-caution.

Seven members of my family drove up to the summit on Christmas Day and it was an experience I will never forget! The mountain was covered in white and locals were filling up their truck beds with snow to take home to the keikis who were too young to reach the summit. The wind was whipping and it was FREEZING! We played in the snow on boogie boards, watched snowboarders and stayed for an AMAZING sunset at which point my son proposed to his girlfriend. It doesn’t get any better than that! If you’re ever on the Big Island, Mauna Kea is NOT to be missed!

we took a tour to the summit at sunset. Pretty amazing to see the sun above the clouds, hit that part fo the sky, to see light stream out to the side for what appears to be miles and miles. At dark the tour took us to a quiet secluded spot where we (via a neat computer controlled aimed telescope) various planets in our universe. Alos funny to see snow at the top of Mauna Kea

The visitors center is at 9200 feet, the top is 13800. They recommend stopping for 30 minutes at the visitors center to acclimate. I don't know if that really helps or not but it probably does & your vehicle needs a rest also from the climb to there. The visitors center used to have a store but currently does not. The road recently opened back up and who knows if and when the protestors could close it again so they haven't opened the store but people are there to give you info and restrooms are open.

From the visitors center to the top is 8 miles. The first 5 miles are dirt road and the last 3 miles are paved. A front wheel drive vehicle can make it up without problems (4 times total for us). They like only 4 wheel drive vehicles on that road but you don't really need it. If you like Jeeps, then rent one. They are fun. If not, a front wheel drive will do just fine, just drive carefully & pay attention. You need to be in low gear for sure on the way down to decrease your speed and go easier on your brakes. The condition of the dirt road varies depending on when it was last grated. Sometimes pretty smooth, sometimes really bumpy.

The view from the top is fantastic. You can't tour the observatories but they are neat to see from the outside. There isn't always snow at the top but in winter there is a decent chance of it. We took an inflatable tube and went snow tubing. Fill it up about half way at sea level at it will be pretty well full at the top. The snow tubing was a blast. The snow was icy enough to slide down without a tube. You have to walk back up which is not easy or fast at that altitude but lots of fun to slide down. If going straight back to the beach, it would be fun to get enough snow for the kids to build a snowman on the beach but we had other things to see afterwards and didn't do that.

Make sure to check the weather before going up. Low wind days are best and the road from the visitors center to the top gets closed due to weather and high winds fairly frequently. If there is good weather your first day on the island, go then as it may be your best or only chance

Loved stargazing experience at the summit. Take plenty of warm clothes as temperature drops from 80 to 30 in no time.

Beautiful views! Free entry!

I went during midday, though, and wish I went to stargaze. We weren't originally planning on going to the summit and enjoyed the Visitor's Center. The ride from Kona didn't feel too long. We didn't feel the elevation, though it did feel chilly at that point. My windbreaker was enough, though my mom wore her jacket.
As we were leaving, we talked with the ranger who checked our car and then we decided to go the rest of the way up since we were already here!

The ride was dirt for the first chunk and quite bumpy! We gained elevation quickly and my mom got some altitude sickness. Once at the top, we walked around and took pictures of the observatories. We saw Haleakla on Maui from our vantage point. It was CHILLY and I wish I had my sweatpants. With just a windbreaker and shorts, though, I was able to run around and get some pictures of the scenery. The observatories are NOT open for walk in visitors.

The ride down was the same up (but reverse). The ranger at the Visitor Center checked the temp of our breaks and told us to pull over to let them cool for 15 minutes.

There are clean bathrooms and water filling station at the Visitor Center.

If I could, next time I would love to train to do the hike from the visitor center to the summit. It's about 4-5miles long, big elevation gain, and takes around 8 hours. Because of the temperatures when it gets dark, they discourage hikers who start after noon. Those who I talked to really enjoyed it, but did say it was pretty challenging.

You must have an all wheel drive car and excellent health to make the rapid transition from sea level to the high altitude. If you follow the rangers advice and you are healthy enough to make it to the summit you will be rewarded with a spectacular view and appreciate the work that the telescopes are doing with such a clear sky!

The drive to the summit of Mauna Kea isn't that difficult. They require you to use a 4wd vehicle and they will verify that you have one, but the roadway itself is very well maintained. They just want you to engine break on the way day to avoid overheating the regular wheel breaks. One you get to the top there are some incredible views. Certainly something everyone should do at least once. The reviews all warn you about taking a rental car up. We rented a jeep and drover it. No issues. I assume if you actually damaged the rented jeep while up there you may face repercussions, but it wasn't an issue. Caution as the air is thin on top. Take that 30 min acclimatization stop at the visitor center. It's actually necessary.

Did this at sundown, WOW. Went to the first summit, climbed a small hill. MILLIONS of stars, unforgettable.

Sadly they have stopped the star gazing program that used to take place at the visitor centre after dark. That was my favourite activity on the mountain as I am unable to go to the summit due to health restrictions.

If you have a 4x4 vehicle and the time to do the drive, it's worth it. Make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading to Mauna Kea. The rangers at the visitor center will brief you and access you and your vehicle's ability to make it to the top. It is a steep, rough gravel road which turns to pavement near the top. You need to be a confident driver to make the drive up that road. You will also be required to climatize for 30 minutes at the visitor center before starting up the mountain. Take a jacket because it's chilly at the top. We were there during the day and the views were amazing.

hot day 11 c at top but no wind and sun- in shortys and tee shirt- howevere disapointed that visitor center closed
4 wheel drive esential - steap road and the section in gravel is very corrurgated

The view never gets old!
It does get cold though... be sure to bring warm jackets and maybe even blankets if you're going to be there for sunset so you can hang out at the top and watch the colors change from amazing to spectacular. We brought a pre-made dinner and had an epic picnic while watching the sun set from 13,800'!
You do need an enclosed 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive up to the top and they're very strict about that but you can always try to hitchhike your way up from anyone with extra space in their car. Highly, highly suggest.

This place is beyond beautiful! Very moving and spiritual place. You can feel the energy. It’s a trek up there for sure. And you will want warm clothes. But it is absolutely worth it!

Incredible place to visit. Where else can you drive to the top of an almost 14k foot mountain?! Would DEFINITELY recommend going with a dedicated tour operator, however, as the road up the mountain is one lane and littered with incredibly sharp rocks. You break down and no one is coming to help you. Plus you'd be blocking the entire road for both ways. Just hire a guide and go soak up the incredible view!

We got to tour and explore this beautiful mountain, one day before it was closed for the preparation of the new telescope. Magnificent, breath taking views of the island.

I loved this place amazing for pictures and to relax and walk around . I would highly recommend to visit 😀

The van, pickup location, and other logistics were easy. The food was ok. I knew vegetable lasagna was dinner, I hate vegies, but I understood why and accepted my fate. But the trip up the mountain was incredible. I cannot say enough good things about the guides. Just an amazing amount of information spewed from their mouths. And of course the views at the top were amazing. Sunset on the ocean is great. But on top, it's amazing. And the stargazing afterwards..... Wow, just wow. It was like sitting in a planetarium, only real.

It is not open to visitors due to the telescope that is to be built and the protestors blocking access. I didn’t attempt to go, but I happened to drive by on my way to somewhere else.

Learning about the cultural and spiritual significance of the mountain as well as the scientific progress of the telescopes on the summit was intriguing and educational! We did some stargazing as well and the night was clear as could be. Highly recommend!

We were planning to do some stargazing from this amazing vantage point, but two weeks before our arrival thousands of protesters have blocked the road leading up to the summit, preventing even workers from entering. The word here in Hawaii Is that their sacred ground is going to be defiled, and they are Determined not to back down.

We went the first day of our trip since you have to wake up early to get there by sunrise and our body clocks had not yet reset to Hawai'i time! It was amazing. Wear cold weather gear as the summit is 13,800 feet above sea level and it gets cold. You must also have a 4WD vehicle to navigate part of the road. It's wild to be standing above the clouds and watching the sun rise into the sky. Simply stunning.

The journey up to the top of the Big Island is definitely worth the effort. Just make sure you have a four wheel drive vehicle. Most of the road up is a bumpy dusty rocky road. Even though is was overcast on the coast, it was a cloudless sky at the top.
Make sure you stop at the visitor center for the recommended time to adjust to the altitude. It was beautiful, no doubt.

Great place to visit - nice shop, friendly staff.
We did a sunset and stargazing tour with Taikobo Hawaii - highly recommend that operator over any other ones. Excellent insightful experience of sunset, stars, constellations and we even got night sky pictures.

We didnt actually make it to the summit (you require a 4 x 4 or they wont let you up), however the view from the lookout on top of the hill across from the visitor's center was amazing. It was a clear night on the mountain but down below the clouds were slowly enveloping the valley giving a spectacularly surreal aura to the place. This was one of my wife's (and mine) favourite places on the island. (Although we went at sunset, we heard sunrise are greta here also).

Reaching the summit of Mauna Kea was a highlight of our time in Hawaii. Being at 13,000+ feet in elevation was an experience. We took the trip up in a 4x4 van and it was definitely something we will remember forever. The views from the summit were amazing.

We totally want to come back and do a sunset and stargazing tour.

Was able to see it from a distance during the drive from Kailua to Hilo and it is a beaut, but closed due to protestors, who we also drove past. Visitors are upset that the protests are "ruining" their experience, but also lack understanding of the history of the summit and why the protestors are there to be more respectful and understanding of the situation.

If you drive down this road, be careful of the speed limit. It drastically reduces without warning and there are cops monitoring the area.

I have been to the summit on two previous occasions with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures, (excellent outfit). Their tours are kind of pricey, but worth it if the weather is cooperating. The sunsets, and view of the night sky is amazing. This visit, we all decided to take a trip up early, on a clear view gorgeous day. On the drive up from Kona, we could see that both Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa, had a good bit of snow well below the summits. Our original plan was to stop at the Onizuka visitor center. Finding that it was closed, we checked with the rangers, and having an AWD vehicle, headed for the summit. (your rental car contract may have certain prohibitions, so go at your own risk).

The dirt road was bone dry, with little wind, so all went well. (if you have driven off road, and follow their safety protocols, you should have no issues). Of course we were a little under dressed, but sending photos to friends and family of us in the snow, in Hawaiian shirts and shorts was hilarious. We saw others building snowmen, making snow angels, & sledding on boogie boards. I would recommend layering for freezing temps. You are often going from sea level to 13,796 ft., so altitude sickness can be an issue.

Also, make sure you have plenty of gas in the tank. If you are bringing food, there are picnic tables at the visitor center, yet only porta-potties, as it is still closed at the time of my review. Knowing the weather forecast is crucial before you go. The various telescopes at the summit are not open to the public, just so you know. It was totally worth it on this visit, while on our way to Hilo.

Mahalo.

This is a must visit for everyone who enjoys star gazing at night. Mauna Kea visitor center started their telescopes the day we visited after a gap of 4 years. The guides from visitor center are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about educating kids and people visiting. It’s completely free and you can actually see active volcano at Kilauea from back side of visiting center.
Few tips while driving. Take it slow as oxygen levels are low on the top. Adjust your body to low oxygen levels. Take 4 wheel drive with near full fuel tank and use low gears when driving slopes.

So I read lots of reviews, articles, and their website. We did not want to pay over 200 dollars a person so we did this on our own.
1) pack winter clothes and binocular
2) bring your own hot chocolate, water, and snacks
3) rent 4×4 car
4) call the morning of to get the weather report
5) bring your phone charger so you can take lots of pictures and videos

We left from Waikoloa at 3pm. Don't do that. It took us 50 minutes to get to the visitor center and stayed 30 minutes to hang out (recommended before going any higher). I thought there would not be enough parking. We were at the summit by 5pm. So just take my advice. Hang out and leave later.

There was so much parking. If i do it again, I would leave at 4:30. We waited too long.

Bring a snack and hang out.

After the sunset, go back to the visitor center for star gazing. We used a phone app to identify dufferent stars.

Must do.

No way to capture the beauty. We had a 4WD Jeep and went up to view the sunset. A little challenging driving up with the sun blaring in your eyes. Like almost impossible to see. Lots of squinting and holding your hand in front of your eyes to block the blinding sun, but we were still able to make out the road. Lol. I would not drive up unless you have a 4WD. I recommend stopping at the visitor center and reading all the recommendations. The views were just spectacular. The sunset beautiful and the clouds breathtaking. I will never forget it. This is a must do if you are able.

My husband and I took our jeep up to the summit. We made sure to stop at the visitor center to acclimate. I also took a motion-sickness pill to help me not get nauseous with the drive. The drive was beautiful. Take all the precautions told to you and if you do, your trip will be successful. We did not stay long at the top. It was windy but the view was worth it!

Bundle up! You won't want to miss the view of the stars at the top of the mountain! It was cold and windy but worth the drive up to the Ranger Station. The stars were shining bright the night we were there.

This is a 'not to be missed' experience. Went to the summit with Hawaii Forest and Trail tour operator. One of the other tourists with our group described the telescope complex as a 'Cathedral to Astronomy' and it is a very apt description.

I highly recommend going with a tour operator unless you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The road up is pretty rough going and heading back is pretty steep. 2-wheel drive vehicles were struggling to get down the mountain.

Additionally, our tour operator was able to explain what all the different telescopes were used for and gave us a star tour of the Milky Way after sunset. They had a wonderful telescope that enabled us to see several planets and distant galaxies.

Memorable drive to the top of the world with Justin, a knowledgeable guide, excited to share the sites, the history and the controversies of the area. The colors of the sunset were impressive but the surprise was seeing rainbows over Hilo from above the storm. The Shadow of Mauna Kea to the east at sunset almost seems to be another volcano. The tour left about 1:55 from Kona area and returned @ 10:00pm. The provided dinner from Lava Lava was excellent. Warm weather gear, parkas, mittens, stocking hats and blankets were much appreciated. The night star viewing with telescope at over 12000 feet must be seen to be believed. While the cost may seem high, the combination of high quality transportation (Mercedes 12 passenger Van) excellent food, guide and equipment I believe justify the expense.

At 13,000 feet, the winds can practically knock you off your feet. I was there in daytime a few years ago and it was blustery and COLD. This trip was the watch the evening sunset, the weather and sky were ideal.

Those opposed to the 30 meter telescope project blocked the access road on the day we drove up the saddle from Kona. The protest “village” is a sight itself; hundreds were there.

This trip was canceled due to political issues and the road being closed. The company gave us fair warning and offered to keep our names on the list to rebook if the road got opened - not their fault but all as handled in advance and no charges

You should have 4WD/AWD to drive to the top. It's a amazing view to see the sunset, but the driving part is little bit wild. Remember to bring extra clothes, super super cold. Also, please plan your trip before 4pm.

This was a highlight of our trip to the Big Island. The drive is not as treacherous as I feared, but is necessarily slow up and down. Being above the clouds for a truly stunning sunset is something we won't soon forget.

Wife and I debated taking the trip. Longish drive from our Hilo rental and weather wasn’t great. We decided to take it on anyway and not miss the opportunity. So worth it! 4WD is an absolute must and driving to/from summit takes some time but views are simply amazing. Best sunset ever from above the clouds. Where else could you see snow in Hawaii? The altitude is a serious adjustment so make sure to take your time at the look-out station stop on the way up. Go and enjoy!

i came up in a 4wd. the ranger at the road block gave me the ok to go up. when i got to the top another ranger drove up to me & told me to go down, before i had the chance to take any pictures Or look around at all. he threatened to give me a ticket for trespassing if i did not go down now. i protested , & went down. at the gate i protested again & got nowhere. no one claimed to be a supervisor. also 4wd is not nessary to drive that road. it simply is not bad at all. theres something wrong with the way they handle that place

We had looked forward to this experience and we weren’t disappointed. Travis was born and raised on the island so was extremely knowledgeable. They had a blizzard on the mountain several days before our tour. They provided warm parkas, gloves, and hot cocoa. Beautiful sunset and star gazing through an amazing telescope. Saw the ring around Saturn and 3 planets around Jupiter plus many constellations! The moon was almost full so got a fabulous picture of the moon through the telescope. Definitely a tour that we would recommend!!!

Booked with Hawaii Forest & Trail before leaving UK. Easy to book, good communication & they called to confirm arrangements day before event.
Well organized, great driver / tour guide Justin who was a fount of knowledge on Hawaii, nature, geography & the night sky. Clearly working in an area he is passionate about, and interested & enthusiastic throughout.
Cannot fault - first trip to Hawaii and would put this activity #1.

Visited the Keck Observatory Information Center before driving up Mauna Kea in a beautiful new Jeep Wrangler rented from National. You will want a true four-wheel drive vehicle to go to the top; all-wheel drives are not permitted. Stop at the way-station for mandatory acclimatization to the high altitude. There, you can purchase hot drinks, snacks, souvenirs and educational materials. Continue upwards on a narrow switchback road with terrifying dropoffs. At the top, it is windy and ranges from cold to subarctic. You can see the observatories, but there are no tours and no attendants. One has indoor modern restrooms and an area for viewing some of the machinery of the telescope. Don't stay too long; the air is thin, and you may become dizzy or sick from lack of oxygen. It's a unique and slightly scary adventure!

you can not stay on the top after dark. the visitor center is great for star watching. dress for cold weather and wind

This was the highlight of our first visit to the big island.now can’t access the road due to thousands of protesters.they could be fair and take their protest down the road a bit to allow visitors to see this amazing mountain.

WE visited early April, which is the winter of Hawaii. That day is very gloomy and cold. The park ranger said, the summit is almost closed for months, the condition at the top is too dangerous, icy and windy. too dangerous to drive up, so they closed the road.

Wear warm clothing and several layers. Jeans, closed shoes and gloves are a must. IT IS VERY COLD AND WINDY. That being said, the views are glorious! We watched the sunset and it was an experience to remember always.

Everything on the big island is worth the trip, highly recommend. Make sure the roads are open before starting out.

We visited Mauna Kea twice during our recent stay in the Big Island. The first time we witnessed a phenomenal Milky Way/Star gazing experience from the 9K' Onizuka Visitors Center. The second time was a 14K' Summit Sunrise experience courtesy of Hawaii Forest & Trails Sunrise tour. Mauna Kea is a most sacred place for native Hawaiians being the highest point in the Pacific. (We actually observed native Hawaiians on the Summer Solstice protesting the soon to be built TMT (Thirty Meter Telescope--13 Story, 100 foot diameter telescope) that will be built on Mauna Kea to literally observe the origin of the universe. The sunrise experience on Mauna Kea was "different" from that we previously experienced on Haleakala. The colors/clouds/atmoshere on 10K' Haleakala was pretty cool and more colorful than that on Mauna Kea. However, experiencing a Haleakala sunrise is hit or miss (we're batting 50%). Atop Mauna Kea, you have the added backdrop of some of the most powerful telescopes on earth, and a view of Haleakala itself about 50 miles away. Net: A powerful experience. Mark from Cincinnati

Beautiful! I’m so glad the locals prevailed and kept the Summit the way it is; prevented the building of a huge observatory. There are already a number of them, but thankfully these will be all. The quiet summit above the clouds is a unique place and sacred to Hawaiians.
Be aware that the 4WD requirement is strictly enforced. Also be sure you have at least 1/2 tank of gas. Our Truro person rented us a Jeep with only 1/4 tank of gas. We didn’t notice it. The kind agent at the Ranger Station pointed it out, and we returned to Hilo for more gas. We would not have made it up the mountain and back if he hadn’t told us!

Didn't intend to drive to the summit but we were passing by and just kept going!

We did have a jeep and 4x4 would be helpful, mostly in the descent to save your brakes.

Technically you could do it in a regular car if you drove carefully in L on the way down.

Views are amazing, cool to see snow and also to be atop the tallest mountain on earth as measured from the earths crust.

Best of all it is free.

We drove a Jeep and the gas gauge was confused and cut our range dramatically, it came back. Something to remember as all of sudden it looked like we had no fuel.

Definitely worth the drive and you will feel the altitude!

And it's free!

I would highly recommend the sunrise, we were there with 8 other vehicles, so not crowded at all, and the sunrise view doesnt have the telescopes in the view, and it was nice to drive down during the light hours and enjoy the view coming down. The roads were great, easy going, they do recommend 4 wheel drive, especially for the drive down, you ride your breaks for a good portion of the drive. Also, we did acclimate for 30 min at the visitor center, which gave us time to see the stars, amazing stars...and in no way, if you get altitude sickness can you drive back down! you can check the visitor center webiste to see if the access road is open. also, we saw non 4x4 vehicles off the side of the road at an easter view point waiting there for the sun rise as well.

Snow in hawaii? I had to see for my self. Many people with snowboards going down the slopes! It was fun to see and something I can tell everyone at home about, yes there is snow in hawaii!

A nearly 14,000' mountain in the pacific that you can drive to the top of...! 5 stars of course! more like 5 billion stars! Enjoy!

We drove up on Dec 28th and it turned out that this was the first day the road to the summit had been open since July 15th when the TMT (Thirty Meter Telescope) protesters blocked the road! It felt a bit as if were trespassing when we passed the protesters and their camp, but they were calm and left us alone. We arrived at the top just in time for the beautiful sunset and saw the observatories bathed in the last sunlight of the day. Unfortunately the visitor center had closed at 6 pm due to their first day back to work (it's normally open till 10 pm) so we didn't get to explore the center nor look at the night sky through their telescope. It was complete chaos in the parking lot with cars coming and going and the "light pollution" from the many headlights was pretty bad. Despite this, we got a wonderful view of clear starry skies and the Milkyway and it was quite a humbling experience. It got cold fast after the sun set, so it is highly advisable to bring a warm jacket, hats and gloves. It took us about an hour and a half to drive from Waikoloa Village. No entrance fee. Use a 4WD in order to preserve the gravel road and drive respectfully.

I live on the Big Island and finally went to the summit on a clear cold day. Some snow recently fell so even more fun. Worth the long drive.

You can't go to the summit without a true 4x4 (and most rental companies won't let you go off-road with theirs), but the view from the visitor center area was amazing. We could not see the sunset from the peak there, due to clouds, but after sunset, the view was amazing! Be aware, the visitor center closed on 6/3/19, and will be closed until further notice, but there are porta-pots available in the parking area. Also, if you have small kids or anyone with breathing issues, it is not recommended to take them to the summit (nearly 15,000'). The visitor area is just shy of 10,000', and the air is not too thin at that level. Be aware, the temps up there at sunset can dip below 40F! At the summit, temps can be around freezing, even if temps at the coast are in the 80's!

I'm glad that upgraded my car to a jeep 4x4, because its so worth it to go up all the way to the summit. We wake up a 300am since, we were staying at kona and from the there its about 1 hour and 45 mins. The sunrise was spectacular and we even had a great treat from the Locals chanting to wake up the sun, it was priceless. Even, if you don't have a 4x4 you can get to the visitor center and have a nice view too. Another must to visit in this beautiful island.

A must see. 4x4 needed to get past the 7km gravel and 15% grade. Not an issue if you have a bike though. For the greatest sense of achievement, ride from Hilo. It's the world's longest climb on a road bike!

Had a free day and read that you can drive up to the visitor's center. We had a rental vehicle and no 4WD so we weren't planning on going ot the summit. Stopped at the visitor's center which is still closed due to COVID as of 3/27. Kids took a walking trail to a hill across from the visitor's center. Beautiful and breathtaking views. I cannot even imagine what it would be like at the top. Even if I had 4WD I am not sure I would have gone up all the way. I get really creeped out when I see guard rails and tree tops just underneath the guard rails in areas (LOL). Seriously, I don't like that part and freaked myself out going back down. I recommend before you leave the visitor's center that you read your car's manual to ensure you put it into lower gears to help on the car transmission and brakes......I've never ever had to use a low gear before, so I didn't quite know how to engage it on our rental vehicle. Definitely worth the view even if not all the way up! Tents and porta potties were at the entrance - supposedly there were protestors set up tents and spaces to protest over adding another telescope to the top......that was interesting - and appeared deserted.

We drove up to Mauna Kea for the sunset. There is a large parking lot next to the visitors center. The visitors center has public restrooms. Although we were in a 4WD vehicle, we opted not to go to the summit. It was really close to sunset when we arrived. We parked, walked across the road and followed other groups up to the top of a large hill. The viewing was spectacular. We went the first week in March. Even though we were having beach days, Mauna Kea was having winter storm warnings that week! You need warm clothes up there! As we drove up the sun was shining. We saw a rainbow end to end! When we parked and stepped out of the jeep it was cold! Think pants, jackets, layers, gloves! We walked through a cold mist. It almost seemed like snow flurries hiking up the hill. You need good shoes with traction. It’s a short but steep climb up the hill on dirt and rocks. The view is rewarding. We don’t regret not going to the actual summit. Coming down after the sunset it was even colder. We were hiking through clouds. It was nice to experience.

This is a scam tour with many ghost company names. DO NOT PURCHASE. Once you purchase you will get unrecognized charges to your credit card. This happened to me. It is important to recognize that scam operators often rely on social engineering tactics to manipulate consumers. This scam operator has breached the contract and not provided the tour as it was promised with my purchase. This made the passengers sign the document for taking pictures only but this was not the consent to operate the tour. Per information at Hawaiian Secretary of State Business-Cooperation, Hawaiian Eyes Tour is NOT an active and good standing company to operate a tour.Once I made a dispute claim to my credit card, Nature School shared all passengers contact and private information publicly by hiding/covering the company’s name “Hawaiian Eyes Tour” on the bottom of the document.

It is an extremely expensive tour—it is not worth it to pay $260. The tour guide West is the most arrogant, hostile and rude person. I asked his name-and-he said you will learn his name after seating when he gives an introduction. I have asked another question about the tour​, he said he has not come to this topic yet and that I should wait and be patient. He treats the customers like a kid or dog. He calls the passengers by categorizing their country of origin. One of the guests had a high altitude sickness and he just ignored him. Matter of fact there was no oxygen tank in the van while they had deceptively told on the tour description. At the summit, I was shivering because of the cold when he was taking my picture and he said "stop shaking, I took 10 pictures of you." They were deceptively describing on the tour side that they would give jackets but he has not offered me any—so, I used my own layers but other guests used the tour's clothings. Perhaps taking on-and-off layers during the trip, my sweater has been lost or mixed up with and I asked him if he can check his itineraries to look at my sweater. He told me if I was telling him he had stolen my sweater; and then he dumped the packed clothings to the parking lot and he said if I could put them in place-even he did not check them. At the end of the tour, he dumped all the customers to the parking lot in Target where it is dark and there is no public transportation available in the late night. The passengers are mostly international with language barrier and new to HI to navigate. I have never seen such a deceptive advertisement- This tour is not worth this much money to go to the top of the mountain in a poor quality van with a crazy tour guide.

Made it to the visitors center which sits at 9000 feet. Views were good and the center had information on the telescopes that are at the top. To go further up you need an AWD/4WD and to check in with the ranger (we knew this in advance). If on the way from Hilo-Kona worth a stop.

The road up to the visitors center is an awesome site, however the road is steep and has a few tight terns. Most people like we did stopped at the visitors center and did not go higher. You are high enough.

This was our 4th Mauna Kea Summit and Star Gazing Trip. We have always gone with Hawaii Forest and Trail, an award-winning eco-tour company. They just do things right. A delicious dinner from a Big Island favorite restaurant is included. This is served at 5000+ feet to help all the sea-level visitors time to acclimate to the 14,000 ft ascent ahead. After watching the sunset from the summit, you descend to a spot that is great for star-gazing. The vans are specially designed with extra brakes so safety has never concerned us. You will see crazy people make this trip in private or rental cars. That is really a bad idea. The guides (Jeff, this time) are always extremely knowledgeable, about Hawaiian history, geology, biology AND astronomy. Parkas and gloves are provided. It would be easy to just send our guests up by themselves, but we love this trip so much, we always go with them. Everyone agrees that this is one of the most special things they ever do in Hawaii.

Jeff was our tour guide/driver and did a fantastic job. I learned so much information about the volcanoes and the telescopes at Mauna Kea. The temperature at the summit is usually near freezing every night. The company provides parkas and gloves but those are not warm enough so you should bring more on your own (ie thermals, glove liners, ski socks, ear muffs or baklava, scarf, ski hats or beanie). The dinner provided of beef stew was delicious.

Very cool watching the sunset here. Great star gazing after everything was dark too. It does get a bit crowded with the tours. You can easily drive this yourself if you have a 4x4 vehicle.

After doing quite a bit of research, we decided to go as a family of 20 to check out the Mauna Kea Summit to watch the sunset & stargazing. It really is such a unique experience and a wonderful evening activity. Even if you are unsure or hesitant about the weather, layer layer layer and dress warm because it is freezing! The drive up was so cool because it truly felt like we were riding above the fog and clouds. You definitely need a 4 wheel drive vehicle as they do check your vehicle before allowing you to head up to the summit. Make sure you arrive at least an hour before the scheduled sunset time as they require you to wait 30 minutes at the visitor center before driving up so you can get acclimated to the altitude. The drive from the visitor center to the summit is about another 30 minutes. You can drive to the visitor center in any type of car but the sunset views are pretty non existent unless you hike up the hill across the street. The visitor center doesn’t have much except a handful of souvenirs so you pretty much have to sit in the car or bring your own folding chairs should you decide to sit outside. The night sky gets truly dark about an hour after the sun sets and then the stars light up and you can see the most stunning view of the Milky Way. I wish the cars in the parking area would turn their headlights off to avoid disrupting the views - that was the only bummer. It was definitely worth while, just come prepared! Oh and definitely make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading towards Mauna Kea as there are zero gas stations nearby.

Beautiful sunset head down to one of the resorts have dinner or drinks and watch the sun go down behind big beautiful waves

I go up to the summit on every trip to watch the sunset. Plenty of other reviews here with details but whether you do a tour or drive yourself (4x4 required) the sunset never disappoints!

This is a must do on your trip to hawaii.
We used a tour company who provided us with warm clothes (take the jackets - you will need them!) and transportation as this is a very early morning/late night drive to the park. Sunrise is surreal and beautiful experience. Don’t forget your sunglasses as it is advised to not look directly into the sun as it rises.
Don’t miss this!

I drove as far as the visitors' information center at about 9000 ft. Gorgeous views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. At times above the clouds. There iwas a high wind advisory and there had been icy conditions the night before, so I am not sure if 4 wheel drive is ALWAYS required beyond the Visitors' Center, or if it was just due to conditions. Definitely check the weather and road conditions before leaving flat land.

We made it 6 miles from the entrance to the visitor center and were already above the clouds. The views from the surrounding area were incredible. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, we had just under half a tank of gas in the rented jeep, which meant we would not be able to make it to the top and back. At that point, we still needed sweatshirts, so if you plan to go all the way, you'll need to dress warmer and have a full tank of gas before entering. Even if you can only make it to the Visitor's Center, the views are amazing, they have plenty of information to share, and there's even a souvenir shop!

We were hoping to catch the sunset and stars from the summit during our trip. We had several rainy days that were forecasted but still attempted to go and were so glad we did. It rained the majority of the drive to the volcano but once we started climbing higher we were above the clouds and the sun was shining. Once you arrive at the visitors center all cars are required to stop and check in here. If you are planning to go to the summit to watch the sunrise, you will need an all-wheel drive vehicle and an informational talk with the park ranger prior to your ascent. While we did have an all-wheel drive vehicle that could drive to the summit we chose to stay at the visitor’s center. The workers at the visitor’s center suggested this small “hike” up this hill to get the best view of the sunset, we did it and it was amazing. Afterwards we waited in our car and hung out at the visitor’s center waiting for the sun to completely set so we can stargaze. The temperature drops quickly so be sure to bring warm layers, it was about 40 degrees at the visitors center once the sun was completely gone. Another reason why we forwent going to the summit was 30 minutes after the sunsets is when you have to depart down the mountain to the visitors center. If you want to stargaze, parking is at the visitor’s center and started to fill up and eventually get full when everyone at the summit was coming down. Seeing the starts was beautiful. You can see the milky way with the naked eye. The visitor’s center also had a scheduled little informational talk in where they talked about the ancient Hawaiians using the stars for navigation and pointed those out along with visible constellations. They used a laser pointer that pointed directly what they wanted you to look at. Totally worth a visit and this visit we did was free.

We were scheduled to fo to the summit, but at the last minute we were notified that we were unable to do so thanks to the protestors.
Be sure to check before you plan anything . It is extremely unlikely you'll be able to do this anytime soon . Such a shame .

I was petrified and never made it to the top...my Son Tristan, who was driving said I would be disappointed and I am for making him turn around - I am afraid of high places...next time I visit I am going to be brave and go all the way! But the ride up the Mountain was exhilrating for sure and the view was spectacular.

4x4 vehicle is required to gain access beyond the visitor's centre, though the road was not too rough when we visited. A half hour stop is recommended at the visitor centre in order to acclimatize, but this was easily accomplished as the visitor centre was very interesting and informative. The summit was amazing, at 14 400 feet / 4200 metres! Lots of snow; cold and very windy. Sunglasses, a down jacket with a hood plus gloves were all that I needed. It was quite amusing watching the tour bus guests donning full alpine expedition suits! Sunset was spectacular. Park rangers asked us to leave at 19:00. Easy drive back to the visitor centre for stargazing, though next time I would park in one of the pullouts away from the visitor centre, as there was constantly vehicle headlights or waving flashlights from other tourists interrupting the blackness of night. Billions of stars, what a spectacular night!

This was one of the greatest ventures we experienced on the Big Island! Driving to the summit was well worth the steep road. Definitely rent a Jeep. Views were spectacular. The one knock on this experience is that there was NO signage or markers at the summit stating that you were there. We just followed people haphazardly around to the various telescopes. A marker that you could take your picture with would have been nice. This is supposedly the tallest volcano in Earth but who would know as there is no signage. Also, no visitor center for the week we were there as they were supposedly renovating but we saw no construction going on and it was a weekday. It would have been nice to get a souvenir. All in all well worth the drive. Bring all your provisions with you, including plenty of vehicle gas as there is not a store for 60 miles.

Unable to fulfill the scheduled trip to the 13,000 foot Mark due to protests by native Hawaiians even though illegal. Very disappointed. Got halfway up, six thousand feet. Wonderful night sky. Wish a trip to the visitor center had been possible. Be sure to verify the situation before you attempt to go.

Terribly cold and terribly windy but such a great treat. I was there for pictures of the telescopes and the sunset. Then down to the 12,500 foot level to see the stars in a crystal clear sky.

It is incredible to see so many telescopes.
The rangers will stop you at the visitor center to check if your car is OK to climb, be prepared.

We were booked on this trip, and started on the bus, but clouds and "ice" cancelled the trip. Not the operators fault, but be prepared, as we heard this can be cancelled about 1/3 of the time due to weather.

This tour is well worth going on. It takes a while to get there from Kona. Once you arrive, there is a mandatory waiting period at the visitor's center to adjust to the altitude. The rangers make sure everyone is safe. We traveled to the summit and watched a spectacular sunset from above the clouds. Dress warmly...it is cold and windy at the summit.

This was a very memorable experience! Our guide was very attentive, answered a constant barrage of questions. Got us to the top to see the incredible sunset and all observatories! Stargazing was spectacular! A truly magical day!

Love going to Mauna Kea. No light polution, spotted a satellite in the atmosphere with no magnification(bare eyes), saw things I'd never seen, National Forest Service setup in the parking lot superb! Very helpful people up there. Very simple yet had a profound impact on me! Go at dusk.

The drive was a bit long and bumpy, but once we were up there the views were lovely. I had wanted to see what was above the clouds and now I have! I wore athletic shorts and a tank, it was a bit too cool for that outfit. I suggest a jacket and pants for this trek! Worth the long bumpy ride tho!!

This trip up to Mauna Kea is a must when in the Big Island, it had the most amazing views and the opportunity to visit inside one of the telescopes, made it even better !!!

Stunning. We went up with Hawaii Forest and Trail group and it was well worth the price. The view is breathtaking regardless of time of day although we did manage to go at sunset. The air is thin and it is cold - you will need a winter jacket or many layers, pants, hat, and gloves. The telescopes that are used around the world are interesting to learn about and see while you are up there along with excellent stargazing (our group had telescopes but if you go solo make sure to bring one!). However, be respectful and leave before dark so you don't leave light pollution. Beware - the road is bumpy and unpaved part of the way and you NEED a 4 wheel drive vehicle to make it.
Fun fact: Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world!

We did a trip to the summit of Mauna Kea for sunset which was amazing. It was surreal, with the clouds looking like snow (mixed with the snow up there).
The sun set behind some clouds. Beautiful.
The drive up and down is not for the faint hearted. Better to let a tour driver who knows the road take the strain.

What a great experience! We rent a 4WD at the airport and went there ourselves! Totally worth it. Never been so high up in my life. Also we saw a fallen star that was shining all the colors and then melting, dissolving into the air- never ever have I seen a beauty like this!!! It was a pure magic.. also the sky up there is more purple . Love love love! Will do it again

We came to Hawaii nine years ago but didn’t have a four wheel drive so didn’t go up, this time things were very very different !!! We went up twice and both times have been blown away, the views are absolutely out of this world !!! Absolutely loved the top !!!

Amazing views from what feels like the top of the world. Quite strange to see a good bit of snow in Hawai'i. 4WD is a must-have to get to the top, along with a short 30+ minute stop at the visitor's center to get better acclimated. At the top, just getting out of the vehicle and walking around was causing us to get light-headed. I also proposed to my girlfriend while at the top, she said yes, during the day to be less crowded. Overall a breathtaking experience. Coming down was hard, which is where the 4WD low comes in handy.

The Big Island is one of the only places on earth where you can be sitting on the beach at lunch and then drive directly to the top of a 14,000 foot volcano for a ridiculously beautiful sunset.

It is literally breath taking. The drive up is worth the trip alone, watching the sunrise, priceless. usually cloud covered at the lower elevations which creates amazing sunrise and sunset views. The trails are well maintained but the altitude will whack you if you're not acclimated to 13,000 feet.

And very fishing speed enforcement in the down slope speed reductzone past the jct ~mark 340. Drive safe and smart.

Big Island Grand Circle Island Wasabi Tour with Richard! Heard more information about the big Island from Richard during the day than most of the reading about the big Island while there and before we went. He is knowledgeable, and always a humorous or interesting story to tell about the Big Island. Saw the 2 top of our list sights, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Loa Volcano crater and steam vents, and my favorite, Nāhuku - Thurston Lava Tube. Nice stops at Greenwell coffee farm with tasting cups of different coffees, loved the donut shop stop-YUM! And, the last stop at a farmers stand with fresh picked fruit sliced, diced or whole, just the way you like it. Thank you Wasabi Tours and Richard for a wonderful day in Hawaii.

This was an amazing natural wonder...but I have to say the folks at the visitors center really made us feel dumb. They were very adamant that we listen to all their lecture and answer questions about our rental car. We are very accustomed to dirt road driving and even after telling them, they went on and on. I guess some people who visit are idiots, but the drive up and down really isn’t as bad as they make it sound. The view at the top and all the way up is pretty epic. If you have a half day to adventure and want to say you have been that high up, it’s worth it.

Well worth the drive to the top if you hava an AND or 4x4. Views are stunning. Take warm clothes. You will not be disappointed. It was my 2nd favorite thing on the big island besides a helicopter tour with landing that cost a boatload.......and this is free. We even saw the A3 comet on the way down.

A terrific trip to the mountain top started with a visit to the Keck headquarters in Waimea. It was helpful to learn about the mission and technology before heading to the summit to see the real deal. We stopped at the information center at 9000 feet to acclimate and look around for a while. It was good to have a sturdy fwd for the died road to the top. Climbing, the views were increasingly impressive on a sunny day as we neared the snowy summit. We went inside the Keck dual-telescope facility where we could view the 10-meter mirror system being maneuvered around. Outside it was very windy with unmatched spectacular views in all directions. Coming down was a careful drive with more great views - an excellent outing.

This was a great experience (we went on one of the star gazing tours). The summit itself feels otehrworldy and makes for a very different kind of sunset.

Amazing! Do not miss this free beautiful site! We didn't make it all the way to the summit but we parked at the visitors center and walked up a nearby hill to watch the sunset. The walk was very easy not too far or hard. My 71 year old mother in law was able to do the walk but she definitely took it slowly. My 13 year old kids ran it and it took maybe 15 min to get up the hill. The views were unbelievable, I would recommend getting there an hour before sunset and planning to stay a while after until its dark. Careful on the drive back down, there was a sheep in the road for us! haha

Mauna Kea summit isn't currently accessible by car or tour bus. The building of a new 30-meter telescope is being protested with the access road blocked. This has been going on for over 2 months without a resolution in sight.

Helicopter rides are available.

We made the trip from Kona after reading how good tbe Sunset was a Mauna Kea. Worth the long drive, amazing sunset over dormant volcanoes.

So much to see here and we usually drive up on our visits to the Big Island. Right now, you cannot drive up because of the protest against the new 30 meter telescope. However, visiting the protest and protesters is as enlightening and valuable as a trip to the summit. As a very amateur astronomer and a person of science, I want to see the telescope built and I want to continue to visit the summit, see the sky, the sights and feel the awesome philosophical power of the place (which I have been lucky enough to feel on several visits). So I talked with a few people that know something of the protest; loo and behold, what I heard is the indigenous Hawaiians would let it be built even though it desecrates sacred ground if the powers that be took a couple of the obsolete instruments off of the mountain. Apparently, that has been discussed and promised, but not lived up to, as is the case with the government paying old promises of reparations for the land and building the road. It seems it is more about promises being broken, a lack of follow through and “graft and corruption that make money more important than peoples’ history and beliefs” that is at stake. Try to visit the summit, but visit the place and the people; it is worthwhile for them and you.

Rough ride but worth it! We rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle just for this trip. We stayed in Kona. We left around 4:30 to head to the summit for a projected 7:14 sunset. We made it, but cut it a little closer than I would have liked. It would have been nice to have more time to see the gift shop and visitor center before we drove on up to the summit. We stopped again afterward, but they dim the lights, so it was hard to even tell what shirt colors we were choosing. We had to use our flashlights on our phones. Lol

This was fabulous! We took the jeep all the way to the top, but be prepared for how cold it is! We later went down to the visitors center to view the stars after the sunset

Past the Visitors Center, driving about 8 miles in a low gear for power, you can get to the summit where all the telescopes are located. The drive is on unpaved rocky uneven road without guardrails. Above the clouds, it’s just breathtaking! There was snow on the road sides. Could see where snowboarders were. We were lucky to have a tour of the France Canada Univ of Hawaii telescope.

The lofty summit of Mauna Kea is almost always above the clouds, and thus is a spectacular spot to view the setting sun. You need a 4WD vehicle to get here (or go with a tour operator instead) — note that Rangers operate a checkpoint just past the visitor center and will only allow folks with such rigs continue on to the top. Be sure to follow the guidelines re acclimation, health concerns, etc. and also recognize that this an important place for native Hawaiians; visitors here should fully respect their culture and traditions when here. Worth seeing whenever you’re on the Big Island!

Got to go from sea and sand to snow in the same day. Would recommend the 4 wheel drive vehicle. The experience with altitude changes, the views, the Keck observatory, the protest city, all contributed to a memorable day.

Yes we were there, 4400 metres high, I still cant believe it that we managed to drive to that high mauntain. Just to compare it is about 14oo m higher than Germanys highest mauntain the Zugspitze in the Alps. The way up is really no problem. We had a 4w drive which is a must, the rangers at the ranger station control it. Believe me it is a must if you are on Bi, and no problem at all. We were in Bi the 3rd time and never dared to go but this time we managed and we are happy we did.

Mauna Kea Summit is a must do here on the big island. To get to the top it'll take a 4 wheel drive. The road is good, but just need the power and traction once in a while. Once at the top (over 13,000 ft), the views are stunning. Nice place to catch the sunrise or sunset. Typically youll will be over the cloud tops, and when you look south you can see Mauna Kea's sister mountain, Mauna Loa, and to the Northwest, Maui's 10,000 ft Haleakula. Make sure to bring warm weather clothing such as jackets and such. In the winter you can even find snow and snowboarders up there! Also you will see all of the international telescope stations.

There is a 9000 ft visitors station you can stop at on the way up and down from the top that has smaller, but very powerful telescopes you can view the planets and stars through with an astronomer to guide you. I saw the rings of Saturn for the first time! Really fun. The center will have coffee, tea and hot chocolate waiting for you.

Overall it's on the top of my list of things to do/see here on the Big Island.

An excellent tour! Our guide picked us up mid afternoon from Waikoloa Village, We travelled to the summit of Mauna Kea and stood amongst the observatories an watched the setting sun from above the clouds. Then the stars came out and we had an unobstructed view of the various constellations and planets. Our guides were very informative and entertaining bringing their own 12 and 20 inch telescopes for us to get personal with the stars.

Extremely disappointing to find that protestors had shut this off to visitors. 3 months and counting. Authorities need to get a grip.
££££s to visit Hawaii to see this and it's closed.

This was a once in a lifetime experience. So cool to see the sunset on the clouds and see the Milky Way with your bare eyes when stargazing.

An amazing visit to the summit of Mauna Kea and the evening was clear as a a bell - enough to be able to see Maui! Knowledgeable guide showed and explained the various observatories located at the summit. It was cold but, the gear they provide was more than adequate. After dark explanation and location of common stars in the night skies was super! Loved every minute!

FYI to others wondering about driving up. We were there July 2023 in a rental AWD and were NOT allowed up. Rangers had a literal checkpoint at the visitor center to inspect cars and required 4x4 or AWD…and also first and second manual gears. Logic is you need the car in those lower gears so “transmission/engine braking” slows the car and you do not have to ride the brakes on the way down. Our AWD only had a “low” mode which was not enough to satisfy the rangers. Also, they literally will stick their head in your car to view your transmission option. Be warned!

FYI photo attached is a rising moon, milky way, stars taken just with an iPhone 14 ProMax at the visitor center.Also, I did drive up to the summit in a normal 2WD car like 10 years ago. Absolutely beautiful and get up there if you can!

This was worth the rental of our 4x4 jeep. What an amazing experience to drive ALL the way to the top (the sacred peak is visible from the accessible "peak" and only seemed to be a few feet higher)! However, word of warning - most visitors will be coming from sea level or close to it. Remember, this is a huge altitude jump (13,700+ ft) from sea level. We were there for only a few minutes before feeling the effects of the altitude. The view is astounding, it's super cool to be above the clouds and it's amazing to see the different terrain. Just keep an eye on how you're feeling.

This is the place you can’t miss while you in Hawaii not just big island, we joined the tour, it was wonderful.

Gage is the best guide I’ve ever had. He is so knowledgeable, very kind, we saw all the stars with his telescope. It was the best experience because of him. He has answers to all the questions. I recommend him as a guide to everyone. Thank you so much for amazing experience.

Drove to first station at 9,000+ feet Well worth the effort and drive, especially if your a stargazer. Amazing view of milky way and stars. You'll rarely see at sea level.
Cold at 9,000 feet. Wear a cover (maybe 2). Laser pointing of stars and clusters by staff and worth the wait time to see. Very descriptive. Once in a lifetime opportunity
to see the galaxy.

We have been to Mauna Kea Summit several times and it has been great each time. The sunsets on the hill near the visitors center are amazing !! The hill has a trail that is easy to follow and other than being fairly steep, is not a difficult hike. The Visitors center is great, there are several volunteers with very good telescopes to view various celestial things. Beware it is very cold when the sun goes down !! Also, if you have a light that has a blue or red filter that is helpful for moving about after the sun goes down. White lights are definitely frowned upon because it diminishes night vision. At the time of this review, the Mauna Kea Summit and visitors center is closed, due to protestors/demonstrators. This issue is due to a new, larger 30 meter telescope replacing two existing telescopes. It appears that this demonstration will be resolved relatively soon and construction will continue. When the visitors center is open, there is no need for a guide for this adventure.

The drive up is the biggest non-issue. Every guide and forum warns you of horrible road and 4WD-only conditions.

The road may be bad if it's wet or frozen, but otherwise it's only ~4 miles of bumpy road. Last 4 mi to the top are paved. Overall takes 20 minutes if you take your time and make a couple of stops. The road doesn't have any huge rocks or potholes, so technically any SUV could make it. I made it in a Nissan Armada with a regular 4WD (not low, despite rangers asking you to set 4L going up). I saw people doing fine in Infiniti QX60. If you tried the road to Green Beach, then this is a Walmart parking lot compared to that.

What you really should watch out for is your speed and to not burn your brakes on the way down - that's where 4L could help. If you don't have a low gear, make a couple of stops and let your brakes cool.

This trip was incredible. When the stars came out, the view was like nothing I've seen in ages. Stars covered the sky and the Milky Way appeared. Our guide Hunter had a background in astronomy so he could provide insight into what we were seeing. He set up a telescope so we could see Alpha Centari and Antares. The altitude may be an issue for some people but the tour people are careful to let you know what to expect.

A fabulous experience - the views, experience and awe of the summit and surrounds are unforgettable. Rented a 4x4 and acclimatized at the visitor cent then trekked up to the summit. Note - a 4x4 is mandatory and there are Rangers that check the vehicle prior to the drive.

Sadly there are a lot of protesters camping at the access road to Mauna Kea summit. Not very attractive....

Just do it! I did it with a tour group and it was worth it. We went to the visitor centre and rested for an hour to give our bodies a chance to acclimatise, then we went to summit and watched the sunset - just a beautiful experience.

It was an amazing experience. It was cold as heck but it was worth it. It was such a clear sky at the top and to experience sunset at this elevation was majestic. Unfortunately, the clouds did t clear out and we couldn’t stargaze. Hunter was a great tour guide.

Awesome Awesome Awesome! Fernando of Mauna Kea Summit Adventures was so knowledgeable and provided us with interesting information and insights the whole time, of both Hawaiian History and the summit. We could tell the stars and summit were a real passion for him and he shared that effusively. He was a also a great safe driver and very customer service oriented on the food, snacks, parkas and also checking in to be sure we all felt ok. Rare and excellent guide! Oh- and I want his playlist of music. ;-)

The drive up was fascinating and I will say the twisty roads with amazing “moonscape” and drop-offs made me happy someone else was driving especially as we literally drove through the clouds. Bursting through on top and seeing the observatories with details on what they all do was nice, and then the sunset was glorious but the real star was literally the stars. We spent over an hour stargazing and while this varies by moon cycle we were lucky for a moonless night. On the other hand, we didn’t get to see the moon but we did see Saturn and many stars. HIGHLY RECOMMEND MAUNA KEA SUMMIT ADVENTURES! I saw other groups which looked good but this one was the real winner.

Make sure to bring warm clothing. If you don't have a proper 4 wheel drive (one with actual 4WD low gear), you won't be able to get up to the submit. However, at the mid point, there is a "mini peak" 10 minutes walk away where you can hike up and wait for the sunset /stars to come up. Not to be missed!

The most gorgeous sunset and wonderful stargazing. A must-see on the big island! One note: the Summit is 14,000 feet, so if altitude bothers you, beware.

Booked our tour with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures. Had a wonderful experience and the food was pretty good, too! Our guide (Travis) did an excellent job of providing local history and making the whole trip fun, entertaining, and educational. We learned a lot, witnessed a pretty amazing sunset, and had plenty of time to view multiple celestial objects through one of the large and pricey telescopes provided and set up by MKSA near the visitor center. (One telescope for each of the two vans in the tour.) Well executed and highly recommended.

were at the visiting center for sunset.. just drove back down on the road to catch the best view.. it was cold and very windy, and breathtaking! Stargazing was fabulous. We were lucky to witness for a while a presentation (sky viewing with telescope) by a visiting astronomer right outside the visiting center & store. did not make it to the top of Maunakea ( rented car... and very cold!)

The sunset was great. Star watching was even better. We saw the International Space station, shooting stars, and our guide pointed out constellations.

A must do while on the big island. I my opinion 4x4 is required, I had one and drive very easy, but need to take time and slow down.

Went to the summit and crater at sunset and stayed till dark. The lava glow was incredible. Memorable trip

Do yourself a favour and GO!!! The drive is not that hard, just prepare for it and drive slowly, especially on the way down. The sunset was beautiful, and it was really cool to see the observatories. Heading down, we stopped at the visitor center and, OMG, the stars...!!! So many, and we could easily see the Milky Way. Dress warm (in pants and warm jacket, but no need for winter parka) and just enjoy this unique place way above the clouds!

We went up to Mauna Kea with a Keck tour guide, it was amazing. Little bit of snow at the top, but the temps were mild in the 40's We were able to go inside and see Keck 1 & Keck 11 observatories, way too cool, like out of a movie.

I wasn't expecting to go to the summit (I thought the road was closed the day we went). Turns out, the road was open so we decided to drive up, and I'm so glad we did! The views are incredible and seeing the observatories (which were closed) was worth the drive. You definitely need a vehicle with 4WD. The air is noticeably thinner up there, so take your time and bring water and snacks.

Only made it as far as the visitor center, but well worth it. Got there in time to hike up the short hill to the west and watch the sunset, then stayed for the stars. Although we had light sweatshirts, it still got very cold. Make sure you have a flashlight or charged phone for the walk back to the parking lot. I would not recommend staying in the parking lot to view the stars because of the constant car lights being turned on. Had to take off a star because the visitor closed at 6:45 instead of 7, and they closed the restrooms as well, leaving only portapoties.

We did not go all the way to the top but stopped st the visitor center. We hiked around there in two areas and saw the silver Bush garden.

The center was very interesting.

The 45 minute hike took us up s large hill for an awesome view all around just before the clouds rolled in.

Best view of a sunset and stars I have ever seen! The guide was knowledgeable and fun- we had a great time.

What an awesome experience! Tours are so costly. Rented 4 wheel drive vehicle and drove myself with my 15 yo daughter. Totally doable. After sunset drove down to parking area 1/4 down dirt road. Parked next to tour bus to do stargazing. It was awesome.

Highest point for thousands of miles around....and so it does take some effort to get up there, even in a 4WD (necessary due to some steep off road sections of track). But totally worthwhile! Awesome 360 views! Inspirational that world-class science is happening up here!

We were driving from Waikoloa to Hilo on the Saddle Road, the Mauna Kea access road is on the way. We had not planned on stopping, but decided to go to the visitor center parking area to have a look. We expected decent enough views, then turn around. Got to visitor center area in about 15 minutes, no big views. We decided to go for the summit, we had 4 wheel drive, and are we glad we did! Took about 30 minutes, and the scenery and views are fantastic. I had sundress and windbreaker, boys wore shorts and sweatshirt. Yes, felt the altitude, but worth it for the experience.

Must do if you are on the big island! Make sure you climb the elevation slowly- we went up too fast and both had elevation headaches. Sunset was glorious and the stargazing was incredible. We could have stayed up here forever.

It was one of the greatest experiences of Hawaii. The way up is steep, but not dangerous. It is a regular gravel road for the first 4 miles and then the road transitions to a perfect asphalt road. The journey up takes about 20-30 minutes, down is longer due to engine braking. However, you must have a 4x4 car, the ranger check is before leaving the Visitor center. If you have this car, definitely drive up. At the top there is amazing silence, sunshine and breathtaking views of the entire island. You don't have to worry about the altitude, we didn't feel any difficulties.

A very wonderful place to drive to the top of the mountain and see the blue sky and see the clouds from above 13,700 feet it was truly site to see so amazing I also recommend this place and bring warm clothes cause it gets chilly and bring a lot of water

The contrasts and diversity on the Big Island are most obvious from Mona Kea where historic lava flows encountered historic glaciers! This is an opportunity to see stars at such a high altitude and with a truly dark sky.

Driving to the top of Mauna Kea is definitely recommended. Great views and everything else that everyone has said. Respect the "please don't hike to the top/summit" signs.

I made the drive in an AWD Hyundai Kona. This car was an automatic, with a "manual" mode where you could keep the car in low gears.

There was absolutely no problem getting up and down the summit. I saw a Ford Mustang driving up and down it as well. If you know what you are doing and the conditions are dry, then you don't need to worry about the entire conversation of "do I need a 4wd or not". The need for a 4wd car is very exaggerated by many people, including the car rental companies and the tour operators on the Island. If you go to the top in a car rental, then you will probably be out of contract, however, just check (triple check) with your own car insurance, they might not care if you are out of contract with the rental company, they will either cover you or not, regardless of if you are in a car rental or if you are on top of Mauna Kea.

The roads are steep, yes, but nothing you haven't seen if you have driven on washboard/gravel mountain roads before. If the conditions are not dry, then I can't say what the driving conditions are like. If you jam the breaks the entire way down, then you will probably run into trouble and get in an accident. But if you use the lowest gear you have and lightly apply the breaks, and pay attention, stay under 15 mph, then you will likely be okay.

We traveled up Mauna Kea for a sunset on February 25th 2023 with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures guide Fernando. His extensive knowledge of Big Island volcanic history (he seemed to know the year and origin of every lava flow that we passed on the way from Kona), Mauna Kea, the observatories at the top and just general astronomy was impressive!
We were glad that he was driving and not us, as the cinder road switchbacks past the visitor center were scary, not to mention driving back down after dark. And we passed a line of vehicles waiting for inspection on the way up, which could have been us had we driven instead.
The lasagna meal at the visitor center and the parkas and the star gazing afterwards were a nice touch. But the vistas and the sunset are memories that will last forever!
B

This was the focal point of our trip, prior to the day the mountain roadway closed to the public due to weather conditions past the visitors station . We had a four wheel drive jeep ,I at 77 was scared to death to go up that road that had opened , its tough but nut what my mind conjured up ,its rutted and steep but certainly drivable (slow and steady) . The view is indescribable it was clear very cold 31degreef F 12 mile winds and 19% humidity,,the picture you see on the website is what we saw I have the same ones on my person .It certainly was once in a lifetime scene standing above the clouds watching the sun go down.

Amazing place. Will strongly recommend going there to watch the sunset from above the clouds and also to see the stars after that

There is no cost / fees for this attraction

Mauna Kea has 2 main spots. The first one is the visitor center. You can drive to Mauna Kea's visitor center in any vehicle, The road to the visitor center is well paved ie a regular road and very straight forward to drive on. Even if you go up to the summit, you will need to come down here to watch the stars.

If you wish to go further up from the Visitor Center, then you can only do that on an AWD vehicle. The reason being that the road beyond Visitor Center is unpaved and somewhat difficult to drive on. You will be doing all the driving on this road using manual shift. The park rangers at the visitor center will talk to you and will confirm that you have been at the visitor center for at least 30 minutes before letting you go up. This is because they want to make sure that you have climatized at this altitude. They will also confirm that you dont have a heard condition, have not gone snorkeling that day etc. They will explain to you how to drive the car and what to do to come down. Coming down is more dangerous than going up but if you follow their advice and drive in a lower gear (ie 1st and sometimes 2nd) then you should be ok. The only thing that you will be doing at the summit will be to watch the sunset from above the clouds. It takes about 30 mins to go up to the summit from the visitor center. This is definitely worth it.

Immediately after the sunset, you will be asked to come down. The drive down is tricky and you will see that no one is rushing. Every one will be in their first or 2nd gear. It will take about 30 mins or so to come down to the visitor center. Once you are there, the park rangers will check the temp of your brakes to confirm that it is not overheating. They do that with a temp gauge and takes them approx 30 secs per car to get the reading.

If you want to see the stars, and you should. then you will do that from the visitor center. There will be a staff member who will explain the various star configurations using a laser pointer. Its pretty cool. The presentation is informal and lasted for about 45 mins. The staff member was very nice. She hung around afterwards for about an hour to answer any qs and for chit chats

It gets really cold up there at the summit and at visitor center , so you must bring a jacket and dress for the temps to be around 0C / 32 F. You can go inside to the visitor center to get warmed up though. Everyone does that.

When at visitor center, you should always park in designated parking areas. This is extremely important for your safety as the lava around you may not be stable. Not worth taking a chance.

I will definitely recommend this

We tried a couple of times to make it to the top, the weather finally cooperated and we were able to make it to the summit. The views were amazing! Felt like we were on top of the world, and we only had to drive up! The Rangers at the gate gave advice and tips for driving. It was super easy as long as you followed directions. Really cool to see all the observation stations on the summit. It was very cold and windy on the summit. Bundle up! Definitely worth it in my opinion! Make sure to acclimate to the high altitude to avoid getting sick. We hiked a little on the summit and felt a little light headed. Be cautious!

A great place to visit. the view was amazing from 9200 feet. Could not go to the top unless your are in a 4x4 wheel drive. But still well worth the trip.

Rented a Jeep from Turo and drove to the summit for a sunset view on Christmas Day. Absolutely gorgeous views. Drive was not difficult at all. Just slow and easy, especially on the unpaved part. Rangers at the visitor center advised how to put the Jeep in low gear and keep it in low gear until return to the visitor center. Summit was COLD so be dressed for the temperature. Nothing crazy just a good jacket, hat and gloves. Memorable visit.

You need 4 wheel drive... Don't take a sedan.
Stunning scenery, glorious sunset.
Cold , cold, cold. Dress warm.
Bucket list event.

We went to the Mauna Kea Summit to see a beautiful sunset and an incredible sky full of stars. We were not disappointed. However, you should be prepared for the trip. Part of the road to the summit is unpaved and requires four-wheel drive vehicles. We were in an old, very shakey bus. I recommend using one of the luxury vans. In addition, the peak is over 13,500 feet. Do your research and understand the precautions. FYI - we had a nice dinner on the way up the mountain.
An unexpected bonus was to see the many optical and radio telescopes near the top. This was very facinating to me, particularly since one of the telescope participated in getting a picture of a black hole.
The sunset was nice, but for me personally, it was not spiritual or earth-shaking or a big deal. I enjoy sunsets with clouds and vibrant colors.
The real thrill was seeing the stars. About 30-40 minutes after sunset, the stars really come out. There are very few places in the U.S. to see so many stars. The more you look, the more stars just keep popping out. The guide was very helpful in describing the stars and constellations. This is the part of the trip that may be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity. It was cold (about 20 degrees F), but the view was worth it. In short, the night sky was a 6 out of 5, the sunset was 4 out of 5, learning about the telescopes with 5 out of 5, and the bumpy trip with concerns of altitude sickness was a 1 out of 5.
Yes, I would do it again but only in a luxury van.

As we drove through fog and rain to Mauna Kea, we thought it was a wasted trip. Half way to the visitor center, we went above the clouds into brilliant sunshine. The summit is incredible, as is the drive up. You must have a 4 wheel drive or take a tour. We learned so much about the world famous telescopes. The view is amazing. It is cold and windy, so take warm clothes. Well worth the drive!

I have been to the top several times. First, with Hawai’i Forest and Trail 17 years ago.
It was cloudy and we saw nothing except the outside of the telescopes. Since, we have been inside 2 of the buildings. My husband is on their boards/committees. Each time the sky was clear and it was fantastic!
The visitor center on the way up is worth visiting.

Wonderful scenery.Learn Astronomy and Geography Big Island.
Understand drigent space technology。Understand space technonlogy engineer's tough challenge.
It was very cold at night at summit.

We drove up to the summit in a rental jeep - pretty easy drive, steep and on a dirt road for part of the way. There was snow at the top, and the views were spectacular. I would definitely recommend this place. Bring a warm coat and hat - the temps were mid-30s F and the wind was blowing.

Dress for arctic conditions - there's ice and snow at the summit and it's even colder when the sun goes down.
A brilliant experience - legendary sunsets and the stargazing was fantastic - the only place I have ever been to get a better view of the Milky Way was up Kilimanjaro.
Recommended. Bring more thermals than you think you'll need, and hire a Jeep.

It was my wife's birthday, Feb 4th and going to the summit of Mauna Kea was the plan to start the day. We began with an early pickup from our hotel, at 0340 AM. Metyo, our driver and guide for the day was incredible, he was knowledge of the island and of Mauna Kea was impressive. Please forgive me for butchering your name.
It is very cold at the summit. They provided parkas & gloves, but you really need long pants and long sleeves shirts, closed toed shoes and maybe a beanie. Ou t was about 30 degrees at the top. They provided hot coffee, mochas, and breakfast a bit later. At the summit we were treated to a rare sight, a meteor and what we found out later was a space-x launch of approximately 20 satellites streaking across the sky. The night was alive with beautiful stars and constellations. It felt like you could reach out and touch them. VERY BEAUTIFUL! Next time, we'll go at sunset.

We just can’t get over the way the clouds look like a river in the sky! The tallest mountain in the world (from base to top, beats Mt. Everest), the thin air does creep up on you! Bring a winter jacket as it’s very cold, even during the peak summer months! Best to view in the summer as they close it during the winter and rainy months (very dangerous during those times).

Tallest mountain in the world, measured for the base below sea level. Observatories of different flavors, some can be visited with proper arrangements. There is snow in the winter and skiing is possible if you have your own equipment and friends to shuttle up and down. Hiking can be done but remember it is high altitude with little air and tote your own water. Barren landscape with spectacular views on a good day, otherwise above the clouds. Clean air and lack of light pollution facilitates fabulous night skies; Ranger station below the summit offers guided night sky tours. Limited night access to the summit. In theory and practice your rental car can make it to the top but steep dirt roads with no guard rails recommend a cautious approach. Currently embroiled in controversy with demonstrations of planned new observatory.

We actually came to the visitor center earlier in the week to see the beautiful stars at night. But it took a few more days to visit the summit while traveling through Saddle Road in the morning.

I parked the car at the visitor center and approached the ranger guarding the road up hill. He asked me 1. if I have a 4WD, 2. to wait 30 minutes to climatize, and 3. if I’ve been to Waipio or Green Sand Beach. I did not ask him why but apparently one is not allowed to drive up to the summit if the car is muddy. This was a surprise as I have not seen that being a requirement from all my research.

After 30 minutes of waiting, I drove to the ranger and he ensured that the car has been put to 4WD Low and let me go up hill. The view was unreal as we rose above the clouds. Interestingly, paved road appeared as we neared the top.

Perhaps because of the snow, it was serenely quiet at the summit. I felt a slight dizziness and was out of breath initially walking around the telescope. The dizziness passed after 10-15 minutes. My daughter did not feel this effect.

As we flew to Hawaii to escape the snow, we did not linger long at the summit like some other groups who throughly enjoyed themselves in the snowfields. We would like to come back when it’s warmer to explore the trails however.

It definitely takes your breath away for more than one reason that's for sure. A long, steep drive on unsealed roads. 4x4 would be ideal, myself and a mate went up in a Chevy Cruze. We made it, but felt uncomfortable the whole time. It's sooo cold too. Must do it!! Views are incredible!!

The summit is incredible - overlooking mountains, clouds and oceans. Maui's Haleakala is in the distance as is Mauna Loa. The telescopes are magnificent and the snow that was on the summit made it a pretty incredible experience. The sunset was beautiful and we stayed up on the summit until about 715pm when we headed back down to the visitor center for stargazing. We're required to get off the summit at this time by the rangers due to space observations of the telescopes.

The weather down in Kailua-Kona was cloudy, but the summit was crystal clear. I'd check the web cams provided by the University of Hawaii for real time info on summit conditions.

We booked a tour through Hawaii Island Holidays and it was $259 per person and about a 7 hour tour in all with stargazing and sunset included with transit from Kailua-Kona.

This is an all-day/into the night journey that is worth every minute. The mountain is famous for its size and meaning to the native Hawaiians; the work that is being done by the astronomers and other scientists is unreal.

Travis was an amazing guy! He was very knowledgeable about all the Big Island legends and made sure we were all taken care of throughout the journey! This was the highlight of our trip!

On Sept 13, 2021, I drove to the summit with my wife in an AWD rental. It was a Ford Flex Limited. The transmission has an option for S (Sport) which lets you change gears manually (there's a +/- button on the shifter).
I've read a lot of posts about other people's experiences and the difficulty of doing this with 4x4 vs AWD vs FWD, so I got a good picture of what to expect. There was a ranger there and he would not allow FWD cars. He would explain to each driver how to use the lower gear and check for fuel level (you need more than half a tank to let you go). Oh...and he was also strongly advising against children younger than 17.
The drive up is easier than down. We wend up around 5 pm, watched the sunset, then drove down at 7pm (which is night time in Hi). I drove up in auto at about 20-25 mi/h almost half way, then, when the car was struggling and it felt like it had no power, I switched in S and kept it in second gear for most of the way. (I was switching into third on the very few areas where the road was not very steep).
Just for reference, once the car gets to like 10 mi/h, switch into second gear, as the first gear is just for putting it in motion. Third gear is when you get to 30-40 mi/h, but you won't need it.
Like everyone else said, the problem is descending the mountain, when you can lose your brakes if you keep them engaged all the time and you can't force the engine to stay into a lower gear. I kept in second the WHOLE way down, driving at 15-20 mi/h and I took my foot off the breaks every time the steepness of the mountain allowed it.
What nobody mentioned, is that there are small parking lots on the side of the road where you can stop for 10 min to let your brakes cool down if you need to (I counted at least 2 and people were stopping for star gazing). If the smell from the engine or brakes gets bad, definitely stop.
The people that warn about the dangers are right, and there was a warning sign at the visitor center that had a lot of pictures of flipped Wranglers (to my surprise) in addition to the Versa's that are mentioned around here.
So yeah, it's difficult but very doable. You need patience and knowledge of what to expect. And it's soo worth it!

Watching the sun go down over the heavens was a spiritual event. I felt as though all my loved ones who have passed were there with me experiencing the achingly beautiful glorious simplicity of that sunset.

Shin was an awesome guide and shared so much interesting information with us. The views were out of this world! It was so cool to be at the balmy beautiful beach on one day and then the next day be up amongst the clouds seeing the ocean from the top of the world. The sky was massive and the stars were so bright.

Being at the top of Mauna Kea is a thrill you have to experience for yourself. You must acclimate yourself at the 9,000 feet center, and please drink water and be hydrated before you go.

Truly a humbling experience.
There is a visitors center about 9000 feet, its recommended you stop there for half hour to get acclimatized to the altitude.
From there up the next 6000 feet is a dirt road and 4x4 vehicle is highly recommended. The road is steep, bumpy and loose gravel.
Once at the summit your looking down on the clouds and you can feel the 40% less oxygen up there.
Highly recommended.

Do not rent high end car - Mauna Kea - the road - is closed to visitors. No need to drive Summit road - instead go south road from Kona to Heli.

We were on top of the world, literally at 13768 feet! Feels like you are on Mars with no vegetation, red earth and the observatory all around u, opening up at sunset to begin tracking the skies.

You gotta get their way early to see the sunset. We arrived a bit late and the staff tells you there’s not enough time to get to the top for the sunset so we parked at the visitor center, which was basically gridlock when we arrived and then we walked to the little overlook across the street and watch the sunset.

the protester's have completely blocked access to the road. there is no going up at all. you can not go up to visitor center.

Who knew there were mountains in Hawaii? And a world famous observatory! Beautiful scenery on the bus ride up, delicious dinner served picnic style in a tent (good thing, as it was raining the day we were there), calling upon storied Hawaiian spirits to allow us to come, and thankfully, warm parkas and gloves as we wound around the mountain above the clouds. Very accommodating to our special needs adult in our group.We really felt the reality of riding on a big ball through a universe of stars.

This should be at the top of your tour list for the big island! If you have any anxiety or breathing issues you should NOT do this tour as you will only ruin it for the rest of your group. Breathing becomes difficult as you summit and you definitely have a dizzy feeling come over you.
Dress warm is an understatement, you will need to have warm winter jackets and every point on your body covered do to cold temperatures and wind.

Such a gorgeous view, standing above the clouds with the dome-shaped observatories was like the setting out of a sci-fi movie. So unique! Perfect location for watching the sunset (when else will you witness the sunset ABOVE the clouds??). The air is no thinner than on Pike's Peak, but the MAJOR difference is that you go up in elevation from sea level to 14,000 feet in a matter of a few hours. So the air feels so. much. thinner. I couldn't even get out of the car and walk around (although my husband could, but he started getting a headache). If you stay for sunset, stop on your way back down the mountain, at a parking area just before you get back to the visitor's center, and wait until dusk fades out. Then look at the stars. Absolutely stunning! You can apparently see something like 85% of all stars that are visible to Earth from Mauna Kea. And we could just make out that milky hue of the galaxy, like what you see only in photos. Awe inspiring.

Mauna Kea is the " tallest mountain " in the world if measured from the bottom of the ocean. I drove up to the Summit in a 4X4 jeep - part of the road is gravel- but , the drive is not too hard.
My family hiked up -
iot is HARD hike- they took 7 hours , as did other hikers. you start at 9000 Ft, the visitors center, and hike upto 13800
The Good thing is - there is Cell signal all over the area, the Rangers are Extremely helpful.
the view is beautiful but I did not like the Observatories - as they do give it a Sci-fi movie like feel.

We arrived at the visitors centre but due to bad weather conditions, hurricane winds, rain, snow and washed out roadways we were unable to continue. However, the views were spectacular.

You must have a 4-wheel drive to get to the summit. It's bumpy and rocky and slow going but it is so worth it. The day we went, there was snow on the Summit. We drove up to where the Observatories were and did an overall photo but the attraction is the view and the snow. Hopefully, you'll be able to experience it. So many reviews I read in advance talked about going up on the mountain at night and seeing the stars but I have to tell you as bumpy as it was going up in the day, I can't imagine how frightening it is at night. If that's your thing, then by all means, do it! You might have to acclimate to the altitude so be mindful of that. If you go straight up, you can experience side affects and they post signs about it as you drive up. Some people stopped at the visitors center part of the way up to rest before going further but we were limited on time. Hopefully, the mountain won't be clouded over and you'll get a great view. It's a sacred space for the Hawaiians so be respectful of the surrounding areas.

We have been going to the Big Island for the past 5 years as a family. And, for the past 5 years, I have tried to get my family to go up to the top of Mauna Kea for the sun rise. We always try to go on our first day in Hawaii since we haven't yet adjusted to the time. For the first 3 years I couldn't get anyone interested enough or moving fast enough to get there from Waikoloa. Last year, we got up early, we got in the car early and we got part way up the hill before we ran out of gas - yes, we accepted a giant rental car with only a quarter tank of gas in it, and yes, we probably could have made it to the top but we didn't know the car or tank capacity well enough to trust that we would make it back down again without having to coast the whole way. So, this year, we made sure that we had all wheel drive in our rental car, a full tank of gas and were ready to go early enough to make it to the top before sunrise - and yep, you've seen the other reviews for August 2019, the protesters have camped out at the base of the mountain and there is a full blockade to the entry road. I give the experience a 4/5 because it is still an adventure and still a goal for us and I'm still sure that it is beautiful up there even if we have yet to make it to the top. Those protesters have gumption and stamina - it is really cold up there and they believe strongly in the land being sacred.

This place is epic. Bring your jackets! Much colder than the thousands of feet below on the beaches. Amazing sunset. You feel like you are on another planet. 20 minute hike to prime viewing spot and parking lot with gift shop.

There are two (maybe more) companies doing astronomy based tours to the mountain. The one we had reserved from home was cancelled due to clouds. We couldn't reschedule with them due to them being booked up, but did find another, for the night we wanted. It was $70 cheaper, but not as nice I suspect. The trip up & down were fine, the summit time was good and the stargazing was OK, the food going up left much to be desired.

Based on reviews was somwhat concerned about the drive up on the summit road and had originally considered buying a tour but not even necessary. The road is gravel and paved at the top, just rent a jeep 4x4 so you can have the 4Low gear coming down to keep the brakes from getting hot. Watched the sunset and was very beautiful. Sky was too cloudy at the visitor center to see but clear at the summit. Temp was about 40F in August.
The only issue we had was with the ranger who carelessly wanted to tailgate us on the descent. There is a lot of instruction and rhetoric given at the beginning of the ascent about how to put your vehicle in low gear and go very slow coming back down (10-15 mph max), however, when we were coming down Mr. Ranger couldn't help himself and chose to ride 10' off our rear bumper during the steepest portion of the decent. I know he probably treks that road multiple times per day but really doesn't justify dangerous driving.

Loved our trip to the summit of Mauna Kea! Between the stories of high altitude sickness, and the rugged road to get there I was a bit nervous about traveling to the summit. However, in the end it was not as intimidating as I thought it would be. We followed all the rules (waiting at the visitor center for 30 minutes before going up, making sure we had plenty of water, full tank of gas and an appropriate 4wd vehicle) and had no issues. The sunset at the summit was stunning and then once the stars came out (you have to leave the summit just after sunset, but can travel down a bit to one of the parking lots) you get another amazing show. I have never seen so many stars/planets before and had perfect view of the Milky Way. Highly recommend this trip despite the long travel and preparation required.

Excellent location and unique experience to view night sky from 14000 ft. We did not have any altitude sickness.

We visited with the Hawaii Forest and Trails group and have nothing but good things to say about the tour. Our tour guide, Justin, was incredibly knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and astronomy. He provided us a historical perspective regarding the ongoing issues with the observatories and, after dark, lead an amazing tour of the stars with a view you can only find on this mountain. The tour company provided all the necessary clothing for the summit (it was 27F) and provided some timely hot chocolate and brownies. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Truly a Life Experience

Volcano Park and the Mauna Kea summit were fascinating. Our family party of seven with a mobility challenged senior had no difficulty in exploring the various attractions (except the lava tubes which had stairs). Even the 2 mile walk to the summit to view the active volcano was no problem - even with the last 200 yards of gravelled walkway,

The park is very well laid out with plenty of signage and interpretive postings. Everything was well maintained and very clean.

The 30 dollar entry fee for our entire group was very reasonable for the experience.

We did the drive up to the peak of Mauna Kea twice. The first time we arrived a little late and missed what is described as the best sunset on the island.

The peak of Mauna Kea is home to over a dozen telescopes and at least 6-7 huge structures housing these very sophisticated telescopes which belong to various countries along with national institutions and with NASA.

Reaching the peak requires a 4x4 vehicle and isn’t for the feint hearted. The road is steep, several miles of which is sand, and the altitude is high (13,700 feet or 4,200 meters) above sea level. So the air is thing and you need to spend time acclimating on the way up. They recommend stopping at the 9,200’ station (and the last bathroom stop) and doing so for 30 mins.

Once you get to the top, the experience is worth the effort. Views for 50+ miles, sitting above the clouds, and a sunset second to none. The terrain also feels somewhat Martian. Amazing!

This was an outstanding tour experience that made the best of changing weather conditions. Appreciated that the tour guides were able to adapt and find us a stunning location for stargazing when the fog rolled in at the summit.

Do your research in advance to know what to expect in terms of the process for driving up and the car and health requirements. The road up was very manageable in our opinion. The views at the top were SO spectacular and the sunset was one of the coolest we have ever seen.

Gage was a fantastic tour guide. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Make sure to dress as instructed, quite cold at the top. Well worth the cold. Amazing view of sunset going down into the clouds. Only outdone by the incredible stars later on.

Protesters have blocked the road....what a shame...ruining the experience. You cant get to the observatories nor the visitors center. Avoid the area

The sunset in the picture doesn't look real, but it actually is! Had to see it for myself. Loved our tour guide, Sean. He was informative, super friendly, and funny. He made a long drive up a challenging hill entertaining for everyone. We drove to the Haleakala Summit in Maui and stayed at Volcanoes National Park--both were fantastic. So was this tour. Definitely worth the trip, and shoutout to Sean for making it an even better experience! We booked through Viator and appreciate their help.

From the warm sand of the beach to the snow covered peaks with countless observatories, you too can easily get there with 4 wheel drive! Though you can not get inside the observatories, you can choose to either watch sun up or sundown. Bring warm layers. And keep hydrated. But most of all, enjoy the incredible views!

I visited the Big Island in March 2020, and Mauna Kea was an absolute highlight of the trip. The drive to the summit is definitely worth it, as the views are incredible and the telescope domes are pretty fascinating to look at as well.

Legally, you have to have a vehicle with low range 4WD to drive the access road (per the new rules governing the Mauna Kea summit adopted earlier this year). This is not because of the road surface, which is a mix of pavement and graded dirt road, but because of the steepness of the road. Low range gearing is important to control your speed on the descent without burning up your brakes, same as with the road into Waipi'o Valley.

While you will find plenty of reviews and comments online telling you not to take a rental car up there, the reality is it is perfectly safe and you do not need some special rental from Harpers etc. Any Jeep rented from a mainstream rental company can do it easily (as of early 2020, just about every rental company was renting Jeep Wrangler JLUs). Just make sure to put it in 4-Low on the way down and use manual gear selection to keep it in 2nd or 3rd gear. And know you will be responsible for any damage to the vehicle if you get in an accident.

If you are an experienced off-roader and would like to make a full-day off-road adventure of your trip to Mauna Kea, there is an off-road trail that begins just below the visitor center called R-1 Road. This road takes you on an approximately 35 mile loop around the entire back side of Mauna Kea, crossing a variety of fascinating terrain including a Silversword grove, red lava landscapes that look like you're on Mars, and desert washes reminiscent of Utah or Arizona.

It's not a difficult trail, but it is definitely a true 4WD road, with a few rocky climbs and descents that will require careful tire placement to avoid scraping your undercarriage. I'd rate it about a 3 on the usual 1-10 off-road difficulty scale. I wouldn't recommend this trail for the average tourist, but if you're an experienced off-road driver willing to take the risk, it's absolutely worth it.

Amazing views above the clouds at the volcano summit. It's a little rough getting up there--I recommend a tour. Lots of good info and great views of the night sky.

We were not on a tour but went on our own to Mauna Kea, a long awaited Hawaiian travel goal. We now advise seniors or anyone with health issues to be careful making this trip. We have never had breathing issues but definitely felt light headed by the time we made it up to the parking lot. The altitude is deceiving. In addition, the ride from the Waikoloa area took longer than expected, and dusk was suddenly upon us, along with heavy fog about 3/4 of the way up the mountain road. Between the physical reaction and the fear that we may have a car accident in the dark, we decided to return to our timeshare without going all the way up to the summit. We were quite disappointed, so recommend that visitors plan carefully and understand the implications of visiting this intriguing site.

Plan ahead. You will need to arrive at visitor center 45-60 min before sunset. They ask you to wait for 20 min there, then you can drive another 15-20 min to the top. While waiting you can go to visitor center gift shop. Some snacks and drinks. And sometimes educational video inside about the area. Bathrooms and port-a-potty’s available at visitor center.
Then drive to the top. The sunset is just amazing! We usually bring our winter coats, hats, gloves. You Will need 4WD vehicle with low gear for coming down. Miles 1-4 from visitor center is rough terrain. Then paved next 1-2 miles. Sunset takes about 90 seconds once it hits horizon so be ready. Some short hikes available at top. Respect sacred grounds nearby.
Some port a pottys available at top. Huge telescopes begin to move shortly after sunset so it’s neat to see them in action.
After sunset come down in low gear. They check your breaks at the end and if too hot you need to wait at visitor center another 30-45 min. Sometimes tours have laser with stargazing tours. If you don’t have the equipment you can also book through local tour companies.
If you have the vehicle and clothing it’s just the gas to get there! No charge.

First of all I have to tell you that I consider myself as a man of science and not the man of faith.

Therefore I can't sympathize with the protesters. We paid a huge amount of money to visit Hawaii from literally the other side of the globe. Even if that would be the first telescope to be built on the mountain I would not understand why they don't allow visitors up. But COME ON THERE ARE ALREADY MORE THAN A DOZEN TELESCOPES ON THE MOUNTAIN.

It's just ridiculous. This is not the "aloha" we were promised from the locals.

They ruined one of the most anticipated parts of our trip.

Did the sunset and star watching. It's one of the clearest places on earth. 90% of all stars visible from earth are visible from Mauna Kea. It felt like you could reach out and touch the Milky Way. Magical.

We decided to take the drive up to the visitor center. There is a lot of information to get just there. We didn’t go up to the summit. Didn’t have a four wheel drive.

We went with a Tour company to take us up to the Summit (sunset).
Amazing experience & breathtaking views. The tour company even brought a telescope - powerful enough to see the intricate details of the moon!
It was worth having a tour company, because you can learn all the history behind the Summit.

We visited Mauna Kea on our last day on the big island. We rented a keep so we were able to drive up Mauna Kea. There were several people that asked us for rides to the top but we declined as I was unsure if we would go to the top or not. There are lookouts and small trails near the visitor and I feel like most people without a 4 wheel drive would get much of the same experience from the visitor center. When driving on Mauna Kea make sure to use 4L. There will be a ranger that will check your car before you go up and after you go down. There are currently no tours in the telescope buildings up top. Be sure to fill tank up before you leave to Mauna Kea, wash car if you have dirt or sand from an another area on the island, bring food and snacks, bring clothes for cold weather, wear sunscreen because there is more sun exposure. I would wear long sleeve and pants, and hat if you have one even in hot weather here to prevent sunburn.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea! Bring warm clothing & an insulated mug with hot tea! Braving the bumpy ride & cold are well worth it!

A must visit place just for the location and the sheer natural beauty. Make sure to have cold weather clothing and check the web-site for the visitor center hours.

What a disappointment views are ok but really should not be rated this high on the list for things to do on the Big Island.

We drove up to Mauna Kea without really understanding what to expect. We wanted to watch the sunset and see some stars. The sunset was spectacular! It's a must-do activity while on Big Island.

Tips ::
1. The road signs say 4wd only for the dirt road but a 2wd vehicle can make the drive fine with some caution, just go slow in 1st gear and be smart. Try not to ride the brake on the way back down.

2. Your rental car probably has 35-40 pounds of pressure in the tires. Reduce tire pressure to 28-25 and the ride will be more comfortable and your car won't skip all over the place in turns. We had a Jeep so it was easy, 25lb in the tires and no issues. There is a Texaco 15 miles from the base of the mountain to fill back up.

3. Bring warm clothes. Even in June it was in the 30s at 13,850 feet!

4. Go back down to 8,000 feet or lower to look at the stars, the reduced oxygen levels at the top, 13,850 feet, actually make it harder for your eyes to register all the stars.

Take your time going up so you can acclimate yourself to the high altitude.
But amazing views at the summit are sure to be had.

Be sure to go for sunset. Amazing views above the clouds. You do need a 4-wheel drive or your brakes can overheat at descent. We didn't have that but somehow slipped through the cracks. Coming down our brake temperature was tested and we were required to pull over and wait 30 minutes. That wasn't a problem as we planned to park at the Visitor's Center and enjoy the incredible night sky. I don't recommend going without having a 4-wheel drive as it could be dangerous (or just stop at Visitor Center. There is a good size hill you can climb from there). Part of our group remained there as their children were not allowed up top due to altitude. We saw incredible shooting stars. Also, there wasn't a hiking trail to the top of Mauna Kea.

4205m Mauna(Maintain) !! I used Japanese tour company with nice Van.
At this moment, Mauna Kea access road is close as TMT issue.
But if again we will have a chance to go there, I will go! But don't forget respect Mauna and appreciate!

We trekked across the road and up a small cinder cone for an otherworldly sunset. This awe-inspiring experience is something we try on each visit to the Big Island. There's always something new to experience and you will understand why this is a sacred place for Hawaiians.

We had such an incredible experience going to the Mauna Kea at sunset. We almost decided to skip this, but we met a couple that said it was one of the best experiences they had. They convinced us to go, and we are so glad they did!! The drive from our hotel to the entrance wasn't too bad. We definitely could feel the elevation difference, so we just made sure to go slow. Once we hit the entrance, it was a steep way up, but fully paved. We pulled off at one point to take a beautiful picture of the sunset. Just continue going up slowly. Feel free to let other cars pass you, too. Once we were at the visitor center, we realized there just wasn't enough time to acclimate ourselves for about a half hour before the trek up to the summit. The visitor center doesn't have many lights, but it still didn't make it fully dark. We noticed some people using their phone flashlights to go up a hill right across from the visitor center, so we decided to do that, too, and we are SO glad we did! It wasn't too bad of a hike up the hill, just go slowly because of the oxygen levels in the air. Once at the top, we turned off our flashlight and were absolutely AMAZED by the view. You could see the Milky Way galaxy, a planet (I can't remember which one now), and so many incredible stars. If you are nervous about the summit/elevation change/4WD, I think you can literally see just as well from here. Don't skip out on this. It is absolutely incredible. I even saw a shooting star on our walk back down! Just make sure to bring a jacket, gloves, pants, and sneakers.

Very rude customer service. Please be aware that you are paid to do your job. I wouldn’t book this tour if other tours were available.

We celebrated Christmas Day by driving up to the summit of Mauna Kea. If you are comfortable driving in 4WD, then you should be okay. It is very bumpy and a 20% grade. There was snow so we had a white Christmas! You can't enter any of the observatories, but it's amazing to be up so high and see so clearly all around. We took great photos of everything. We didn't go for stargazing, as that's actually better from the visitor center or even the rest area on the Saddle Road before you head up. Having a snowball fight, watching others (more comfortable with the altitude) boogie board, surf, and snowboard down the hills there at the top was awesome. There were people in chairs watching the boarders, drinking hot choc and champagne. We took pics of all the observatories, and got one in front of the NASA one - pretty cool! There is a porta potty up at the top. Probably the highlight of the trip. And it's free!!

Most people will take this trek via 4x4 vehicle but my husband and I climbed to the top via the 6.5 mile trail that starts at the visitor center. If you are going to do this, I must warn you that you will 100% want trekking poles due to the loose gravel, rocks, incline/decline and strenuous impact from the altitude. We saw 2 hikers the entire time we were on the mountain if that helps you gauge the challenge - but it was well worth it. When you get to the top, you will see a sign that expresses the true summit is a sacred area to the Hawaiian culture and it is advised you respect the heritage by not going to the true top. We had no issue with this as we were just thankful for the experience and to share in the beauty of this mountain however it was appropriate. Overall, if you are up for the challenge, go for it. Round trip with breaks every hour or so it took us a little over 7.5 hours to complete and the rangers were actually surprised by that time.

You really cannot imagine the majesty of the summit until you’ve been there. Go with a tour & you’ll be thrilled with the experience

We did not climb to the summit, but made the hike up the overlook across from the hotel.
I strongly recommend a jacket and good shoes. The sunset was gorgeous. The stars are amazingly bright in the total darkness. Take the time to do this!

Tour Guide was knowledgeable about Mauna Kea summit and astromomy. The tour bus was uncomfortable ride and dinner was lackluster. Expected more for the money.

It is really sad how a bunch of ignorant protestors can ruin a tranquil beautiful setting.
No Acccess = protestors blocking roads = not worth the 50+ mile drive one way - only to not get through = DONT GO!!!
There are BIG WHITE UGLY WINDMILLS blocking the view to the ocean scattered all over the Island of Hawaii - no protestors there...
Yet, on a site which already has telescopes on it, protestors do not want a new state of the art telescope building built there because it is an eyesore.Hippocrites!
Hawaii's land mass is fruthest from all other major land masses and becasue of this - you get the best visualization of the stars. Scientists are on long waiting lists to use the current telescopes - over a year long - to do their studies. These Telescopes are needed - and by the way you have to drive for miles to get up close enough and from the correct viewpoint in order to see the "eye sore telescopes".
Yet at some points you cannot get a good view of the ocean & shoreline without an ugly big windvane in the way. Ugh!
The nuts - who are mostly haoles, coopted a local Hawaiian elder to stand out in the rain & wind with them while they block the roads to a Federal Highway (our tax dollars paid for it!) and prevent locals and tourists (who spent big money to get there) from seeing Mauna Kea. Check before you book big money to go - be sure everything is open.
The Native Hawaiians are conservative, honest, friendly people overall, its the haoles (Westerners) who ruin it.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the protest of the new telescope, it is probably a good idea to be familiar with it prior to your visit.

The basics of the two sides are the following:

Protests: Some Hawaiians believe that Mauna Kea is a sacred site and adding man-made structures to the land is wrong and a dishonor to the sacred site.

Supporters: Some Hawaiians believe that because of Hawaii's history with astronomy that the construction of one of the most advanced telescopes on the summit is a great honor to the sacred site.

The protests have drawn the attention of many communities around the globe on both sides.

An interesting topic that brings together the past present and future.

We knew our 7 year old wouldn't be able to go to the summit so planned for me to stay with her and look at cool space stuff at the visitor center while my husband drove up. But the visitor center is shut until further notice. There is only a small tent that packs up at 3pm, so nowhere to shelter. We took a few pictures then went back down. Can't be helped but was pretty disappointing.

OXIGEN AT 68% ON TOP!

We did Volcano NP in the AM and arrived to Mauna Kea at around 4:30 PM. I brought the finger oxygen meter with me. I am a fit and healthy 49-year old. As soon as we arrived to the top, within 5 mins, my reading was: hear beat 105 and oxygen level 68%!!! I could not believe my eyes. After some research on the way down to sea level, I learned that the oxygen saturation between 13,000 and 15,000 feet is around 60% to 70% so my reading makes perfect sense. We did stop at the visitor center and we had a 4-wheel drive Chevy Tahoe. The ride up on dirt road IS TOUGH. My husband did it. I think if I was driving, I would turn back…. It is steep one lane with two way traffic. We did almost slide backwards on gravel a few times at lower speeds. So, you need some momentum and higher speed to get to the top and with curves and grade, it makes it a challenging ride. Beautiful scenery on top. I started to feel pressure on my head at visitor center already. The hubby said on top that he feels like he is buzzed and lightheaded. My teenage kids had headaches too. Just be careful! I personally wouldn’t stay until sunset on Mauna Kea…. Unless you leave right away to get down. I wouldn’t want to drive this road in the darkness. Our engine overheated on way up. Many people open the hood to let their engines cool off on top. The attached oxygen meter photo is the second reading I took after recuperating in my car for 2 mins.

You need a 4x4. The ride to the visitors center was rainy, so we weren't sure it would be a good night to view the sunset and stars. We were told that was the norm up to the mountain, but check their website to be sure. Stop and acclimate yourself at the visitor's center, elevation sickness is real. The people are super nice. The ride up wasn't as bad as I expected. Fantastic views and picturesque scenery from above the clouds. We watched the sunset and drove down slowly, then stayed for star gazing. Amazing night.

We arrived at the visitors centervaround 615, as we heard parking could be a challenge. At that time there were plenty of spots left. Nice small Center with bathrooms. We walked across the road to join lots of others at the top of a hill for sunset viewing. Lots of people but it felt festive, not crowded. A lot of folks left after that but we (4 of us) laid on a beach blanket to 830 to see the stars. It was cold but worth it - breathtaking. Road is steep but we'll marked and maintained.